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.

Seating

Posture

DON’T SLOUCH!
Sit up! Stand up straight! Watch your posture! How many times did we hear that from our moms when we were growing up? So often that it probably went in one ear and out the other. But Mom was right after all.

Lighten Up - Rest, Pacing, and Timing

You probably fill your car's gas tank when it is one-half or one-fourth empty rather than waiting until it runs out of gas. Rest is the body's equivalent of refueling. If you wait until your body is running on empty, it may be difficult to get going afterward and you may be out of commission for a few days.

Many of us have coped with a disability by acting as though it doesn't exist. We ignore pain and fatigue and push on until we finish the activity or drop from exhaustion. In the long run, we accomplish less and feel worse.

Polio Place

A service of Post-Polio Health International