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CIDP diagnosis
My local Neurologist sent me to a NeuroMuscular specialist at the local university medical center (not a level 3 like Mayo Clinic) for evaluation of peripheral neuropathy. I have symptoms of CIDP (extreme fatigue, pain and numbness in legs and arms, unsteady gait, etc.) but she said I have idiopathic polyneuropathy. She said the EMG doesn't form the typical waveform of CIDP although it shows neuropathy. I'm not sure if or how it would help to have the CIDP diagnosis. I go back to my local, very experienced neurologist in a couple of weeks, but I don't know if anyone knows how the waveform of the CIDP EMG differs from polyneuropthy. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) but the rheumatologist says my neuropathy isn't autoimnune.
All they have offered is Cymbalta 60 mg and Gabapentin 300 mg at bedtime (makes me even sleepier). I'm really frustrated because I'm 73 and would like to do a few more trips etc. before I can't do any more.
Does anyone know about diagnosing CIDP just based on the waveform of the EMG? Thanks
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Welcome @skyley, There is another discussion with a few videos that mention current treatments and diagnosis guidelines for CIDP.
-- Current treatments and new guidelines for diagnosis of CIDP:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/current-treatments-and-new-guidelines-for-diagnosis-of-cidp/
I did find a research article that talks about the EMG waveform but not sure how helpful it is.
-- The comparison of MRN, electrophysiology and progression among typical CIDP and atypical CIDP subtypes:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73104-1
You might find it helpful to look through the different discussions on Connect that mention "diagnosing CIDP" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=diagnosing%20CIDP.
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3 ReactionsThere is established criteria for CIDP diagnosis published in 2021 I believe. One of the criteria is the electrical testing and wave forms that the criteria specify. There are other things too that are required to fall into the CIDP diagnosis.