Dear Junie,

Arachnoiditis seems to be a catch-all phrase for conditions affecting the arachnoid membrane surrounding the spinal nerve. I do not believe that anyone can say with authority that it is progressive.

Your hospital sucks. I feetl qualified to make this statement because I was treated in a similar hospital some twenty-five years ago and was subjected to wholly unnecessary, (excruciating) pain because of an indifferent surgeon and lazy, or overworked nurses. I always advise folks to avoid proprietary hospitals and get treated at a hospital that is attached to a medical school. There is a much better chance of your getting proper treatment.

2 WEEKS!! and no morphine pump! You must be a very "good" patient. Scream more. The squeaky wheel gets the most grease.

For future reference, there is an prosthetic spinal disk available now in the US called the "Charite". It is intended to obliviate the need for fusion. These disks were available in Europe since the 1980's but just got approved by the FDA here two years ago. Since most orthopods were never trained in their use, they are unlikely to offer them to patients over "good ol' fusion", a therapy that has no better success rate that just leaving everything alone.

The pain will ameliorate, especially if someone remembers to pick up the morphine pump from the mail room.

When you are feeling better, transfer your care to a major teaching hospital.

Good luck,