CIDP is an autoimmune disorder where one’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerves leading to inflammation and even stripping of the myelin. This results in loss of motor function, sensation, and proprioception in the arms and legs. CIDP is the chronic counterpart of the acute disorder, GBS (Guillain-Barre Syndrome). Find out more about CIDP and GBS.
The onset of CIDP is usually gradual, but for me it was sudden. I was unable to walk four days after I first noticed a decline in my ability to balance on June 3, 2016. By July 25, 2016 my arms and legs were paralyzed. The good news is that one can recover from CIDP and I’m in the process of doing just that! The first chapter of my battle with CIDP and how it affected my family is beautifully outlined in an article and video on the UHN (University Health Network) website.
Some known causes of CIDP are virus, infection, surgery, physical trauma, inoculation, or insect bite: essentially any invader or event that somehow triggers one’s immune system to go haywire. There is no solid evidence that a genetic defect might be at work. In my case the cause is supposedly unknown. The term for this is idiopathic. About 40% of CIDP cases are idiopathic.