Neuromyelitis optica

We’re all in this for good.

By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as co-founder Jamie Heywood explains in this video.

What is neuromyelitis optica?

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease, is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder in which a person's own immune system attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord. This produces an inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and the spinal cord (myelitis).

Common symptoms reported by people with neuromyelitis optica

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:

Treatments taken by people for neuromyelitis optica

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have neuromyelitis optica through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with neuromyelitis optica? Members in the forum might have the answers.

Compare treatments taken by people with neuromyelitis optica

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have neuromyelitis optica through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with neuromyelitis optica? Members in the forum might have the answers.

Who has neuromyelitis optica on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 0 new patients joined this month
  • 744 say NMO is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 18
30s 55
40s 70
50s 57
60s 64
70+ 174
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 35
20-29 years 25
30-39 years 20
40-49 years 25
50-59 years 15
60-69 years 25
70+ years 19

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 123
Female 498

Types
Condition Types Proportion # of patients
Asian optic-spinal MS 9
Monophasic NMO 15
NMO spectrum disorder 94
Relapsing NMO 154
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 294
Not Diagnosed 55

These charts show data from NMO patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: