POLIO SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP - NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 1999
ATTENTION - NEW MEETING SITE - ATTENTION
THE SEPTEMBER 15TH MEETING OF THE POLIO SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP WILL BE
HELD AT 7:15 PM AT ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 900 MARYVALE DRIVE AT UNION
RD. (MARYVALE DR. INTERSECTS  UNION ROAD BETWEE GENESEE AND WEHRLE - LOOK
FOR DUNKIN DONUTS).  HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE, AND OFF-STREET PARKING.
OUR GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE DOCTOR JUNE OH, M.D. FROM THE ERIE COUNTY
MEDICAL CENTER WHO WILL GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE POLIO CLINIC THERE, AND
TELL US ABOUT HER UNIQUE SPECIALTY OF ACUPUNCTURE.
REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED AFTER THE MEETING.

PPS-IS THERE ANY TREATMENT? 
Yes! Since PPS symptoms are caused by the nervous system's equivalent of
plugging too many appliances into one electrical outlet, polio survivors
may simply have to unplug some of the appliances.  Polio survivors must
decrease the overuse and stop the abuse of their damaged nerves, weakened
muscles and painful joints.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS?
Polio survivors basically need to conserve energy to stop blowing their
bodies' "fuses."  Polio survivors must walk less, use needed assistive
devices (braces, crutches, scooters), stop working before symptoms come
on, and plan rest periods throughout the day.

ARE TREATMENTS FOR PPS EFFECTIVE?
Yes. The worst-case is that Patients who stop the overuse abuse will have
their PPS symptoms plateau,  However, when survivors start taking care of
themselves, the overwhelming majority have noticeable decrease of
fatigue, weakness and pain.

ISN'T EXERCISE THE ONLY WAY TO STRENGTHEN WEAKENED MUSCLES?
No.  Since PPS symptoms result from too many "appliances" being plugged
into an overloaded nervous system, muscle strengthening exerecise would be
like Plugging in a additional toasters.  While stretching exercise can be
helpful, pumping iron and "feeling the burn" means that polio-damaged
neurons are burning out.  Also, polio survivors typically can't exercise
the way others do to condition their hearts and try to Prevent
osteoporosis.

HOW CAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY HELP?  
Polio survivors have spent their lives trying to look and act "normal."
Using a brace they discarded 30 years ago and reducing the typically
super-active daily schedule is both frightening and difficult to do.  So,
friends and family need to be supportive of life style changes. accept
survivors' physical limitations and their assistive devices.  Most
importantly, friends and family need to be willing, when asked, to do the
physical tasks polio survivors probably could do, but should not do any
longer.  Friends and family need to know everything about PPS and say
nothing.  Neither gentle reminders nor well-meaning nagging will force
survivors to use a new brace, sit while dinner is being prepared, or rest
between activities.  Polio survivors must take responsibility for taking
care of their own bodies and ask for help when it's needed.

Ed. Note: The foregoing summarizes current thinking about PPS but the
reader is reminded that many illnesses can have symptoms similar to those
of PPS. A medical diagnosis is prudent to be sure that PPS, not something
else, is causing the symptoms.