Q: My mother is suffering from disability at lower half of the body. She is getting treatment at Sri Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Trivandrum. She has been diagnosed as having Spinal Arachnoiditis idiopathic, and adenoma thyroid. It is now approximately 1 year but there has not been any significant improvement and she is supported by steroid medicines. I would like to know what is the best treatment and hospital available in India for the above problem. MRI scan has revealed two small abscesses near the both sides of the lower spinal cord.

A:Your mother is in good hands. The experts at Sri Chitra are qualified and experienced. Arachnoiditis is the term used to describe abnormal thickening of the coverings of the spinal cord and nerves consequent to chronic inflammation within the spinal canal. It damages the contained spinal cord or nerves and is extremely difficult to treat. Often, by the time the diagnosis is made, irreversible damage has already been done to the spinal cord or nerves. The results of therapy of spinal arachnoiditis are poor at all the major institutes. You can confirm the diagnosis, if necessary, by a biopsy of the thickened arachnoid-pia mater complex. The abscesses located in the lower spine can be emptied at the same time that the biopsy is done.