Nervous System

what is the meaning of demyelinating desease?

[DrKalraMD]

Hi, “A demyelinating disease is any disease of the nervous system in which the myelin sheath of neurons is damaged. This impairs the conduction of signals in the affected nerves, causing impairment in sensation, movement, cognition, or other functions depending on which nerves are involved”.

Following diseases are demyeliating diseases
•multiple sclerosis (together with the similar diseases called idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases)
•transverse myelitis
•Devic's disease
•progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demyelinating_disease
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/demyelinating-disease/AN00564

[indyhoosier]

I am new to this site.  I just received the results of my MRI and of course it was not in "ordinary people language."  I do have the white matter changes.  Quote from the report:  'The differential diagnosis includes prior trauma, migrain, accelerated small vessel ischemic disease, or demyelinating disease of infectious or inflammatory etologies.  Clinical correlatio is recommended."

lI have nerve damage.  I don't feel pain when I get cut or scratched.  Burns I feel at the time of the burn but there is no pain afterwards.  Even when the burn blisters.  My balance is way off.  When I am on the treadmill I have to hold to rails.  Sometimes hard to even walk a straight line.  I have had at least one TIA.  That was about 6 years ago and my physician suspects I've had more.

On top of that, every time I get blood work done I have to take another pill.  I have to take potassium; vitamin D; iron; B12 shots; on top of my other meds.  

Colon cancer is extremely bad in my family along with pancreatic cancer, throat cancer; lung cancer, brain tumors.   I've had a lumpectomy with only radiation after.   I am 58 years old.  

I just want to know how concerned I should be about this report.