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WHAT IS POST POLIO SYNDROME

Post Polio Syndrome is a poorly understood condition that can affect people who have had polio in the past.

Polio is a viral infection that used to be common in the UK, but is now rare.

Most people who had Polio would have fought off the infection without even realising they were infected.

Some people with Polio would have had paralysis, muscle weakness and shrinking of the muscles. But usually, these problems would have either gone away over the following weeks or months, or remained the same for years afterwards.

Post Polio Syndrome is where some of these symptoms return or get worse many years or decades after the original polio infection.

SYMPTOMS OF POST POLIO SYNDROME

Post Polio Syndrome can include a wide range of symptoms that develop gradually over time, including:

persistent fatigue (extreme tiredness)
muscle weakness
shrinking muscles
muscle and joint pain
sleep apnoea

The condition can have a significant impact on everyday life, making it very difficult to get around and carry out certain tasks and activities. The symptoms tend to get gradually worse over many years, but this happens very slowly and treatment may help slow it down further.

Post Polio Syndrome is rarely life-threatening, although some people develop breathing and swallowing difficulties that can lead to serious problems, such as chest infections.

WHO'S AFFECTED

Post Polio Syndrome only affects people who've had polio. It usually develops 15 to 40 years after the infection.

The condition has become more common in the UK in recent years, because of the high number of Polio cases that occurred during the 1940s and 1950s, before routine vaccination was introduced. It's estimated that there are around 120,000 people living in the UK who survived Polio when they were younger. Some of these have, or will develop, Post Polio Syndrome.

It's not known exactly how many Polio survivors are or will be affected by Post Polio Syndrome. Estimates vary from as low as 15% to as high as 80%.

WHAT CAUSES 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. This would explain why the condition can take years to appear.

Post Polio Syndrome isn't contagious. The theory that the Polio virus may lie dormant in your body, causing Post Polio Syndrome when it becomes reactivated at a later stage, has been disproven.

It's not clear why only some people who've had polio develop Post Polio Syndrome. Those who had severe Polio when they were younger may be more likely to develop the condition.

Contacts us: 0800 043 1935
Email us: info@britishpolio.org.uk

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The British Polio Fellowship

Dec 22, 20222 min read

Carl plans to face his fears with a Skydive

Like many disabled people of a certain age, and especially polio survivors with Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS), one of their biggest enemies is gravity and therefore, the fear of falling.

Polio survivor, Carl Weininger from Northamptonshire has decided to face his fear and plans to challenge himself to do a Skydive.

"According to my surgeon, after having a high-speed accident aged 19 and dying a few of times on the operating table, what can happen? So, what did I have to lose? I have been living on borrowed time ever since the 19 December 1969" explained Carl.

"I never expected to live as long as I have so far, and still continue to drive fast cars and fly aerobatic aircraft, so now must surely be the time for a Skydive."

Some members of the British Polio Fellowship's Northamptonshire Branch had been encouraging Carl to do the Skydive and two others have agreed to do the Skydive as well. All three are currently seeking sponsorship.

In preparation, Carl went to perform an indoor Skydive at iFly in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. This experience replicates the sensation of weightlessness and spinning around in a 125-mph upward airstream.

Carl is planning to do a Tandem Skydive in June/July next year, at North London Skydiving Centre near Chatteris, Cambridgeshire and hopes to raise funds for the Fellowship. He is keen for other British Polio Fellowship friends and colleagues (staff, Patrons, Trustees and members) to join him. The cost of a ‘Tandem Skydive’ is around £180 (a discounted price for charity sponsorship Skydives).

If anyone is interested in taking part in this sponsored ‘Tandem Skydive’, or coming along to the ‘Garden Party’ which will be held close to the ‘drop zone’, contact the British Polio Fellowship at info@britishpolio.org.uk

Full details of the event and how to donate via an online ‘Just Giving Page’, will be available in the New Year.

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