@lioness no it's not shingles. Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is a central nervous system disorder that primarily affects the eye nerves and the spinal cord. It occurs when your body's immune system reacts against its own cells in the central nervous system and mainly in the optic nerves and spinal cord, but sometimes the brain. I am taking a drug called imuran that help to suppress my immune system. I have a spot on my brain and spinal cord which now is slowly decreasing.