Polio Place

A service of Post-Polio Health International

pain

Viviendo con dolor

Viviendo con dolor
Penney Cowan, Fundadora y Directora General de la Asociación Americana de Dolor Crónico.

Read More…

Techniques to Help Us Make Changes

Mavis Matheson, MD, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

In 1995, I wrote an article called Changing Your Life By Conserving Energy. In it, I listed three techniques from an article by Sybil Kohl. Her techniques have helped me to make healthy choices and prevent further pain and weakness. Kohl [1] suggests three techniques that we could use to help ourselves make changes.

These are push to avoid pain, blank pad and plain talk.

Read More…

Feeling Like a Failure

Post-Polio Health, (Volume 31, Number 3) Summer 2015

Dr. Rhoda Olkin is a Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco, as well as the Executive Director of the Institute on Disability and Health Psychology. 

She is a polio survivor and single mother of two grown children.

Read More…

Feeling Weak

Post-Polio Health, Volume 30, Number 1, Winter 2014
Ask Dr. Maynard
Frederick M. Maynard, MD

Question: I am 66, and I had polio at age 3. My muscles are feeling weak, so if you know what I can do about it I would be grateful. I am depressed about this.

Read More…

Cortisone? Surgery?

Post-Polio Health, Volume 29, Number 2, Spring 2013
Ask Dr. Maynard
Frederick M. Maynard, MD

Question: Several years ago my right ankle muscles gave out after a cortisone shot. I wear a brace to steady this leg. Now, after two bad falls, my left hip will need replacement. My current orthopedic physician wanted to give me a cortisone shot, and I refused, recalling the reaction from my ankle.

Read More…

Usefulness of EMG

Post-Polio Health, Volume 28, Number 4, Fall 2012
Ask Dr. Maynard
Frederick M. Maynard, MD

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 a standing position from my wheelchair.

Read More…

Polio Survivor with Numbness

Post-Polio Health, Volume 27, Number 4, Fall 2011
Ask Dr. Maynard
Frederick M. Maynard, MD

Question: Do you know of any polio survivors who are experiencing numbness in their affected areas? I did some physical therapy recently for about six weeks using both sides of my body to improve the strength in my unaffected leg, and noticed that my left arm (the affected side) was becoming numb and then later in the day, my left leg would also become numb (just the top part of my arm and leg).

Read More…

My Physician Retired

Post-Polio Health, Volume 27, Number 2, Spring 2011
Ask Dr. Maynard
Frederick M. Maynard, MD

Question: My physician retired, and my new primary care doctor is “reevaluating” everything. I am nervous because he is questioning my medications, and I am not sure he understands my history. Can you help me understand his approach and offer assuring advice as he and I get to know each other? I am especially concerned about my new doctor’s making me reduce the pain medications I need.

Read More…

Frightened of Cortisone and Surgery

Post-Polio Health, Volume 29, Number 2, Spring 2013
Ask Dr. Maynard
Frederick M. Maynard, MD

Question: Several years ago my right ankle muscles gave out after a cortisone shot. I wear a brace to steady this leg. Now, after two bad falls, my left hip will need replacement. My current orthopedic physician wanted to give me a cortisone shot, and I refused, recalling the reaction from my ankle.

Read More…

Breast Reduction Surgery?

Post-Polio Health, Volume 28, Number 3, Summer 2012
Ask Dr. Maynard
Frederick M. Maynard, MD

Question: I had polio in 1948, and I am now 65. Adapting was less difficult due to the helpful information gathered at support group meetings. However, I am not finding information or answers that address this issue: Has breast reduction and surgical reduction of abdominal fat been suggested and utilized with other post-polio women?

Read More…

Back to Top