After polio we seem to have a narrower path to tread than others - rather like walking on a beam compared to being on a footpath.  So it is even more critical, that we take good care of ourselves,  no matter whether we think we are having problems now or not.  Prevention is better than treatment.
 
POST POLIO
So what is Post Polio?  It simply means - "after polio".  So anyone who has had polio, at any time since polio contraction, is simply - "post polio"!  Are people getting any worse?  Yes.  Can it just be put down to aging?  Not necessarily.  Aren't "normal" people having problems too?  Yes.  But that should not be our normal expectation.  Yes, we all develop diseases associated with old age but this usually results from something we have or haven't done, to ourselves - ie not looking after ourselves well enough over our life time.
 
IMMUNE FUNCTION
The fact that we had a recognisable dose of polio in the first place, (95% of  people, before vaccin-ation, had polio without being aware of it) points to poor immune function at that time.  Poor immune function could have resulted from allergies, previous illness near that time eg colds & flu's, fractures, surgery, other vaccinations, pregnancy, over-exertion, exhaustion, sporting or exhausting work situations, exposure to the elements, travelling (hence exposure to a new range of germs), stress, stressful situations, eg job change, school, etc.  The problems we are having now, can be caused by deteriorating immune function too.
 
GENERAL HEALTH
Generally what we see in polio survivors now is a deterioration in general health that is affecting our ability to manage as we have before.  A lot of our problems can be attributed, if not directly, at least indirectly to the fact that we have had polio.
 
A life-time spent walking with muscle and nerve deficit due to polio, a limp, a leg length discrep-ancy, using one part more to save a weaker part, going the extra mile just to show we can, and in many cases pretending that what we are doing is perfectly normal, is eventually going to take its toll.
 
So, fatigue, pain, increasing muscle weakness and wastage, arthritis, sore muscles, poor balance, falls, less stamina, less energy are to be expected.  Along with this, we can expect some of the ills the general population are experiencing too - like high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, arthritis, joint replacements, heart disease, cholesterol, cancer.  Having polio doesn't make us immune from these.
 
But can we do anything about it?  Yes we can.  We may not be able to do much about the damage caused by our original polio but we can do something about what is happening now.
 
BEING HEALTHY
We all have a pretty good idea of what is generally considered "healthy".  But perhaps we should look a bit closer.  The research we have been doing in WA on serum carnitine levels in post polio, shows that we do have a need to increase the carnitine-rich foods in our diet.  This means red meat and/or avocados.  A few times a week is not enough and maybe some extra daily supplementation would make a difference too.  The right dose is important.
 
Most of us here in WA seem to be low on magnesium in particular, and maybe other minerals too.  Root and leafy vegetables should contain a range of vitamins and minerals but if it is low in our soil anyway, our chances of getting enough are getting slimmer.  Maybe we need to take some extra in supplement form.
 
BLOOD GROUP DIET
The research we have been doing with blood groups and diet indicates that certain foods will lessen the strain on the body, depending which blood group we are.  These are generally the foods we like best anyway so this is not difficult.  Research in other parts of the world in this area has been highlighted on Channel 7 & 9 programs in 1999 and the idea that diet could be dictated by blood groups is gaining more recognition and acceptance.  If you haven't considered this before, ring me for our PPNWA booklets on blood group and diet.  This is pertinent to WA conditions.  Any-thing that lessens the strain on our body will help.

PUTTING UP WITH IT
It really annoys me when people say they have to expect it or put up with the problem, or even say that they have been told nothing can be done about it.  Because, at our Polio Clinic, we have found ways to alleviate many of the problems encountered as "post polio".
 
SOLVING POST POLIO PROBLEMS
Energy levels can be restored by taking extra carnitine.  Muscle pain is usually tight muscle and responds to magnesium.  Overstretched and damaged tendons respond to manganese.  Nerve pain often resolves with Vitamin B6.  Arthritis responds to boron if it is bone, gelatine if it is cartilage or disc degeneration.  B6 shrinks the inflamed synovial membrane around the joint, back to normal.  Vitamin C (the right one for your blood group) is a natural anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-allergy.  These facts and more are documented in medical health literature and we have seen them work.
 
Increasing weakness usually means nerve degeneration or interference.  Nerve support  can be achieved with appropriate doses of substances needed for neuro-transmission -  ie choline, glutamine and B6.  If there is nerve compression this needs to be resolved.  Joint repair may be achieved with boron and gelatine.  If the pinching is muscular, again magnesium.  Massage and chiropractic adjustments may give initial temporary relief.  Consider Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Bowen Treatment and Acupuncture. But we need to resolve the real problem so it won't re-occur.  Provide the body with what it needs to fix itself and we'll be right.
 
EQUIPMENT
Sometimes the problem is mechanical and further support may be necessary.  The Orthotic Dept at RPRH, Shenton Park, looks at specially made shoes for problem feet, shoe build-ups to equalise and lessen back strain, foot support as in-shoe orthosis, calipers, knee braces, abdominal corsets, wrist supports.  Walking sticks, elbow or axillary crutches, walking frames, manual or electric wheelchairs/ scooters are other ways to support deteriorating ambulatory function.  These are to lessen the strain, not necessarily to be used all the time.
 
Breathing assistance may be needed, particularly  for snorers with sleep apnoea, or poor respiratory muscles.  C-PAP's and IPPV's can give stressed breathing muscles a break while you sleep.  The Sleep Disorder Clinic at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital deals with this.
 
SURGERY
Surgery may be necessary, but is usually the last resort.  If surgery is contemplated, we advise a neurological review of muscles in the area by a neurologist familiar with post polio (ring our Clinic for advice) to ascertain how the muscles will respond to the surgery, immobilisation and physio post-op.  Take care not to overdo hydro-therapy and exercising.  Physical fatigue / over-exertion can cause more damage.  Ask for extra care with anaesthetics and no use of muscle relaxants.
 
TO SUM UP
People with little visible damage from their encounter with polio, ie people who are still doing a lot physically, are the ones most likely to benefit from some extra carnitine.  Those with more polio damage, ie who are getting more muscle weakness & wastage now, are more likely to respond to nerve support with B6, choline and glutamine.
 
Often commonly used drugs may worsen our polio problems.  As alternatives, our clinic uses boron and gelatine for arthritis, joint pain.  Vit C as an anti-inflammatory.  Emu oil, psyllium and taurine for cholesterol reduction.  Magnesium & boron for osteoporosis.  (calcium makes the muscles go tight so will worsen muscle pain)  Avoidance of beta-blockers for hypertension - beta-blockers interfere with carnitine metabolism. (Magnesium is a calcium channel blocker too and natural relaxer.)  Carnitine and chromium to avert or control diabetes where appropriate.  Vitamins B5 and C to enable the body to produce more of its own cortisone to reduce steroids for hayfever, asthma etc. (cortisone weakens muscles further)
 
We only have to dig deeper to find the answers.