SO what is arachnoiditis and what does it do? What it does is clump nerves together and pushes nerve roots aside and can ultimately fill an entire area of the spinal canal. This causes a multitude of symptoms, which can affect any area of the body. Any organ can be affected. If the nerve root that supplies an organ is damaged, then that organ malfunctions. This is not all! There is also an autoimmune element to the disease, which can result in an array of problems, including fevers, nausea, vomiting, and rashes. Most arachnoiditis sufferers develop spasticity, often to the point of feeling like their joints are being pulled apart—something like being on the rack. Loss of the ability to walk and even the use of hands and arms can result. Other problems that may result from arachnoiditis include syringomyelia, which is a cyst in the spinal cord, cysts of the arachnoid membrane, and hydrocephalus, which is water on the brain. Bowel and bladder dysfunction are common. Memory is often badly affected. Weird sensations, like a buzzing feeling all over, ants crawling under the skin, or electric-like shocks are common. As you can imagine on reading this, depression is a typical companion. So far I have kept that at bay. Anyone with arachnoiditis will tell you, though, that the single most significant issue is pain; ongoing, neverending, unbearable pain.