Question: I had paralytic polio 64 years ago at the age of 13 months. My left leg had major paralysis and a small amount to my right leg. I always walked with a severe limp. I was diagnosed
25 years ago with PPS as I was developing new weakness in my legs. Four years ago, swallowing began to bother me and also volume when blowing breath. In the past two years, my
left fingers have “clawed,” and now my tongue muscles are weak causing speech problems as are my vocal cords somewhat. I recently saw a neurologist who thinks I have ALS. Do you know of any cases of people with PPS and ALS?
Answer: Yes, I know of people who are post-polio survivors who have developed ALS. The majority “expert opinion” on this subject is that polio people are not more likely to develop
ALS than other people, but the diagnosis of ALS, as opposed to, Progressive Post-Polio Amyotrophy (Post- Polio Syndrome) is very difficult and at times impossible to distinguish
with certainty. Given you have had some slow progressive weakness problems for over 25 years, your condition sounds more like a post-polio condition mimicking ALS. Unfortunately there is no definitive test for either diagnosis.
Post-Polio Health (Vol. 28, No. 2, Spring 2012)