Ever heard of Devic's Disease or NMO?

[vizslagal]

Devic's Disease or NMO seems like a mimic of MS.  I thought that some of you with reoccuring ON and trouble walking and wonky spines but normal seeming brain MRI's might want to take a look.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) as the name implies (‘neuros’-to do with the nervous system, ‘myelos’- spinal cord, ‘optica’- related to vision) is a disease of the nervous system, which usually affects mainly  the spinal cord and the optic nerves (the nerves that connect the eye to the brain). It is also called Devic’s disease after Eugene Devic who summarised the features of the condition in 1894 .It had been described by Albutt (1870) and Erb (1880) earlier

Here is a link to a website with some really good info from the Walton Centre. http://www.devic.org.uk/information.php#10

Yvette

[Monkeybutt1212]

Guthyjacksonfoundation.org

[Udkas]

Hi, thank you for sharing that information with us.  The website was excellent. I have a neurologist who believes I have Transverse Myelitis.  My past MRI was clear.  Having another one tomorrow. 13 years ago I had optic neuritis (I think) well the eye doc said I did and I had abnormal VEP test (the checkerboard one) my optic discs are pale.

I think I will bring this up with my neuro when I go back, as this neuro is not aware of my abnormal VEP 13 years ago.

Hey Quix, thanks again too for suggesting this to me when you answered my post.

Cheers,
Udkas.

[Belle01]

I heard of NMO after my husband was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis.  Luckily, he was confirmed not to have Devic's, after one doctor suspected it.

[fishyfish]

Here's another link for more info:  http://www.myelitis.org/

Interesting stuff, for sure.

FF

[T-lynn]

Dr.Rammohan is an excellent ms specialist,my current neuro correlates with him when my symptoms get out of wack and can't be controlled.

I had lumbar myelitis in 1998 that has progressed to MS.He reveiwed all my medical records and mri's recently.

Your hubby is in excellent hands as our local neuro's correspond with DR.Rammonhan,he recently put a friend of mine on LDN as she was not resonding with current meds,she's made fantastic strides with the LDN

[shelbe04]

My husband was first DX'd with Devics Disease at Ohio State University about 3 years ago, his Doctor, Dr. Rammohan is an expert in this field. His DX was changed to Transverse Myelitis (TM) after about 1 year. The problem is, the symptoms for MS and Devics are basically the same, which makes it difficult to Dx between the two. Difference is, Devics is one episode and you don't have any additional ones, but you have MS symptoms with it. There is a specific test they can do for Devics, blood has to be frozen and takes several weeks to come back but it is accurate. Dr. Rammohan helped develop the test.

[vizslagal]

I saw a reference to NMO on another MS ask the doctor forum and I didn't know what it was.  As always when I come across a term I don't know, I googled it to find out what it was.  It is the only way to learn some of the abreviations and medical terms when you don't have a medical background.

[vizslagal]

Bumping for your comments on this MS mimic.

[floridamom2]

Wow,  I had no idea of this either and after searching all of my symptoms you would have thought it would have come up at least once.  Very intriguing, thanks for the new research project!
Take care!
Kristin

[fishyfish]

Thanks, Yvette!  I certainly hadn't heard of this possibility, but it is very intriguing.  Has anyone else heard of this disease?  I'd be interested to hear if anyone's neuro had considered this as a possibility.  I'm going to google it for more info.  Thanks again,

Fishyfish

[Monkeybutt1212]

I have Neuromyelitis Optica.  I was diagnosed November 2013, by Dr Michael Levy at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland.
www.guthyjackson.org