Fatigue, tingling, numbness, and weakness

CIDP has a variety of signs and symptoms that differ from person to person

If you think you have CIDP, you may be experiencing any or all of the following symptoms1,2:

Arms
Weakness

Fingers and hands
Weakness, tingling, numbness, burning sensation

Legs
Weakness

Toes and feet
Weakness, tingling, numbness, burning sensation

Additional symptoms
Pain, impaired coordination, abnormal walk, trouble walking, trouble bending over, trouble reaching, trouble squatting, feeling tired, problems with balance

Image of woman showing where CIDP symptoms may occur

The most common symptoms of CIDP are weakness, numbness, and tingling in the legs and arms. Other symptoms include fatigue, pain, balance issues, and impairment of your ability to walk. Some people have described feeling as if there were an electrical storm in their arms or legs.3,4

Symptoms usually occur on both sides of the body at the same time. But sometimes only one side is involved. You may experience symptoms in your arms, legs, or both. Symptoms of CIDP can be mild, moderate, or severe and change in severity over time.3,5

Because CIDP has symptoms similar to other conditions like Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is often misdiagnosed. In order for your doctor to provide you with a valid CIDP diagnosis, your symptoms need to be present for 8 weeks or more.2

Learn more about CIDP

Can CIDP be misdiagnosed?

CIDP can be misdiagnosed due to similar symptoms associated with other conditions like GBS, MS, or ALS.

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Learn more

How is CIDP diagnosed?

There are various tests and tools used to help assess and diagnose CIDP.

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Learn more

Symptom survey

Curious if your symptoms could be CIDP? Take this survey and discuss the results with your doctor.

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References

  1. Lewis RA. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: practice essentials, background, pathophysiology. Medscape website. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1172965-overview#showall. Accessed November 18, 2022.
  2. What is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)? GBS/CIDP Foundation International website. https://www.gbs-cidp.org/gbs/. Accessed November 18, 2022.
  3. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). University of Chicago Center for Peripheral Neuropathy website. http://peripheralneuropathycenter.uchicago.edu/learnaboutpn/typesofpn/inflammatory/cidp.shtml. Accessed November 18, 2022.
  4. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. University of Rochester Medical Center website. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=134&contentid=210. Accessed November 18, 2022.
  5. Gorson KC, Gooch CL. The (mis)diagnosis of CIDP: The high price of missing the mark. Neurology. 2015;85(6):488-489.