MICHIGAN POLIO
NETWORK, INC

POST POLIO RESOURCES

More
  • Homepage
  • Contact us
  • SEM SupportGroup
  • Polio Survivor Groups
  • Post-Polio Clinics
  • Professional Services
  • Polio Stories
  • Enteroviruses 101
    • Page 1
    • Page 2
    • Page 3
    • Page 4
  • Lifestyle Modifications
  • Anesthesia Concerns
  • Brace Maintenance
  • Did You Know?
  • Late Effects of Polio
  • Polio: A Look Back
  • PPS Guidelines
  • Muscle Atrophy
  • Calendar
Did you know that there are 12-20 million other individuals who had polio living in the world today?                                                                                             

Although some people think "polio does not exist anymore," even now the polio virus is causing poliomyelitis in under-vaccinated children. You may live in a country that is trying to eradicate the polio virus and where there are barriers to education, employment, and health care for survivors. You may live where cases of acute polio no longer occur, but where you have to challenge the status quo that excludes people with disabilities from full participation in life, for you, polio still exists.

 

There are Long-Term Physical Consequences to Having had Polio.

 

New symptoms recognized by the medical community that may relate to prior polio include:

      unaccustomed fatigue-either rapid muscle tiring or feeling of total body exhaustion

      new weakness in muscles, both those seemingly unaffected

      pain in muscles and/or joints

      sleeping problems; breathing or swallowing problems

      decreased ability to conduct customary daily activities such as climbing stairs, walking, lifting, etc.

 

 

Recommended Actions

Obtain a complete general medical evaluation from your primary care physician. Any medical problems found in the evaluation should be treated and monitored.

If your symptoms persist, seek a neuromuscular examination from a specialist in post-polio problems, typically a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist (physiatrist) or a neurologist. The purpose of this examination is to determine what the problem is and to establish a baseline from which to judge future changes, and to evaluate and update your mobility aids.

The experience of having had poliomyelitis is a very personal one and different from one survivor to another.

Polio is caused by any of three types of the polio virus. The major illness types include non-paralytic and paralytic polio  The polio virus damages motor nerve cells and the muscles instructed by those nerves are temporarily or permanently paralyzed. Acute polio does not infect sensory nerves, so sensation is not affected. Paralytic polio can be classified as spinal, bulbar, or spino-bulbar. Bulbar is the most serious form of polio and involves the part of the brain dealing with the vital functions of respiration and swallowing.

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
.