Devick's Syndrome

I have had what I thought was MS since I was 21, now I am 48.  It all went into remission for 20 years, but in the last 3 years I have been getting totally numb in my arms, legs and now my right hand is starting to go numb.  My doctor says my MRI's show all the damage to my spine is mostly cervical, not in the brain, so she thinks it might be Devick's Syndrome.  I cannot find info on this syndrome anywhere. Please help, what are the symptoms of Devick's Syndrome?  Is there another name for this? What are the proper tests and treatments?  If I do have this disorder, what is my prognosis?  

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my plea for help!!

Cindy

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

Devic's syndrome is a demyelinating disorder related to MS but with a different cause - unknown at present

It is also called neuromyelitis optica - if you do not have optic nerve damage (and you would have after 23 years) you do not have Devic's. Optic nerve damage can be identifies by opthalmoscopic examination or visual evoked potentials.

The cervical spine is the usual area for MS to affect - it does not usually cause lesions in teh thoracic or lumbar spine. It usually causes lesions higher in teh brain though - have you had a brain MRI? Perhaps your diagnosis (made 23 years ago) needs to be reconfirmed to see if it was really MS - this can be done with MRI of the brain, and spinal fluid analysis. Even though you had no symptoms we know now that, in MS, the brain may still be accruing new MS lesions. There is treatment for MS to slow the accumulation of lesions and prevent relapses.

Devic's is an aggressive disease, usually resulting in blindness and spasticity over a few years - this does not sound liek your case. You should seek expert advice though from an experienced neurologist.