Learn the Latest Advances in Adhesive Arachnoiditis at a Free Seminar
/By Pat Anson
If you suffer from adhesive arachnoiditis (AA) or would like to learn more about it, there’s a unique opportunity next month to learn about the latest research and treatments for AA, and to connect with other patients, advocates and physicians.
The Tennant Foundation and the Arachnoiditis & Chronic Meningitis Collaborative Research Network (ACMCRN) are hosting a one-day seminar on Saturday, August 16 in Westminster, Colorado outside Denver. Lodging, meals and transportation are not provided, but the conference itself is free of charge.
AA is a spinal disease that causes chronic inflammation in the arachnoid membrane that covers the spinal canal. When nerves in the spine also become inflamed, they can adhere or stick together, causing severe pain and a wide variety of other symptoms.
AA can develop after surgery or trauma that damages the spine. It may also be triggered by an inflammatory autoimmune disease that originates outside the spine that spreads into spinal tissue.
There is no cure for AA, but advances are being made in its treatment. The problem is that few practitioners know how recognize the early symptoms of AA, much less how to diagnose and treat it. That’s why conference organizers hope physicians will attend, along with patients, caregivers and family members.
“We'll take whoever is interested,” says Dr. Forest Tennant, who is recognized as the world’s leading expert in AA. “We'd like to have many nurse practitioners or physicians who really want to know the disease. We're going to cover it backwards and forwards. We hope to make them educators and advocates for the disease.”
Tennant has developed a unique protocol to treat AA not only with pharmaceuticals, but with hormones, vitamins and supplements that can help ease the symptoms and slow or prevent the disease from spreading.
“I want to get across the point that treating arachnoiditis is no more difficult than treating emphysema or rheumatoid arthritis or high blood pressure. It can be done in a primary care setting quite easily. It is not something that has to be done at the Mayo Clinic or in a sophisticated medical setting. It can be done in any office,” says Tennant.
Also speaking at the conference is Eve Blackburn, VP of Patient Engagement for ACMCRN, who will talk about the resources her organization has for patients, including a list of physicians that treat AA.
“I’ll be sharing an update on the relaunch of the International Arachnoiditis Patient Registry, which is currently undergoing final steps in the ethics review process. We anticipate reopening within the next two months through our new secure platform, Digital Cabinet. I’ll also highlight our growing peer support programs, our referral list of Arachnoiditis-aware physicians, and the wide range of educational resources available at acmcrn.org,” said Blackburn.
The conference is not just for people diagnosed with AA. Since the disease is often associated with autoimmune disease or other types of spinal problems, patients suffering from those conditions could also learn important lessons at the seminar.
“I call them associated diseases. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Tarlov cyst, and the Epstein Barr virus, those three in particular, as well as other spinal conditions. You can't talk about arachnoiditis unless you're also talking about autoimmunity and these other conditions that are high risk factors for developing the disease,” says Tennant.
The August 16 seminar is being held at the Marriott Hotel in Westminster, Colorado. To see and download a flyer for the conference, click here.
You can also visit the conference website for hotel information and list of phone numbers to call if you have any questions. All attendees are encouraged to register by August 1.
Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH, is retired from clinical practice but continues his research on the treatment of intractable pain and arachnoiditis. Readers interested in learning more about his research should visit the Tennant Foundation’s website, Arachnoiditis Hope. You can subscribe to its research bulletins here.
The Tennant Foundation gives financial support to Pain News Network and sponsors PNN’s Patient Resources section.
