What’s Inside

 

 

· No Post Polio        Clinic?……...….P. 1

 

· One Member’s Story……...….P. 2

 

· Annual Conference Info, Registration Form……...…P. 3 & 4

 

· Bits ‘n Pieces, news you can use…..P. 6

 

 

When a Post-Polio Clinic is Not Easily Accessible

 

For many people, traveling to a post-polio clinic may not be feasible due to travel distance, financial costs, logistics, or other personal reasons.  That does not mean that you need to be left out in getting treatment for PPS.  In a presentation at the Ninth International Conference on Post-Polio Health, Dr. Carol Vandenakker outlined several steps you may try.  You may find the complete outlined steps at Post-Polio Health’s website www.post-polio.org.  The following is a summary of some of the outline and is not intended to be a complete listing of the steps/issues/treatments/conditions contained in the full presentation.

 

· Start with a good primary care physician-one you can trust and provide information about PPS that you have or will obtain from your PPS organization;

· Optimize good health through diagnosis and treatment of other conditions;

· Monitor aging changes and other health conditions;

· Control weight and maintain a healthy diet;

· Set up a controlled exercise routine;

· Manage stress through life changes, medication, meditation, rest, etc.;

· Have diagnostic testing and see specialists as symptoms dictate;

· Manage pain by its type and location;

· Post-polio muscle pain from overuse of weak muscles is acute; associated with cramps, twitching, crawling sensation; aggravated by activity, stress, cold; increases at end of day – TREATMENT – protect muscles, modify activity, pace yourself;

· Soft tissue pain from injury or inflammation, such as tendonitis, bursitis – TREATMENT –correct/adapt body mechanics, rest, ice, use NSAIDS, therapy;

· Joint pain from degenerative changes affects joints from normal or excessive use; for joint deformity in affected limbs; from mild degeneration – TREATMENT – bracing, assistive devices, therapy, medications;

· Spinal pain may be in spine or into extremities, with scoliosis increasing

 

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The Post Polio

Support Group Of Maine

 

Summer 2006

Cont’d on back page

Polio Update

 Summer 2006