I had a MRI and it showed I had a small bulge at L5-S1. The doctor suggested that I have a epidural injection which I did. After the procedure I became worse, my pain was in my pelvic floor radiating down both legs, tingling in my feet with bowel and bladder problems. I then began to take all kinds of antidepressants and pain medicines. The doctor finally released me and I was told that nothing else could be done for me that I had to live with it. All of this took place in a year. My primary care physical scheduled me for a second MRI and when the test came back it showed that I had clumping of the nerve roots and they diagnosed it as Arachnoiditis. I found out later that the steroid used in the epidural was Depo-Medrol. After doing research on the medication and manufacture I have found out that the manufacture sent out warnings not to use the Depo-Medrol in this procedure that it would cause Arachnoiditis.  Why would a doctor not use a fluoroscopy when doing a epidural? I have never had any other type of back surgery or epidural, trying to control the severe pain through medications I am now scheduled to have the Medtronics Syncromed infusion system implanted in my body on 4-11-03. I was tested and screened weeks ago and found a decrease in my pain level. They started me on morphine which I went back into the doctors office and have had it increased in volume 4 times. The refill is very simple and easy that takes place in the doctors office. It takes about 20 minutes. I have extreme swelling in my feet and legs. They are so bad that I cannot do anything except lay down and elevate them. They feel like they are going to burst. My doctor feels like it is caused by the morphine. We went back in and replaced the morhine with diliudid. I have had this medicine for 2 weeks. My pain control with the pump is excellent. I recommend it to anyone that has arachnoiditis. The pain in my legs and feet is getting worse, after I stand on them for 15 minutes or sit for that long I feel like they are not going to hold me up anymore. there is a severe sharp pain that generates at my pelvic floor region and runs down both legs. The only relief I have found is to lay down flat on my back for an hour or so and then I can walk again. I believe that the Arachnoiditis is getting worse and without the pump it would drive my pain level back up to a 10 on the pain scale.
  I know that I skip around quite a bit when I am writing and if anyone wants more detail I will be happy to inform them of all of the road towards the implant of the pump.
  I am sorry I have not kept in touch with the group on a regular basis but I have read all the emails coming in.
   An update on my class action lawsuit against the doctor that performed the epidural. The suit has been filed and I received all the paperwork that me and my family have to fill out, I know that it is busy work from his attorney, however some of the questions make you feel like the criminal instead of the victim !!!!!  The attorney's that I have chosen out of Dallas, Texas are very knowledgeable about Arachnoiditis and Depo-Medrol and that really helps because I do not have to go into great detail about all the health problems that I have.
   I will keep everyone informed of the progress of the law suit because I also have to turn over this web site to his attorney in regard to anyone that I have had communication about my arachnioditis or talked to.
   Maybe someday a lot more people will find out about Depo-Medrol and the doctors that still use it. I know when we get together and compare our different pains and side effects we can all find a lot of problems that are the same, however certain doctors will tell you that it cannot come from this.
Talk to you later. Thanks...............R.D. Dunn

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