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CIDP shares similar symptoms with other diseases that impact the nervous system. Understanding your symptoms can help your doctor identify your condition and lead to a correct diagnosis.1
Compare your symptoms with a condition1-7:
| Muscles | Legs and feet | Arms and hands | Symptom pattern | Symptom progression | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIDP | Loss of muscle tone | Weak and uncoordinated with numbness and tingling | Weak and uncoordinated with numbness and tingling | Typically involves 2 or more limbs on both sides of the body at the same time | Symptom progression varies from months to years. Symptoms get worse over time |
| MS | Stiffness | Weak, uncoordinated, heavy, and stiff, with numbness and tingling | Weak and uncoordinated with numbness and tingling | Typically involves 1 or more limbs on one side of the body | Symptom progression varies from months to years. Symptoms get worse over time |
| ALS | Stiffness or loss of muscle tone | Weak, stiff, or heavy (no numbness or tingling) | Weak (no numbness or tingling) | Symptoms may start in your tongue, throat, arms, legs, or breathing muscles | Relentless symptom progression with permanent loss of functions |
| GBS | May be achy or painful | Weak and uncoordinated with numbness and tingling | Weak and uncoordinated with numbness and tingling sensations in hands | Typically starts in the legs and can spread to the upper body | Symptoms are more sudden (days to weeks). Brief progression of symptoms followed by slow recovery over months or years |
While CIDP shares some symptoms with MS, certain symptoms such as problems with concentration, vision, speech, and the bladder are seen only with MS.4
Although some CIDP symptoms may appear similar to those of ALS, ALS does not cause numbness, tingling, or uncomfortable sensations. Also, ALS commonly causes symptoms such as muscle twitching, weight loss, and muscle wasting as well as problems speaking, breathing, and swallowing.5
GBS symptoms quickly develop over days to weeks, and then slowly get better again. CIDP symptoms progress gradually over 2 to 6 months or more.2
Curious if your symptoms could be CIDP? Take this survey and discuss the results with your doctor.
There are various tests and tools used to assess and diagnose CIDP.
Get more information on CIDP and other helpful resources.
1. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. University of Rochester Medical Center website. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx? ContentTypeID=134&ContentID=210. Accessed January 9, 2017. 2. Koski CL. CIDP: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. Narberth, PA: GBS/CIDP Foundation International; 2012. 3. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). University of Chicago Center for Peripheral Neuropathy website. http://peripheralneuropathycenter.uchicago.edu/ learnaboutpn/typesofpn/inflammatory/cidp.shtm. Accessed February 16, 2017. 4. Multiple sclerosis: symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic website. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20131884. Accessed February 23, 2017. 5. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic website. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20247211?p=1. Accessed February 23, 2017. 6. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Amyotrophic-Lateral-Sclerosis-ALS-Fact-Sheet#Symptoms. Accessed February 23, 2017. 7. Guillain-Barré syndrome overview. New York Times website. http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/guillain-barre-syndrome/overview.html?print=1. Accessed February 2, 2017.