Reply To: Arachnoiditis with CSF leak as well

I assume this injection was in the lumbar spine along with the “failed fusion” as you don’t indicate location.

First, I have to be suspicious of the anesthesiologist stating “The damage was done from a faulty needle”. and “She never actually gave me the injection, she just removed the needle and sent me home”. Needles can occasionally be faulty but don’t cause a dural leak due to needle failure unless the needle is in a spot where it should not be. I’ll bet this physician found CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) in the syringe prior to the injection and stopped the procedure as it is “points off” to inject steroid into the dural sac (as this can cause arachnoiditis).

The second blood patch injection (hopefully not by the same anesthesiologist) was probably in the wrong place too. This injection should cause a “pressure sensation but should not cause your pain reaction. Hopefully the needle tip was not in the dural sleeve where the CSF is located as injection of blood here can also cause arachnoiditis.

Now, since you have had a prior surgery here, that could have triggered arachnoiditis but you can compare previous MRI scans after the surgery but before this initial injection and then ones after the injection. If the previous MRI (which should be at least a year from the index surgery) does not have arachnoiditis and the current one does, it is reasonable to assume that the original injection caused the nerve clumping.

I am sorry but I cannot refer you to a local good physician as my list is short and does not cover Missouri.

Dr. Corenman