These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
[posted 03/31/2000]
Question: I am taking Neurontin for Post Polio Syndrome pain in my left leg and arm. I did not realize that I had so much pain and that it was keeping me from doing so many things. Is Neurontin recomended for this treatment and how does it help? Will I have problems with Neurontin if I take it long term? Neurontin is greatly helping the pain but not the fatique in these limbs. Should it help the fatigue?
Answer: It is commonly of help for all types of chronic pain. But, the fatigue is due to the post polio probably and will not change with decreasing the pain. Neurontin is a fairly new drug(2-4 years here) but, there is no obvious long term problems with its use.
[posted 08/25/1999]
Question: Post polio patients often have low levels of serotonin. Casual observation indicates a link between pain levels and weather conditions. At the approach of a storm front pain levels are markedly increased and dramatically decreased once it starts to rain. There may be a link between these conditions and negative ions if the ions do in fact increase serotonin levels.
Are you aware of any treatments for post polio and serotonin levels and/or any connections between serotonin levels and negative ions?
Any information or direction you could give would be very helpful in my investigation of these relationships.
Sincerely,
Jim Mc Williams
Answer: Don’t know of any research here. But, serotonin raising drugs would be ElAnsw and SRI antidepressants, discuss a trial of use with your doctor.
Post-Polio [posted 7/30/98]
Question: Do you know of any trials or research on the effects of human growth hormone on increasing muscle use in Post-polio or on delaying the disuse of muscles in any disease?
Answer: There was one small study done with equivocal effects. So far it is not used for this purpose. I am told that other studies are in progress. It is clear that a growth hormone deficiency will accelerate Post Polio Syndrome. I would check your levels, if low it might be beneficial to replace them, but if normal, I wouldn’t try it unless things are truly critical in terms of function.
Polio [posted 7/30/98]
Question: What symptoms does polio have?
What effects does it have?
What preventions are used?
What treatments are used?
Answer: Poliomyelitis has not been seen in humans in several years. The world health organization has virtually eliminated it as a disease entity. I have never seen a case of polio and cite the symptoms from what I have been taught, not personal experience. Symptoms include a low grade temperature, occasional meningitis symptoms, – this is followed by a relapsing fever and flaccid paralysis. The paralysis varies in limbs affected and severity. Tendon reflexes are absent or markedly decreased. Sensation is intact. ( In contrast to Guillain-Barre with mild sensory deficits.) Preventions are immunizations – there is no treatment except supportive care (breathing for the patient, etc.).
Polio in left leg
Question: I am 27 years old and I am suffering
with polio in my left leg. Is there any treatment of my disease in the United States?
Answer: There is no treatment to reverse the problem. Physical therapy will help and a specialist in
polio(available at any medical center) could counsel you concerning Post-Polio Syndrome and
potential things to watch for.
Polio
Question: I am doing a research project
for a high school anatomy/pysiology class. I was wonder if
you could send me any information on the disease poliomyelitis
(polio).
Answer: Poliovirus is an enterovirus. There are three different serotypes: 1, 2, and 3. Infections
with this virus are usually fairly asymptomatic. However, when the virus involves the
nervous system, neurologic consequences often ensue. Motor neurons appear to be especially
vulnerable to damage by this virus. In this most severe form of the disease, starts with a
minor fever and viral syndrome. About one week later, the symptoms re-occur with flaccid
paralysis of affected limbs. With the successful treatment of this disease by innoculation and
immunization, other diseases which are present with paralysis are actually more common, like
Guillain-Barre. The major clinical difference with the onset of paralysis is the intact
sensation seen in polio and usually absent in GB. There is no treatment with the disease – only
supportive measures. About l970 patients were recognized with Post-polio Syndrome, which
is a progressive weakness of patients afflicted with polio as children or young adults. This
appears to be progressive neuron breakdown over time.
Prevention of this viral disease is the only effective means of decreasing its spread. With
the types of vaccines and immunizations available nearly world wide, eradication of polio has
occurred. There have been no reported cases in the American continent for many years.
Currently, the disease is thought to be limited to certain areas of Africa. Eradication attempts
are still under way.
Polio
Question: I have had poliomylitis for the past 47 yrs and am wondering why, if we are able to join nerve cells, can’t the spinal cord be corrected to enable movement of the lower limbs? Would it be because such an operation is too dangerous? Thanks for your time in sharing your professional opinion. Thanks.
Answer: Poliomyelitis is a virus that damages and destroys specific nerve cells in the spinal cord. Once these are damaged there is currently no method of cure or encouraging their return. Many patients proceed to “post-polio syndrome” which is a progression of the neurologic findings many years after the initial infection. This is a completely different problem than having ones spinal cord severed. There is active research on regeneration of spinal cord function after traumatic damage. This could produce progress in post-polio patients, but, is unlikely.
Recontracting Disease
Question: In the early 1950’s I contracted polio and was placed in an isolation hospital in Milwaukee, Wis. At that time I was approx. 5 -6 years old (DOB=11/26/45). This was before the Saulk vaccine. I had paralysis of my legs only. During the next three to four years I was released and underwent physical therapy at home. Other than being slightly shorter (5’5”) than what is normal I have no other residual effects of the disease. It has lately been brought to my attention that people like myself are recontracting the disease. Could you please supply me with any information as what the possibility is of my again getting polio?
Answer: Post polio syndrome is not recontacting the disease. It is a progressive weakness of the affected muscles previously affected by polio. These muscles will get weaker and atrophy(get smaller). Occasionally, bulbar or respiratory muscles will be affected leading to difficulty swallowing or breathing(sometimes a cause of sleep apnea also). These symptoms seem to be caused by a further decline in surviving muscles with disintegration of axon terminals(how muscles are enervated). If you have no symptoms don’t worry;but, there are post-polio specialists in most larger cities and you may want to see one for an examination. Unfortunately, we don’t currently have any major treatment options.
