Dr Tennant
Dr Tennant
DR FOREST TENNANT M.D., M.P.H., DR.P.H.
Foremost Expert in Adhesive Arachnoiditis (AA)
Dr Tennant has been a strong advocate for intractable pain patients since he began his pain management clinic in 1975. His dedication has been to researching, diagnosing, treating and developing protocols for Adhesive Arachnoiditis for more than 40 years, something no other doctor has been willing to do. He has since retired, and even still continues his research and quest to help people living with Adhesive Arachnoiditis.
With the successful results he's had at increasing the quality of life for AA patients, he has shared his findings in the only two books on the market specifically addressing Adhesive Arachnoiditis. He is a hero to many in the Arachnoiditis community because of his compassion and understanding of the extreme challenges of this disease.
Dr Tennant’s influence is seen through the more than 300 scientific articles and other books he has written, many related to pain management. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the journal of “Practical Pain Management” for many years, and he was honored as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work dedicated to “PAINweek”, the largest US pain conference.
That is not all that Dr Tennant is known for. In his early years, his schooling was completed at the University of Missouri and then the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1966. He became a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Vietnam. His earliest exposure to addiction medicine was helping to develop the Army’s drug testing, education and treatment programs. He later became a Doctorate of Public Health at UCLA and a post-doctorate fellow. He was a consultant for NFL, NASCAR, the Dodger’s baseball team for examination and identification methods, education and treatment programs for suspected substance dependence. He incorporated his acquired expertise into his pain management practice. As if all that were not enough, he also had the honor of being the mayor of West Covina, California, in the height of his career.
Dr Tennant and his wife of 52 years are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. He dedicates his time now to achieving three main goals with Adhesive Arachnoiditis:
1 - To bring treatment for AA to every community.
2 - To develop diagnostic and treatment protocols for primary care
practitioners.
3 - To continually update research and findings on AA and its treatment.
Websites: www.arachnoiditishope.com and www.foresttennant.com
Correspondence should be sent to:
METHOD USED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE
ARACHNOIDITIS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROJECT
OF THE TENNANT FOUNDATION
Adhesive arachnoiditis (AA) is a progressive, inflammatory, adhesive disease inside the spinal
canal. It causes attachment of the cauda equina nerve roots to the arachnoid-dural (meninges) covering of the spinal canal. Untreated, nerve roots become trapped, impaired, and destroyed
within the inflammatory mass of adhesions that may result in paraparesis, autoimmune
manifestations, spinal fluid flow obstruction, and bladder, bowel, and sex organ dysfunction.
Lifespan is shortened. Treatment is specifically targeted at suppressing inflammation within the
spinal canal and the protection and regeneration of nervous system tissue. AA is listed on the
registry of the National Organization of Rare Disorders.
FOREST TENNANT M.D., M.P.H., DR. P.H.
JANUARY 1, 2020
Contact Information:
336 1/2 S. Glendora Ave., West Covino, CA 91790-3043
Phone: 626-919-7476 Fax: 626-919-7497 Email: veractinc@msn.com
Revised 12-2019 TF FORM #3
STARTING PROTOCOL FOR ADULTS WITH MRI-CONFIRMED ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS
1 Low dose naltrexone .05 to 1.0 mg once a day on 5 to 7 days a week. (If not opioid drugs.)
2 Methylprednisolone 2 to 4 mg or dexamethasone 0.25 to 0.5 mg once a day on 3 days a
week.
3 Ketorolac (injection or troche) 15 to 30 mg once a day on 1 to 2 days a week.
4 Pregnenolone, 200 to 300 mg or Medoxyprogesterone 10 mg 2 times a day on 3 days a
week.
5 Any symptomatic pain relief drugs that provide comfort and function.
NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS
1 OPTIONAL: Prior to starting the protocol, a serum hormone panel of cortisol, DHEA, estradiol, pregnenolone, progesterone, and testosterone is recommended. Low serum hormones should be replenished.
2 Inflammatory markers of ESR, CRP, and cytokines may or may not be elevated. If elevated, treatment should be guided to bring the marker into normal range.
3 Corticoids and other medications are initially started at low, intermittent dosages so they can be
adjusted as needed. Note: The European Rheumatism Society has recently published a study showing that a low, daily corticoid equivalence dose of 5 mg of prednisone for one year did not produce
complications.
4 Most anit-inflammatory and corticoid preparations are not effective in AA since they may not cross
the blood brain barrier and attach to receptors on glial and other cells that are inside the spinal canal.
5 These exercises are highly recommended to accompany this medication protocol: (1)daily walking; (2)
water soaking; (3) range-of-motion and stretching of upper and lower extremities.
6 Patients who have AA and genetic connective tissue disease of the Ehlers-Danlos/Marfan type may
require, in addition to this protocol, one or more potent anabolic hormones (human chorionic
gonadotropin, testosterone, human growth hormone, nandrolone).
7 Patient and family education materials, scientific references, and special reports that explain and
support this protocol are available on request.
8 Dietary supplements and non-prescription drugs for inflammation, hormone replenishment, and pain
relief are acceptable and recommended. Anecdotal patient reports endorse these agents: curcumin,
colostrum, serrapeptase, adrenal and gonadal extracts, deer antler velvet, corydalis,
palmitoylethanolamide (PEA).
9 Once under treatment with this protocol, electromagnetic (laser, radio-wave, infrared) and electric
current therapies may help achieve comfort and function.
Revised 12-2019 TF FORM #3
EMERGENCY PROTOCOL FOR SUSPECTED OR LIKELY
ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS (AA) AFTER A SPINAL TAP,
SPINAL SURGERY, OR EPIDURAL INJECTION
This protocol is recommended anytime within 4 months of the inciting procedure.
1 Ketorolac (Toradol) 30 to 60 mg (injection) once a day for 3 consecutive days.
2 Medrol (methylprednisolone) 6-Day Dose Pak.
3 Medroxyprogesterone 10 mg 2 times a day for 6 days.
Simultaneously administer the above for 6 days and then transfer
the patient to the starting protocol.
START HERE
Strategies for controlling pain and symptoms
associated with Adhesive Arachnoiditis
"Handbook to Live Well with Adhesive Arachnoiditis"
Currently, there is no cure for Adhesive Arachnoiditis,
but with this handbook ~ there is finally hope!
- Daily practices to reduce pain and symptoms
- Ways to slow progression
- Quick and easy explanations
- What to do when your doctor doesn't know what to do
- Written by Dr Forest Tennant, the leading expert in Adhesive Arachnoiditis
- Now available on Amazon.
“People with Adhesive Arachnoiditis, in the severe and catastrophic categories, are typically those who
have not had the opportunity to participate in my recommended medical treatment”. - Dr Tennant
DR TENNANT'S BOOK IS ONE RESOURCE THAT OFFERS HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE.