Publication:

Rare cause of neck pain and gait imbalance: a case report

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is an uncommon cause of neck pain and radiculopathy that can be easily misdiagnosed. The lack of diagnostic criteria makes the diagnosis of such cases challenging. However, the correlation between clinical presentation with laboratory and radiological findings can help diagnose these patients. Surgical decompression is rarely indicated in the absence of any cause of neuronal compression. Medical treatment of CIDP is currently the main line of treatment. We are presenting a case of a 32-year-old male with no known medical conditions who presented to our spine clinic with a history of chronic neck pain associated with gradual and progressive left upper limb weakness and imbalance. Clinical imaging showed hypertrophied nerve roots of the cervical spine. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and corticosteroids, which improved his symptoms significantly.