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Is It Safe For Someone With Arachnoiditis To Have Myelography?

Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015

Question: Is it safe for someone with arachnoiditis(clumped nerve roots at L4 tethered to dura through sacrum) to have a mylegram? Symptoms pinched nerve root at L5/S1 via emg test. Past dural tear with repair surgery leading to blood in dura and arachnoiditis.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Arachnoiditis is a contraindication for myelography.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

Myelography is contraindicated in arachnoiditis because contrast agent can increase the severity of inflammation.Infact,arachnoiditis is known to be a delayed complication of Myelogram.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (2 hours later)

Thanks. Are there any other tests that can be performed. Also, do you know what is best to provide relieve from arachnoiditis. I have seen mention of a stimulator or pain pump.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
MRI is the investigation of choice.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

MRI is the investigation of choice for arachnoiditis.Arachnoiditis pain is managed by a combination of physiotherapy and medicines.

Electrical stimulator and Drug pumps,as you said, have been used with success.Epidural steroid injections and Surgery have no role.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (38 hours later)

I thought the new water soluble contrast was safe, I believe you are telling me it is not if you already have arachnoiditis.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
MRI is the investigation of choice.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

Of course,the newer agent is safer but MRI is the investigation of choice.However,if MRI is contraindicated,myelography can be accepted as an alternative.

Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar