Re: What might "inflammation of central nervous system and/or a demylination process" mean?

In Reply to: What might "inflammation of central nervous system and/or a demylination process" mean? posted by JZ on October 31, 2000 at 06:21:05:

: A friend of mine who has experienced some neurological problems recently wrote me about a visit to her doctor, who told her he thinks she has an "inflammation of central nervous system and/or a demylination process". He did not mention MS. He has scheduled her for an MRI of the brain, and an EEG and VER (whatever that is).

: I am of course very concerned about what this could mean. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.

Your description is characteristic of the nerve destruction present in various diseases, MS being one of them. MS is a very difficult disease to diagnose even by the best of experts. Inflammation occurs in the CNS when white blood cells invade the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation causes increased blood flow and swelling. This inflammation over a long period of time is what destroys the myelin, a protective coating of the nerves. As the myelin disappears, transmission of the nerve signals are disrupted. The person then experiences sensory and motor prooblems - blurred or double vision, numbness, muscle weakness, etc. The reason for this myelin deterioration will take awhile to diagnose. The diagnosing process involves clinical evaluations, formal testing (MRI, lumbar puncture, etc.), an examination of past history of symptoms, and usually a process of eliminaton by ruling out all other possible causes via tests. This processcan actually take a period of years. Give your friend the support she will need through this journey.