MICHIGAN POLIO
NETWORK, INC

POST POLIO RESOURCES

More
  • Homepage
  • Contact us
  • Support Groups
  • SEM SupportGroup
  • PPS Clinics/Physicians
  • Professional Services
  • Polio Stories
    • Tim Brown
    • Mike Davis
    • Dianne Dych
    • Edith Grinnell
    • Daniel Matakas
    • Kathleen Navarre
    • Bonnie Levitan
    • Barb Oniszczak
    • Bruce Sachs
    • Jerry Hazel
    • Phyllis M Peters
    • Anne Erlebach
    • Donald Straith
    • Cathleen Casey
    • Al Manente
    • M May
    • Submit a story
  • Polio Perspectives
  • In Memory of
  • Enteroviruses 101
  • Archive
    • Membership
    • 2013 Conference
    • 2011 Conference
      • Page 1
      • Page 2
      • Page 3
      • Page 4
    • Financial Results
    • Library
    • LunchnLearn
    • OUWB
    • Ongoing Projects
  • Lifestyle Modifications
  • Anesthesia Concerns
  • Bay Cliff Wellness
  • Brace Maintenance
  • Did You Know?
  • Late Effects of Polio
  • Polio: A Look Back
  • PPS Guidelines
  • Muscle Atrophy
  • Free Press
  • SEMPPSGHomePage
  • SEMPPSGNewsletters
  • Mid Michigan Support Group

Leg-length mismatch common in polio survivors


Dear Dr. Roach: I had polio when I was 11 years old, many years ago, and miraculously, recovered enough to live a normal life. When I was in my 40s, I developed constant back pain and visited a renowned orthopedist in Stamford, Connecticut. When I told him I'd had polio, he rolled up a paper towel and placed it under my right heel. He told me that “all people with polio have some degree of scoliosis.” The pain went away almost immediately.


He gave me a prescription for a 1⁄4- inch heel pad (to take to a shoemaker) and to wear it in my right shoe all the time. The doctor said that for over 30 years, my back muscles have been straining to force my body to stand straight, causing the pain. I also was advised to do a set of floor-stretching exercises, which I did every morning.


I am now 85 years old and never had back pain again. Whenever someone mentions they have pain from scoliosis, I tell them my story.


E.R.

Dear E.R.: Poliomyelitis is a devastating complication of poliovirus with no proven treatment. The virus may damage many of the nerves of the body, including those to the muscles necessary to breathe (hence, the iron lung). For survivors, the resulting weakness is usually permanent. Fortunately, there is very little wild polio left in the world, with 15 cases as of this writing reported in 2018, all in Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, there are still hundreds of thousands of survivors of poliomyelitis living with the long-term effects of the disease.


Scoliosis is a common complication of poliomyelitis, but it is not universal. Scoliosis may develop years after the acute infection along with muscle weakness as part of post-polio syndrome. Muscle and joint pain go along with PPS.


One possibility of apparent scoliosis in your case is of a leg-length discrepancy (one leg longer than the other), which is exceedingly common in polio survivors. When one leg is longer than the other, it may lead to changes in the body to compensate. Over time, this causes hip and back pain and scoliosis due to functional changes of the spine. When the leg-length discrepancy is addressed, the scoliosis goes away. I suspect you had a leg-length discrepancy that the orthopedist addressed. Normally, the legs would be measured, and a lift would be given for no more than half the discrepancy. It's also possible there is both some scoliosis and some leg-length discrepancy.


It's very important to hear from people who survived polio. Until the disease is eradicated from the planet, we need to be vigilant about vaccinating.


KEITH ROACH

To Your Health


From the Detroit News 12/7/18


No warranties

This website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The Michigan Polio Network website providers make no representations or warranties in relation to this website or the information and materials provided on this website.

Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the Michigan Polio Network website providers do not warrant that:

     - this website will be constantly available, or available at all; or

     - the information on this website is complete, true, accurate or non-misleading.

Nothing on this website constitutes, or is meant to constitute, advice of any kind. If you require advice in relation to any medical matter you should consult an appropriate professional.


Limitations of liability

The Michigan Polio Network website providers will not be liable to you (whether under the law of contract, the law of torts or otherwise) in relation to the contents of, or use of, or otherwise in connection with, this website:

     - to the extent that the website is provided free-of-charge, for any direct loss;

     - for any indirect, special or consequential loss; or

     - for any business losses, loss of revenue, income, profits or anticipated savings, loss of contracts or business
       relationships, loss of reputation or goodwill, or loss or corruption of information or data
.