Question: I am going to schedule a left-shoulder replacement soon and would like to know if recovery will be more difficult with atrophied left paraspinal muscles. I had polio at eight years of age and was paralyzed from my neck down. I made a remarkable recovery and am now 77 years old. I have never needed mobility aids, but I …
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Recovery after Carpel Tunnel Release Surgery
Question: I am a polio survivor who contracted polio at the age of two. I am now 61 years old. I started having pain after a fall two years ago and I’ve been told that I needed carpel tunnel release surgery. The muscle in my right thumb is starting to atrophy. I walk with two forearm crutches and have been …
Recovery after Breaking Femur and Patella
Question: I fell nine weeks ago, breaking my distal femur and patella and spraining my distal ACL. A physical therapist comes to my home every week. X-rays show my bones are healing well. This week I’m working on starting to walk stairs, but it’s extremely difficult because of my kneecap. I believe the PT is being cautious, knowing about my …
Will a Viral Infection Take Longer to Clear Up in Those with Post-Polio Syndrome?
Question: I have post-polio syndrome, and I have also been diagnosed with a viral infection. Will the viral infection take longer to clear up since I have post-polio syndrome? Answer: Recovery time after viral infections in polio survivors has not been studied. There is no reason to expect that the basic healing mechanisms of the body are altered as a …
Advice for Foot Edema After Hernia Surgery
Question: I have lower left leg PPS atrophy. Since hernia surgery recently, I haven’t been able to walk or bicycle as I regularly used to do. I’ve sometimes noticed worrisome foot edema that is more pronounced and sustained since the surgery. Other than trying not to sit for too long, cutting back on salt and elevating the leg more, is …
EMG on Limb with No Electrical Response and Other Options?
Question: I have a question regarding differential diagnosis specifically utilizing electromyographpy (EMG, a test that measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction). I am 63 with a family history of stenosis. I have low back pain, sometimes radiating diagonally to the hip/thigh region and increasing in intensity, leading to sudden inability to rise from sitting to …
Are There Any Nutritional Issues Specifically for Polio Survivors, Specific Dietary Needs or Concerns, or Any Beneficial Supplements?
Question: Are there any nutritional issues that polio survivors should pay special attention to? Are there any particular dietary needs or concerns? Any supplements that are beneficial? Answer: There are several important nutritional issues for people who had polio. No other issue is more important to good health than optimal nutrition, and no other is more controversial and little studied …
Ankle Fusion for Polio Survivor
Question: Thank you for the help you have given me in the past. I’m a 79-year-old male who developed polio at the age of four. I was in an iron lung for several weeks then treated at home with Sister Kenny’s hot baths and massage. My left leg was paralyzed but improved over the years to a point that I …
Triple Arthrodesis in Polio Survivors
Question: I had a triple arthrodesis in my teens to correct a turned ankle tendency. The cartilage is gone, and when I walk my ankle bones grind. Is this a problem? What could be done to help? I am 78 years old and in good health. Answer from Marny Eulberg, MD: Many polio survivors have had triple arthrodesis surgeries on …