PHILADELPHIA — Ducks winger Patrick Eaves has been diagnosed with what is suspected to be Guillain–Barré syndrome, a neurological disorder where the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.

The Ducks released details of Eaves’ condition Monday. Eaves was admitted to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach last week and continues to rest in stable condition after being discharged from the hospital’s intensive care unit over the weekend.

Eaves had been dealing with what the Ducks called a lower-body injury since the beginning of training camp. He missed the entire preseason and the first three games before making his season debut on Oct. 11 against the New York Islanders, when he scored a goal in a 3-2 win.

Eaves played another game before being sidelined again. It was when he visited with specialists to detect the source of his feelings of physical weakness that the rare disorder was diagnosed and immediate hospitalization was required. The Ducks say he is expected to make a full recovery.

“I want to thank Dr. Robert Watkins Sr. and Dr. Danny Benmoshe for their early diagnosis of my condition, along with the proactive Ducks medical team,” Eaves said in a statement released Monday. “Thanks to them and the incredible nurses at Hoag Hospital, I’m on the road to recovery. I’ve received tremendous amount of support over the last few days, most importantly from my family, friends and teammates.

“I’m determined to fully overcome this and return to the ice as soon as possible.”

Weakness and tingling in one’s extremities are often the first symptoms to Guillain–Barré, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Those sensations can spread rapidly throughout the body and, if not treated quickly, could result in paralysis.

The exact cause of the syndrome is unknown and there is no specific cure for the illness. Most do recover through medical treatment, though the length of time it takes to can vary widely from person to person. Some can fully recover in weeks, others may take months or years.

Eaves, 33, is in the first year of a three-year contract extension that was signed in June before he could hit the open market as a free agent. The Ducks were eager to keep the versatile winger after he became an ideal fit, producing as soon as he arrived from Dallas in a February trade.

“Our sole focus at this time is on Patrick’s general health and well-being,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. “We are grateful his condition was diagnosed early by Dr. Robert Watkins Sr. and Dr. Danny Benmoshe, and thank the staff at Hoag Hospital and our own medical personnel for their efforts.

“What defines Patrick Eaves is his strength of character, and that will serve him well in his recovery. Our thoughts are with Patrick and his family at this time.”

Former NHL player Serge Payer contracted Guillain–Barré while playing in Canadian major junior hockey. Payer recovered after a 10-month battle with that disease and mononucleosis, ultimately playing in 124 games with Florida and Ottawa before continuing his pro career in Germany and Norway.

Payer retired in 2011 and has a foundation to call attention to the autoimmune disorder and raise money for its research.

Other notable athletes stricken with the disorder include Olympic gold medal swimmer Rowdy Gaines, former Chicago Bears defensive lineman William Perry and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback Danny Wuerffel.

Gaines was diagnosed at age 32 and returned to competitive swimming after a two-month hospital stay. Perry and Wuerffel contracted the illness well after their playing careers ended.