What are the symptoms of post-polio syndrome?

What are the symptoms of post-polio syndrome?

Common signs and symptoms of post-polio syndrome include:

• Progressive muscle and joint weakness and pain.
• General fatigue and exhaustion with minimal activity.
• Muscle atrophy.
• Breathing or swallowing problems.
• Sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea.
• Decreased tolerance of cold temperatures.

How long can you live with post-polio syndrome?

Long interval after recovery. People who recover from the initial attack of polio often live for years without further signs or symptoms. The onset of late effects varies widely but typically begins at least 15 years after the initial diagnosis.

When does post-polio syndrome occur?

Symptoms usually start between 20 and 40 years after the original polio illness. But they may appear anywhere from 10 to 70 years after. Muscle weakness may be the main symptom. This weakness may affect one side of your body more than the other.

What is the cause of post-polio syndrome?

The exact cause of post-polio syndrome is unclear. It’s not known whether anything can be done to prevent it. The leading theory is that it’s the result of the gradual deterioration of nerve cells in the spinal cord (motor neurones) that were damaged by the polio virus.

Does post-polio syndrome affect the heart?

patients with post-polio syndrome Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) can affect anyone at any time. They cause muscle weakness that can affect the heart, breathing, coughing, swallowing, speech, and limbs muscles, all of which cause disability and compromise the quality of life.

Is post-polio syndrome an autoimmune disease?

An inflammatory or autoimmune basis to post-polio syndrome has also been proposed. This hypothesis originates from post mortem observations of inflammatory changes in the spinal cord of PPS patients (35, 36). The role of inflammation is also supported by in vivo evidence.

Is post-polio syndrome a disability?

Understand. Post-polio syndrome is not a recurrence of the virus. The rest necessary to resolve pain and inflammation often leads to further weakness and atrophy. Thus, a vicious cycle of increasing weakness, increasing pain and increasing disability can result.

Does exercise help post-polio syndrome?

If you have Post Polio Syndrome (PPS), it’s vital to exercise moderately every second day to keep the muscles we have and avoid obesity, diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Exercise also helps us accomplish more of those activities of daily living and can improve how we feel.

Why does polio affect the legs?

Related to this is the possible shortening of the limb. In a growing child, bone grows as a result of the muscle pull on it and/or weight bearing. Therefore, many who contracted polio as a growing child may have one arm or leg or foot that is shorter and smaller than the non-affected/less affected limb. New weakness.

Is post-polio syndrome painful?

Muscle and joint pain are also common in post-polio syndrome. Muscle pain is usually felt as a deep ache in the muscles or muscle cramps and spasms. The pain is often worse after you’ve used the affected muscles. It can be particularly troublesome during the evening after a day’s activities.

Is there pain with post-polio syndrome?

What does polio do to legs?

Symptoms vary from mild flu-like symptoms to life-threatening paralysis. In less than 1% of cases, polio causes permanent paralysis of the arms, legs or breathing muscles. Between 5% and 10% of people who develop paralytic polio will die. Physical symptoms may emerge 15 years or more after the first polio infection.