I have read many times that once the axon is lost, the nerve cannot heal anymore and there is no hope for improvement / healing of neuropathy.

Now I have read in other sources that axons can heal if the nerve cell is still intact but only if the myelin sheath is not damaged.

I also wonder if axonal loss is the same as axonal damage or whether there is a difference between both. Maybe damaged axons can heal to some extent, but once they are lost they are lost? Then the question is whether and how one can measure if the axon is lost or damaged? And how about a damage to the myelin sheet only? does this has a better prognosis?

You see I am a bit confused. I know that I should ask my neurologist but next appointment is in a few weeks and I wonder if somebody here can help with that in the meantime. thanks a lot.