polio syd.

[PAPAJER]

I HAD POLIO ALMOST AT BIRTH 1950. AFFECTED LEFT LEG. LATE 80'S HAD NEEDLE TEST DR. SAID I HAD IT BOTH LEGS.NOW I SEEM TO BE HAVING ACHES AND PAINS AND SOME WEAKNESS IN MY WHOLE BODY.
I'M IN GOOD HEALTH 6'  188LBS AND WORK OUT EVERYDAY LIGHTILY, STRECHING AND STOMACH CRUNCHS.
                             THANKS JER

[montrealmoon]

Are you still a member: If so, have you been diagnosed with post polio syndrome?  I have, and have been deteriorating rapidly over the past five years.  I have lost my career, am unable to pursue my leisure interests, am unable to drive now, or even leave the house. My mobility is a huge problem, and I must use a cane if I go anywhere, and even around the house most days now.  I have an electric power wheelchair, but I can't afford a wheelchair van, so my husband and I can't go to the mall together, or even on vacation.  My pain is unbearable and indescribable.  Before I went to the pain clinic and got relief from the pain through higher and higher doses of prescription morphine, I had no quality of life at all, in fact, was hospitalized for depression.

I later found out that I may have brought a lot of the pain on myself.  You see, I had known I had post polio since 1990, but it was progressing very slowly, I could work as a nurse, continue with my love of the outdoors, which was my leisure activity, in the form of hiking and camping, and was very happy and independent.  Insidiously, it crept in, and I started having leg pain and weakness, and began falling frequently.  It began to worsen, and I started falling at work, too.  Then numbness began to set into my extremities.  I had several very bad falls, one in which I fell back wards very hard into a cast iron fire place on its corner, which thrust itself into my sacro iliac joint and separated it.  At other times, I injured my back, and my shoulders.  I was frequently in physical therapy to recover from my injuries.  A few months ago, I fell and badly broke my wrist.  They wanted to do surgery on it, but I was so debilitated, that they decided against it.  So it set kind of funny looking.

I thought that since physical therapy was good for me, then signing up at a gym would be good for me, so I did.  At the gym, I worked out at least three times a week, pushing my body hard.  I lost weight, from 150 lbs to 130 lbs, from a size 12 to a size 10. I am 5' 6 1/2" tall woman.  I didn't realise it right away, but after awhile I realised the pain was getting worse and worse to the point finally where it was as if my muscles were ripping apart inside my body, my joints were falling apart inside me, and cracking and breaking.  The pain was indescribable.  I hurt everywhere except the left side of my face.  I was finally diagnosed with central pain syndrome.  

It seems the initial insult to my nervous system coupled with all of my injuries to my nervous system (I've also had disc removal surgery and carpal tunnel surgery), my entire nervous system went haywire.  Also, the repeated pushing of my neuromuscular system at the gym precipitated a more mercurial degeneration of my condition, some of which is irreversible.  I have since become so weakened that my chronic fatigue has me currently sleeping up to 20 hours a day at times, and I am having great difficulty even walking around the house.  

My advice to you is to find someone who truly understands post polio.  That, let me tell you, is not easy.  I should warn you that you will hear many different views on what type of excercise is good and how much.  Certainly, don't push yourself past the point of fatigue.  And, only participate in light exercise.  You don't need to be buff.  You do need to think of the future, and how to maintain your strength and stamina for as long as you can.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.

It is difficult to tell without examination if your symptoms of generalized aches and pains are related to polio or some other condition.
I would suggest you to make sure you do not overwork yourself eat and maintain hydration. Also get your BP checked to rule out both high and low BP.

A clinical exam is warranted to ascertain the correct cause of your symptoms.

Take care!