ME/CFS – Focus on Treatable Differential Diagnoses
Our Approach
Many patients contact us because they would like to know whether they have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
Our primary goal is not simply to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of ME/CFS. Instead, we aim to systematically identify treatable neurological differential diagnoses that may be causing or significantly contributing to a patient's symptoms.
This philosophy deliberately differs from a diagnostic approach that focuses solely on confirming a diagnosis.
Why Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation?
Chronic fatigue, exercise intolerance, dizziness, cognitive impairment ("brain fog"), pain, and many other symptoms can have numerous underlying causes. In many cases, patients also have additional neurological conditions that can be diagnosed and, at least in part, specifically treated.
These include, among others:
- Disorders of the autonomic nervous system (e.g. POTS and other autonomic neuropathies)
- Small fiber neuropathy
- Polyneuropathy
- Neurologically related sleep disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Other neurological diseases that may present with similar symptoms
In patients with suspected ME/CFS, it is not uncommon to identify additional neurological abnormalities that may have important therapeutic implications.
Our Diagnostic Philosophy
We deliberately do not limit our diagnostic work-up to the absolute minimum.
Based on our experience, a restricted diagnostic evaluation often leaves important medical questions unanswered and increases the risk that potentially treatable conditions remain undetected.
Our objective is therefore to perform the most comprehensive neurological evaluation that is medically appropriate in order to avoid overlooking clinically relevant and potentially treatable findings.