Living with adhesive arachnoiditis has been an arduous journey, marked by relentless pain, uncertainty, and a continuous battle against inflammation. In this post, I want to share my personal story, delve into the science behind inflammation and its profound impact on adhesive arachnoiditis, and explain how I’m taking control of my health with a groundbreaking tool: the COR One device from COR Health (www.corhealth.com). With this device, I will track my body’s inflammation on a weekly basis by monitoring my Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), a marker that captures a wide array of inflammatory pathways. Understanding Adhesive Arachnoiditis Adhesive arachnoiditis is a rare yet devastating condition affecting the arachnoid, one of the thin membranes that envelop the spinal cord. Normally, the arachnoid serves as both a cushion and a protective barrier, but in this condition, inflammation ignites a cascade of events that result in the formation of scar tissue and adhesions. These adhesions can bind nerve roots together, leading to chronic pain, neurological deficits, and a myriad of other symptoms that severely compromise quality of life. The onset of adhesive arachnoiditis can follow various triggers such as spinal surgery, trauma, infections, or even procedures like epidural injections. Once the inflammatory process

Adhesive Arachnoiditis is a chronic, painful condition caused by inflammation of the arachnoid mater—the delicate middle layer of the meninges surrounding the spinal cord. This inflammation leads to scar tissue formation, which can entrap nerves and result in severe pain, neurological deficits, and progressive disability. While the exact causes vary, common triggers include spinal surgeries, epidural steroid injections, infections, and chemical irritants. One of the most critical factors in managing Adhesive Arachnoiditis is controlling inflammation—both at the site of nerve damage and systemically throughout the body. Diet plays a crucial role in either fueling inflammation or fighting it, which makes nutritional choices an essential part of any arachnoiditis management plan. This post will explore the link between inflammation and diet, discuss how specific foods impact inflammation, and provide a comprehensive chart categorizing inflammatory and anti-inflammatory foods. Understanding Inflammation in Adhesive Arachnoiditis Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection. In acute cases, it helps with healing. However, chronic inflammation—which occurs when the immune system remains activated over time—can contribute to worsening symptoms in conditions like AA. In AA, inflammation: Causes persistent pain by irritating nerve endings. Promotes the formation of fibrous adhesions (scar tissue), worsening nerve entrapment. Leads

I never imagined I would be writing a post like this—one that forces me to lay out in stark terms a diagnosis that has rocked my world in ways I’m still trying to process. But here I am, ready to talk about what’s been going on with my health, what I’ve learned so far, and how I’m trying to navigate the journey ahead. I have Adhesive Arachnoiditis, a rare and progressive spinal disease. While I’m no fan of dramatics or doom-and-gloom pronouncements, some doctors do speculate that the lifespan of someone with Adhesive Arachnoiditis can be in the range of four to ten years. That’s a chilling number, and one I’m still trying to wrap my head around. Yet, I want to be straight with you: I won’t be sugar-coating anything here. I also don’t plan on placing absolute stock in what any single doctor says—because, let’s face it, the medical community doesn’t always agree, and every individual’s situation is different.  Understanding Arachnoiditis Before I dive into how I’m handling this emotionally, let me shed some light on what Arachnoiditis actually is. It’s an inflammation of the arachnoid lining of the spinal cord. The arachnoid is one of the membranes