Pain suffered from post-polio syndrome...

Posted By Dave McKouen on November 25, 1998 at 15:42:46:







     My wife is a 49 year old female caucasian who suffered from polio when she was 6 weeks old. Alhtough the polio came and went, she did retain muscular damage associated with it and has had mobility issues all of her life. Now, at 49 years old, she is experiencing the relatively new problem known as post-polio syndrome, a continuing degenerative neuro-muscular disorder which afflicts past polio survivors later in life as a result of overused muscles which have basically been burned out from this overuse in the past years of trying to live normally, a very disheartening (and painful) situation. She is currently taking "vicoprofen" on a regular basis for pain, usually 25mgs. twice a day. This is proving to be insufficient as time goes on, and what I am looking for is a suggestion for a possible replacement medication which would serve her particular purposes better. Obviously, she is a vivacious and active (as much as possible) person who resents the fact that she is now being robbed of her already limited   mobility at a time in life when she should be able to start enjoying things. We know this is not going to go away and are trying to accept it as best we can, but I would very much appreciate any comments or suggestions as to what may serve her better for the purpose of pain management. Feel free to respond to this entry, or e mail me directly. Your advice and help is greatly appreciated.
                                           Sincerely, Dave McKouen.