|
One Member’s Story By Ann Crocker Kathleen Bennett of Presque Isle, Maine was fifteen and a sophomore in high school when she contracted polio. She described picking potatoes and feeling achy, but when she later lost strength and fell downstairs, the diagnosis of polio quickly followed. Initially, paralysis appeared to be mainly in her lower extremities. After spending nearly eight months at the Maine Medical Center, Kay spent the summer of 1947 at the Pine Tree Camp in Rome, Maine. That fall, she went to the Hyde Memorial Home in Bath, being one of the very first to arrive there. In her conversation with me, she mentioned that she was able to attend high school in Bath, but only on a part-time basis, because she could only go to the classes offered on the first floor, as stairs were impossible for her to manage. After another summer at the Pine Tree Camp, Kay finally returned to her home in New Sweden in 1948. At first, she wore one leg brace and used a cane, but as she became weaker with post-polio symptoms, a physiatrist recommended a power chair with a lift to aid her mobility and save shoulder strength. Polio didn’t stop her from finishing school, working, and raising 2 boys. Married for 44 years, she enjoys life and believes staying upbeat is the only way—“The cup is half full -- there’s no point in dragging a chain around.” A regular attendee of our annual conferences, Kay enjoys coming with her husband and seeing everyone. The only conference she recalls missing was when she had shoulder surgery. She mentions it’s hard noticing the absence of those who have now passed on, but finds the conferences very worthwhile. Fibromyalgia – might this explain some of your pain and discomfort? Many people with post-polio syndrome have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, too. Typical signs may include aching all over, waking up stiff and sore, feeling tired all the time, trouble sleeping, widespread muscle pain, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, memory problems, and temperature sensitivity. Other symptoms may include sensitivity to sounds, light and smells, skin sensitivity and rashes, restless leg syndrome, and dizziness. Some or all of these symptoms may come and go, sometimes with long periods of apparent recovery. These symptoms all can represent so many other health issues, it is no wonder that fibromyalgia is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Affecting 8 to 10 million Americans, about 80% are women. Although the cause is unknown, genes may play a role. Also, stress, physical trauma, repetitive injuries or illness may trigger fibromyalgia—and anyone with post-polio syndrome certainly has experienced some of these conditions. In a recent Woman’s Day article, it’s suggested that if you think you might have fibromyalgia, consider seeing a rheumatologist. While there is no lab test available, doctors can do a “tender point” exam, which checks 18 specific points on your body for pain or tenderness. Also, the pain usually should be found in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months. Just like those for PPS, a treatment that works for one may not work for someone else, and you may need to vary treatments. Working with either a specialist or your general practitioner, specific treatments for you should be considered. Physical therapy with stretching exercises, yoga, massage, saunas, sleep management, medications, rest periods, and nutritional changes are examples of treatments that may help. Much more information about fibromyalgia can be found at the National Fibromyalgia Association’s website www.fmaware.org. |
|
Page |
|
Summer 2006 |