Generalised Tips

Posture: consider ways of ensuring good posture during tasks such as: getting out of bed; making beds; lifting; standing; sitting; holding your head (avoid neck collars); shopping; cooking; driving; reading; watching TV; eating out/cinema (take a lumbar support); getting into bed; lovemaking; sleeping (note: make sure you have a bed that suits your needs)
Use of aids: as above: avoid collars/corsets (they encourage muscle weakness); use a stick only when absolutely necessary (it can cause uneven gait and stress on the spine); support bandages if necessary for short periods.
Treatment of muscle spasms: anti-spasmodic drugs such as baclofen can reduce the spasms (But try to avoid medication such as diazepam (valium) which can sometimes be used as a muscle relaxant: it is highly addictive and can cause significant problems, especially relating to interactions with other prescribed medication. More details on muscle spasms are available in Itches and Twitches.
Resist the temptation to become immobile: this can have serious knock-on implications: muscle wasting causes further weakness; immobility increases the risk of osteoporosis, which can, in turn, cause further problems.
Exercise as much as possible within the constraints of the condition; there is no an easy formula for this, but as a broad rule of thumb: if exercise makes the pain worse for less than an hour, then it is OK, if more than an hour, it is excessive; this can be tricky if the increased pain has delayed onset; however, bear in mind the adage: ?use it or lose it'; note also that exercise (especially aerobic) helps to promote deep sleep, which can be reduced in conditions such as fibromyalgia
Warm baths/spa bath (jacuzzi) can warm the muscles and help reduce muscle pain.
Weight: it can be hard to keep the weight down, especially if we are on medication that increases it; but try not to get too overweight: it puts added strain on joints.
Dietary supplements: there are a number of different supplements which anecdotally help with joint problems. (see below for the ones I am on).
Try not to worry: often people are concerned that arachnoiditis has ?spread' and has to be affecting the whole of the spine in order to account for the widespread pain; however, in the vast majority, the spread of the pain is a secondary feature and does not signify spread of the arachnoiditis.
Assessment by a physiotherapist or chiropractor may be very helpful in discerning the major troublespots and potential areas for therapy. Chiropractors in particular tend to be expert in making sense of a complex situation and can often be helpful in reducing some of the peripheral problems, although of course, this has to be done with great care not to trigger a flare up (I take Arnica 30C, a homoeopathic remedy, just before treatment, then 3-4 hours later and sometimes after a further 3-4 hours; this helps to prevent a reaction to the treatment, which can occur even if it is gentle). A cautionary note: always ensure you consult only chiropractors who are registered with the British Chiropractic Association.
Other possible treatments include: Massage (particularly of the Shiatsu type) can be most helpful in tackling problem areas, acupuncture, which has been found useful in some cases.

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