Emily TurnerMichael Klim won six Olympic medals, set world records, and was part of one of the greatest relay teams in Australian sporting history. In 2020, at 44 years old, he was diagnosed with a disease that began attacking his nervous system from within.
Klim's diagnosis with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy — CIDP — became public knowledge through his February 2026 appearance on ABC's Australian Story, where he described the progressive loss of sensation and muscle function that followed his diagnosis. The episode, part of the programme's 30th anniversary season, was titled "Sink or Swim." It has renewed national attention on CIDP, a condition most Australians have never heard of.
What Is CIDP?
CIDP is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the myelin sheath — the protective coating surrounding nerve fibres. As myelin is damaged, nerve signals slow or fail entirely, causing progressive weakness, numbness, and loss of coordination in the arms and legs.
The disease affects approximately 1 in 100,000 Australians. It is often misdiagnosed in its early stages, confused with other neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, or even the normal physical decline associated with ageing. The symptoms — tingling in the hands and feet, difficulty walking, unexplained fatigue — are easy to attribute to other causes.
Unlike Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is acute and typically resolves within months, CIDP is a chronic condition. Without treatment, it can lead to permanent neurological damage and significant disability. With prompt and appropriate treatment, most patients achieve meaningful improvement.
The Treatment Options Currently Available
Treatment for CIDP typically involves one or more of the following approaches, depending on severity and individual response:
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG): The most commonly used first-line treatment. IVIG involves infusing donor antibodies to suppress the autoimmune response. Many CIDP patients require ongoing infusions every three to six weeks.
Corticosteroids: Oral or intravenous steroids reduce immune system activity and can slow disease progression. Long-term steroid use carries its own health risks and is generally used in combination with other treatments.
Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis): A procedure that removes and replaces blood plasma to reduce the concentration of the antibodies attacking nerve fibres. Effective but labour-intensive.
Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG): A home-based alternative to hospital IVIG infusions, increasingly available in Australia. Allows patients to self-administer treatment and maintain greater independence.
For Klim, who was managing his condition while maintaining a public profile and co-founding the Klim Foundation with fiancée Michelle Owen, access to appropriate treatment has been part of a broader effort to stay active and engaged rather than defined by the diagnosis.
Why CIDP Is Frequently Misdiagnosed
According to Healthdirect Australia, nerve-related conditions are among the most commonly misdiagnosed categories in general practice, primarily because symptoms develop gradually and overlap with numerous other conditions. CIDP specifically is estimated to take an average of two years from symptom onset to correct diagnosis.
The symptoms that typically trigger a patient to seek care — fatigue, weakness, tingling — are non-specific. A GP assessing these symptoms in a formerly elite athlete in their mid-forties might reasonably attribute them to post-career deconditioning, accumulated joint damage, or the metabolic changes of middle age.
What distinguishes CIDP from these explanations is the progressive and bilateral pattern of symptoms, typically starting in the feet and hands and moving proximally up the limbs. A neurologist performing nerve conduction studies — measuring the speed at which electrical signals travel through peripheral nerves — can usually detect the characteristic slowing associated with demyelination.
Klim's Advocacy and the Klim Foundation
Since going public with his diagnosis, Klim has leveraged his public profile to accelerate awareness of CIDP in Australia. The Klim Foundation focuses on support for CIDP patients and their families, funding research into better diagnostic tools and treatment protocols, and reducing the isolation that comes with a rare disease diagnosis.
Klim has described the psychological dimension of the disease as particularly challenging — the experience of a formerly elite physical performer losing progressive control over basic movement is confronting in ways that standard medical management does not fully address.
This dimension has prompted increasing interest from Australian neurologists and sports medicine practitioners in integrated care models that address the psychological and social aspects of chronic neurological disease alongside the clinical.
Recognising the Warning Signs
Most Australians who develop CIDP will never have been elite athletes. The disease affects people across all demographics, with no clear correlation to physical fitness or prior health status. The warning signs to watch for include:
- Persistent tingling or numbness in hands or feet that does not resolve within a few weeks
- Weakness in arms or legs that progressively worsens rather than stabilises
- Difficulty with fine motor tasks — buttoning a shirt, gripping objects — that you previously performed without difficulty
- Balance problems or unexplained falls
- Symptoms that began in the extremities and appear to be moving toward the centre of the body
None of these symptoms alone confirms CIDP. But their combination — particularly if progressive — should prompt a GP referral to a neurologist. Early referral is the single most important factor in achieving a timely diagnosis.
When to See a Neurologist
A GP can initiate the diagnostic process, but confirmation of CIDP requires specialist assessment. If you or a family member have experienced unexplained, progressive neurological symptoms, asking your GP for a neurology referral is a reasonable and appropriate first step.
Michael Klim's willingness to share his diagnosis — and the work of the Klim Foundation in reducing the awareness gap around CIDP — has the potential to meaningfully shorten the diagnostic journey for Australians who are currently attributing their symptoms to something else entirely.
This article provides general health information only. It does not constitute medical advice. Consult your GP or a qualified neurologist for assessment of any neurological symptoms.
