There is no official certification for a “polio doctor.” The most common use of this informal designation is a physician with knowledge, experience and interest in evaluation and treatment of polio survivors. Given the most common new disabling medical problems of polio survivors, physicians with expertise in neuromuscular disease management that includes the ability to recognize and treat chronic musculoskeletal …
Shared peer advice from polio survivors about what works for them.
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ICD Codes
The International Classification of Diseases is a clinical cataloging system of alphanumeric designations given to every diagnosis, description of symptoms and cause of death attributed to human beings. It means that each diagnosis a human being may be given has a code, a numbered designation, that goes with it. That code means that every medical professional in the United States …
Anesthesia and colonoscopy
Selma H. Calmes MD, Retired Anesthesiologist Many polio patients fear anesthesia. Multiple surgeries in childhood were common for those who had polio and anesthesia care then was not as sophisticated as it is today. Modern anesthesia is much improved since the time of polio epidemics! In this session, an anesthesiologist familiar with modern anesthesia practice and polio will answer recent, …
Why Should You Consider Seeing a PT? Choosing a PT.
One excellent reason for seeing a PT in the absence of declining physical function is to undergo a well-rounded baseline evaluation against which future problems might be measured. Individuals who have not experienced recent functional decline may seek the services of a PT so that they may be educated in ways to minimize the effects of their polio problems on …
Reasonable Goals for Physical Therapy.
Nearly every polio survivor comes to health care providers initially with the hope – whether clearly evident or secretly buried – that someone will be able to “make me as I was.” Because of this hope, some survivors are initially reluctant to hear about suggestions a PT may make regarding lifestyle modifications, equipment options, etc. Often, polio survivors consider accepting …
Reasonable Expectations from Physical Therapy
WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT in a physical therapy evaluation, and how should the results be incorporated into treatment? Comprehensiveness In physical therapy school, students are taught all the components of the following type of evaluation. They are instructed to complete all of the components of the following evaluation on any body part that is affected by problems that the patient …
Positioning for Comfort during Work, Leisure Activities and Rest
I. INTRODUCTION Please understand that consistently using the principles discussed below is important when performing ANY activity. In other words, do not wait to use these principles just when you are in pain, but rather, use the principles all of the time. Why should you use these principles? To prevent pain and further malfunction. To maintain ease of movement during …
Anesthesia and Weight Loss Surgery
What are the issues in bariatric (intestinal surgery that can facilitate weight loss) surgery for post-polio patients? This sounds like a “quick fix” for obesity but is an area full of possible problems. There are no reports of post-polio patients having bariatric surgery. Possible problems relate to the disease obesity (diabetes, presence of sleep apnea, presence of a fatty liver, …
What’s new in anesthesia that I need to know? This is a brief listing. Answers will be expanded as time allows in the session. a. Better measurement of quality of care in anesthesia and better recognition of where problems are and how they could be improved. b. Increasingly sophisticated knowledge of ventilation problems and better management of respiratory problems postop. …
Linking with an Anesthesiologist
Why is it so hard to link up ahead of time with the anesthesiologist who will do my case? Daily anesthesia staffing is a complex equation! It is extremely difficult to know ahead of time who will be doing which case on a particular day. There is a constant flux of anesthesia staff (people get sick), other needed staff such …