Garry Whitson-My Arachnoiditis Story
Johannesburg, S. Africa

I am Garry Whitson, a 40 year old South African living in Johannesburg. I have been married for 15 years and have 3 wonderful (naughty) sons. I am a Regional Sales Manager for a large timber company, responsible for developing business in Africa. I love my family, job and life. I always put in 120% to whatever I do. I am a qualified swimming teacher and aqua aerobics instructor. 5 years ago I was number 3 in South Africa for my age group in the South African Masters Swimming. I have traveled to 8 countries in SE Asia on 100 occasions. This is a brief history of myself and will be seen in context later as I describe my current situation.

Two and a half years ago I slipped and fell on our patio stairs and landed on the corner with my lower back. I lost feeling in both legs and was carried out of the house by the paramedics. I regained feeling two days later, but had severe burning pain in my lower back and right leg. The neurosurgeon tried conservative treatment (e.g: physical therapy, manipulations and traction).

Still in severe pain as a result of a bulging disc, the neurosurgeon did a laminectomy in January 1999 and said that I would be back at work in +/-6 weeks. This did not happen and the pain continued.

The neurosurgeon did a 2nd laminectony in March 1999. The severe pain continued and I was given 3 spinal blocks which lasted for about 2 hours of slight relief. The neurosurgeon did a fusion of L4-S1 in July 1999. The pain continued to fluctuate in severity and in December 1999 the neurosurgeon did a 3rd laminectomy to release the nerves and remove scar tissue. In April 2000, as a result of continued pain (on a scale of 10/10), the neurosurgeon removed all the hardware from the fusion. The neurosurgeon advised that as a result of the fall I had severe nerve damage.

My life became a nightmare. I could not do anything. I was on heavy medication and incapable of thinking straight. My kids had a father who just lay flat in bed. My wife had a husband who could not do anything around the house. The stress levels were high. I completed a management diploma from my bed. My company were fantastic and allowed me to work from home.

The pain continues. I wake up screaming. My mood levels are terrible. I am a monster not a father to my kids. The pain is a throbbing burning pain in my lower back. There is a deep burning pain down the back of my right leg to under my foot. It feels like I'm standing on hot coals under my right foot.

The side of my right leg is numb as are my toes. I get an electric shock feeling just above my right knee. The pain worsens if I sit, stand or walk too long. Being in a moving vehicle makes it worse. My right leg gives in occasionally. A specialist physician confirmed nerve damage. I also went to an orthopedic surgeon who said I had arachnoiditis, but I did not understand it and brushed it aside. The neurosurgeon has suggested a morphine pump and advised that within weeks of it being installed my life would return to normal. After what I have been through, it sounded very attractive.

I recently had a lumber puncture to test for the morphine pump, with morphine injected intrathecally. I had relief for +/-36hours and then the pain returned in severity. I had side effects of itching, headache and could not sleep. My concerns with the Intrathecal Morphine Pump are: what are the side effects, is there a risk of addiction, will I be in a drugged state, can I drive a car, travel in a plane, play sport, and live a normal life? Does the nerve damage heal? What other options are there to control the pain?

I have also recently tried, as a last resort, The Multidisciplinary Pain Relief Unit run by an anesthetist where they psychoanalyze you, give physio-therapy (which aggravated the pain) and then a series of local anesthetics to block the pain. I've been for three sessions and only got slight relief.

I have been on numerous analgesics, anti imflamatories, relaxants, antibiotics (from the pain clinic) and sleeping tablets (these include: Duragesic Patches, Lentogesic, Propain, Pax, Tegratol, Tramil injections, Tora-dol injection, Tilcotil injection, Voltarin injection, Xefo, DF118, VIOX, MST, Valeron, Lanzor, Oruvail, Tora-dol, Anafranil, Lexotan, Inderal, Dorminoct, Rolab-Flunitraz, Deloxene, Valium, Etomine, Convulex, Doxyfene, Celebrex, Imovane, Syanp Fort, Atterax, Lantanon, Neurontin, Rivitrol, Dixirit, Augmentin).

The problem is that even the scheduled 7 drugs are not having any effect. A pethadine injection does work, but for a few hours only.

I continue to work from home which is great because it takes my mind away from the problem. My company have been very supportive.

My family never fail me and are always there, despite my moods and screaming. But I can see that this is taking its toll on them. My wife works 7 days a week just to be able to pay for all the medication and visits to the doctor. This whole "thing" is really messing up my family.

Have I got arachnoiditis? What do I do next? I'm pretty desperate!

I would appreciate support, advice and comments from laymen and any doctors.