Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder that causes nerve swelling or inflammation. This inflammation destroys the protective coating that is wrapped around nerves and fibers.

Participate

There are currently several studies for CIDP taking place at the clinic. Please contact the coordinators of these studies by filling in the form below.








Neurogym and Clinical Research

Until recently, there were few, if any, evidence-based neurological treatments beyond that of the pharmacological variety. This is changing. Thanks to our NeuroGym, we now offer neuro-physiotherapy and custom-designed training equipment to complement pharmacological approaches.

The notion that specific physical exercises can help slow disease progression and speed up recovery, though often intuitively applied in other fields, is nonetheless novel to neurology. This gives us the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge evidence-based research concerning the efficacy of combined treatment options. Best of all, it also gives patients the opportunity to take charge of their recovery. Click here to find out more about NeuroGym.

In accordance with our mandate to provide the most comprehensive neurological care possible, we were the first to introduce Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (“Mag-Stim“) to the Gatineau region. Mag-Stim’s efficacy in treating neurological issues is now well documented, and its use is no longer uncommon in the Ottawa-Gatineau region’s psychiatric centers. Click here to find out more about Magnetic Stimulation.

That being said, we continue to be at the forefront of this treatment’s evolution; consistently developing new and better protocols thanks to our Neuro-Navigation, which allows us to actively and accurately plot the areas of the brain we stimulate with greater precision. Like every other neurological tool at Clinique Neuro-Outaouais, this allows us to not only research better treatments but also to provide a new level of customized care.

The Future

In the short term, it is our ability to combine treatments that provide the most avenue for increased efficacy; a complement to ongoing clinical research which promises gradual long-term improvement.

At Clinique Neuro-Outaouais, we’re excited to have had evidence-based success in improving patient care. We invite you to read our blog, and to contact us in order to learn more about our ongoing research trials and the range of our services.

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Symptoms & Cause

CIDP is a type of acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder, like the other inflammatory disorders that are similar to it, affects your peripheral nervous system. This includes the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord. Knowing the different symptoms of each disorder and how they progress can help you and your doctor determine which is affecting your body.

Symptoms aren’t the same for everyone, but you may be tired and have areas of numbness and pain. It can slow your reflexes and make your arms and legs feel weak. You have to have symptoms for at least 8 weeks for CIDP to be considered the cause. Symptoms include:
-slowed nerve response
-symmetrical symptoms
-sensory changes
-loss of reflexes
-slow development of symptoms over the long term

Cause & Treatment

Doctors and researchers aren’t clear what causes CIDP, but they do know it’s the result of an abnormal immune response. The immune system overreacts to a normal, healthy part of the body. It treats the myelin like invading bacteria or viruses, and destroys it. For that reason, CIDP is classified as an autoimmune disease.
The goal of treatment for CIDP is to stop the attacks on your myelin and slow the progression of symptoms. Besides medications, other treatments include:
-plasma exchange
-intravenous immunoglobulin injections
-immunosuppressant drugs

Research shows that people with CIDP benefit from aerobic exercise training and resistance exercise training. Both forms of exercise increase lung capacity and muscle strength. Building muscle strength and endurance can help reduce the effects of CIDP’s progressive muscle destruction.

Importance of clinical research

Each person living with CIDP has a different outlook. The best way to improve the outlook is to get a diagnosis early and start treatment right away. CIDP can be hard to diagnose. That makes quickly finding a treatment a challenge. The sooner you can start treatment, the more likely you are to prevent damage to nerves.

We participate in a number of clinical trials aiming to create advancements for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). Our participation allows us to offer many treatments long before they become available to a majority of specialists, giving patients an opportunity to choose from a wide range of care that, while experimental in nature, may possibly be more effective.

Cutting-edge treatments aren’t the only reason we conduct clinical trials, nor are they the only reason patients decide to participate. Our involvement gives us the opportunity to develop better protocols and, most importantly, to help advance the treatments themselves.

When it comes to Neurological diseases, large strides have been made in recent years; results that would have been impossible without the participation of Doctors, Nurses and, most of all, patients.