demylinating disease

Hi everyone,

Could anyone explain demylinating disease and ms in a way i could understand it.? I most likely spelled it wrong.

Thank you     LInda

[essdipity]

Quix posted this yesterday:

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I have been reading, these last two years, of neurologists that make the diagnosis of
"Demyelinating Disease" and stop.  They go no further in the diagnosis.  Yes, there are some other diseases that cause demyelination in the CNS, like ADEM, infections, Devic's. BUT, FAR AND AWAY THE MOST COMMON IS MS.  It is the neurologist's duty to put a name to the "demyelinating disease."  The reason for this is the potential benefit of using a DMD if it is MS.
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In other words, MS is one of the demyelinating diseases, and she names some others above. So just to say 'demyelinating disease' is not enough. This is not a diagnosis.

ess

[essdipity]

Oh, possibly you don't understand what demyelination means. (Not an easy word to spell, either.)

Myelin is the name of the fatty sheath that surrounds the connections between nerves. It insulates these connections and allows the nerve impulses to pass so that muscles get stimulated and movement can take place. If something attacks the myelin (like MS, for instance), this process gets disrupted or scrambled. Lots of bad effects are possible from this malfunction.

This is hardly a scientific explanation and I'm not scientist, but I think this covers in a rough way what happens with demyelination.

ess

[truelove47]

Thanks, I know what losing the myelin around the fatty sheath is



I am confused about the term demyleting disease.  Is it a catagory and ms is 1 disease in this catagory????  Please forgive spelling (I'm bad)    thanks Linda

[essdipity]

Yes, that's it. If a doctor says demyelinating disease, then he or she is obligated to try to determine which one it is, not to just drop the ball at that point.

ess

[rudyhorse]

Hi,
I hope you can push for a disease name, they have given you a category.  Like cereal, but which cereal, frosted flakes, apple jacks ect.  I know that sounds dumb, but it is the only thing I could think of. :)

It must be frustrating and confusing.  Best wishes for a more specific diagnosis.
Tracy

[Zacksmomi]

I know I had sign of demyelination on a cervical spine MRI I had done.  My PCP referred me for a brain MRI right away.  This MRI showed obvious MS patterns of demyenlination.
I spent a lot of time looking into demyelination and its causes and did not even look into MS at first between the c spine MRI and the brain MRI.
  I looked more at a B12 deficiency since my levels were on the lower side.
I would be pushing hard for a dx.  Do not let them leave you at demyelination.  Something is definately the cause for it.

What type of MRI did you have?

D