Living With Polio

Millions of individuals who had polio are living in all areas of the world. Survivors range in age from a few months to nonagenarians (in their nineties). Aftereffects vary greatly depending on the number and location of the nerve cells destroyed by the poliovirus. The challenge or ease of living with polio varies for each survivor, depending on the availability of medical care and rehabilitation opportunities, and their family and social support.

Advice, hints, explanations, etc., are categorized by topic and are searchable. The source of the material is identified.

Reminder: PHI’s post-polio.org and IVUN’s ventusers.org or ventnews.org features numerous articles to assist in living with polio.

Learning and Sharing Polio’s Legacy

Jean Graber, Central Kansas Polio Survivors Group
Presented at Promoting Healthy Ideas: PHI’s 11th International Conference, June 2014

Legacy means “that which is handed down.”

2017 WE'RE STILL HERE! Photo Contest

Aging with Dignity!

Aging is inevitable and well-earned. Aging with the late effects of polio is perplexing and challenges our inner resources. Aging grants wisdom and time for reminiscing.

What photo represents your acquired wisdom? What photo would best represent your approach to aging?

Constipation in Polio Survivors

From my standpoint as a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the connection between constipation and post-polio syndrome is academic. i.e., it is an interesting discussion and may be important, but I am not sure it changes treatment. William M. DeMayo, MD

Here are some practical thoughts.

I would address the issue the same as a partial neurogenic bowel, i.e., in a stepwise fashion. It's hard to give a cookbook one size fits all answer, but some points would include the following:

Health Professionals say: PPS-G14, Sequelae of Polio B91

In 2016, Post-Polio Health International (PHI) surveyed health professionals with experience in post-polio patient care. A PowerPoint of some of the data can be viewed at Survey of Health Professionals with Experience in Post-Polio Patient Care. Post-Polio Health, Volume 33, Number 3, (August, 2017) will feature an article about the results, too.

One thought not discussed in either of the above is related to definition and ICD-10 codes. The survey asked health professionals the following.