Essentially, nerve damage and demyelinization are the same regardless
of the cause. There may be differences in approach but in almost no spinal
cord injuy is the cord actually severed. As Jim alluded to, the problem is
the swelling and the resulting nerve damge. Remyelinization is not specific
to the cause of the degeneration, although with MS, which is known to be a
progressive disease the question would still be whether or not further
damage would be done by whatever the process is that causes the
degeneration. Seems to me that TM and trauma are no different in this
regard. The damage is done and the question is how to undo it.
Human trials are still going on with 4-ap (which improves conduction)
-- and as with any new drug, there are always side effects. I was told that
the major problem with this drug was it's capacity to reduce seizure thresholds.
bryan