ARC (ARACHNOIDITIS) NEWSLETTER
Volume6, No.3, Fall of 2006
Published by the Arachnoiditis
Foundation, Inc.
A Non-Profit Organization created for the Study of the Causes, the Diagnosis and the Treatment of ARACHNOIDITIS.
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Upon closing of the summer season, we are preparing for a
number of activities including multiple trips to Meetings, Congresses and
gatherings at which poster presentations, debates and conferences related to
ARACHNOIDITIS and FAILED BACK SURGERY SYNDROME will be presented, spoken about
and/or discussed, here in the
As a matter of fact, news of what is going on is both rewarding and challenging; we have had more contacts by either telephone or through e-mails of colleagues seeking advice or suggestions about patients that develop sudden neurological deficit after an invasive procedure. It is also, rewarding in a way, because our efforts of the last 10 years are just beginning to give fruit, my colleagues are beginning to recognize these problems and follow our suggestions, rather than to take a position of “wait and see” or sit and wait”. They are acting, seeking consultations, asking questions, ordering MRI’s and initiating therapeutic measures during the inflammatory stage of the disease, when some beneficial measures may be instituted to prevent ARC from going into a prolipherative phase when little can be done to treat it.
By having this free, not bias and confidential consultation available to every physician, we hope to reduce the cases of arachnoiditis.
One more positive event is the forthcoming publication (December 2006) of the classic treatise entitled “Pain Management”, edited by Dr. Steve D. Waldman and published by Elsevier Science which is being considered the “Bible of Pain Syndromes” and will include two crucial chapters
“Arachnoiditis and Related Conditions” AND “The Failed Back Surgery Syndrome”
Since Dr. Waldman’s books “Atlas of Pain Management Injection Techniques”, “Atlas of Common Pain Syndromes”, “Atlas of Uncommon Pain Syndromes”, and “Atlas of Interventional Pain Management” are considered classics, the inclusion of these two chapters is in a way an official acceptance of these two entities as disease processes in Pain Medicine.
What will come from it
- More interest in these two syndromes
- Investigational activities on them, both in animal models and in clinical study groups as well as
- Recognition by Health Care Systems, Workers Compensation Groups,
- Grants for Research, Conferences at Congresses, Pro vs Con debates, etc etc.
These happenings are
indeed reason for joy and celebration.
We thank all the
supporters of the ARACHNOIDITIS FOUNDATION, Inc. and reassure them that their
contributions have gone to finance investigational, promotional and educational
activities, which are beginning to give fruit.
PUBLICATIONS
THUS FAR, IN 2006 THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES RELATED TO ARACHNOIDITIS AND THE FAILED BACK SURGERY SYNDROME HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED:
Aldrete JA: Suspecting and diagnosing arachnoiditis: A review of the symptoms noted in a group of patients with arachnoiditis presents an analysis of clinical observations of this disease. Practical Pain Management 2006:6:1:72-83.
Guevara-López U, Covarrubias-Gómez A, Gutierrez-Acar H, Aldrete JA, López-Múnoz FJ, Martínez-Benítez B: Chronic Subarachnoid administration of 1-(4chlorobenzoyl)-5methoxy-2methyl-1H-indole-3 Acetic Acid (indomethacin): An evaluation of its neurotoxic effects in an animal model. Anesth Analg 2006;103:1:99-102.
Aldrete JA, Romero-Figueroa MS, Ghaly RF: Potential hazards of vertebroplasty. Practical Pain Management 2006:6:5:20-27.
Romero-Figueroa S, Aldrete JA, Martínez-Cruz A, Orozco S, Castillo S, Castillo-Henkel C, Guízar-Sahagún G: Nerve root degeneration and regeneration by intra-thecal phenol in rats; a morphologic approach. J of the Peripheral Nervous System 2006:11:1-8.
Aldrete JA, Guevara U, Arenoso JH, Ceraso
OL: Eficacia y tolerabilidad de esteroides epidurales
vs. Dosis bajas de esteroides mas metamizol mas D-propoxifeno administrados por vía paravertebral en
pacientes con síndrome post-laminectomía. Rev Soc Esp Dolor 2006:7:454-461.
CALL FOR WRITTEN CONTRIBUTIONS
As in the past, we invite contributions by physicians, patients, relatives of patients, therapists on subject related to ARACHNOIDITIS, specially their impressions, experiences and sacrifices as they help or care for this patients.
CALL FOR LETTERS, ARTICLES, CONFESSIONS POEMS, DEBATES,
etc.
Readers are invited to write short, but meaningful, articles on any subject related to Arachnoiditis. They may be submitted with the author’s name or anonymously, however, with the understanding that:
a. The Editorial Board reserves the right to modify them or alter them to conform with the style and the ”Objectives” of the ARC Newsletter.
b. The copyrights will be waived with the assurances that the Editorial Board will not derive any profit from any of these publications.
c. They are simple, constructive and civil.
Thank you.
The Editorial Board
DISCLAIMER
Personal information (e-mail, location, etc) on the authors of reports will be made available upon request, as long as the authors authorize it. The editors are entitled to modify the material so it can comply with the objectives of the Newsletter.
Neither the Arachnoiditis Foundation, Inc, nor the Editors of the Newsletter are responsible for the opinions or concepts herein expressed. They represent the author’s point of view.
Arachnoiditis Foundation, Inc.
E-mail: aldrete@arachnoiditis.com
PLEASE GIVE YOUR DONATION WHICH WILL HELP TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT ARACHNOIDITIS.
“WITH GREATER HELP, WE CAN DO MORE”