CMT affects the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) everything outside of the brain and spinal cord. CMT is the most common type of inherited neuropathy. It is listed on the MDA site with about 40 other diseases. (It's under the umbrella of the MDA as we say). However, it is not the same as MD where you are born with diseased muscles and MD is of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Much research is being done concerning CMT. A person who has CMT is born with healthy muscles. If they inherit the gene then it's when symptoms might become evident. You can be young, old, or in-between when symptoms might appear. Or symptoms might never be that evident and be attributed to something else such as RA. CMT symptoms vary greatly even within the same family. You can have high arches, flat feet, or normal feet. Some peoples hands and arms are affected as well as their feet and calves. And it certainly can affect other parts of the body as it progresses. And CMT does progress.

On the other hand, MS is an autoimmune disease (body attacking itself) and it is of the CNS.

CMT is has been misdiagnosed as Frederick's Ataxia, MS, Polio, you name it. Sadly that still happens today. CMT is inherited. It does not come from the environment or triggered by it. There are rare mutations. As of 2008 there were 50 types of CMT identified so far and there is no end in sight. There are people out there who have PN and it very well could be a type of CMT but they are not diagnosed. It might be a type which they do not have DNA blood testing for as of yet.

CMT is a very complex syndrome. There is no cure/treatment for CMT. No magic bullet, no supplement, no nothing. Maybe one day they will find a cure/treatment for a type of it. CMT1A is the most common. An expert neurologist who knows CMT and family history are a plus.

Kitt
(CMT)