Seventy-five years ago, when I was six months old, I contracted polio in my leg. Of course I have no memory of that incident, but I do recall that until I started school, I wore a short leg brace and shoes with high lace tops, and that my mother massaged my leg and tried to stretch my hamstrings. Although my family doctor was the one who had diagnosed my polio and who took care of me, I was treated periodically by a Dr. Brett who drove up from Boston in his touring car visiting his polio patients and becoming somewhat of a legend. It was this Dr. Brett who suggested that my leg might have a better chance of healing more naturally if, when I entered grade school, I left the brace off. He was right! The result was that I led a very normal and active life all through my childhood, adolescence and into young adulthood. I married, raised a family, embarked on a career in art, traveled extensively, and even taught art to native children in Africa. The pain of my later effects of polio started about fifteen years ago and began getting progressively worse.
   Last year, a thoughtful friend, also a polio survivor, sent me Dr. Julie Silver’s book. “Post Polio Syndrome”. After reading the book and finding myself in nearly every chapter, I decided I needed to see Dr. Silver and to undergo an evaluation at the Spaulding IRCP in Framingham. My local doctor was very cooperative and an appointment was scheduled early this past winter. The clinic was very accommodating and scheduled me for appointments three days in a row, a necessity since I live in Stonington, which is about six hours by car from the clinic.
   The first day I was given a thorough exam by Dr. Silver, including an EMG to determine which muscles had been affected by the original polio virus attack. I was gratified to find that the clinic works very efficiently, with little time wasted in waiting.
   From the EMG, Dr. Silver determined that I had old polio in both arms and both legs. She does not take it for granted that all the pain suffered by post-polio patients is a direct result of PPS and is very adept at finding "other things" that can cause pain as well, but which can be helped. In my case, she discovered a problem in the lumbar region of my spine so serious that I am going to have surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital later this year. Another pain causing problem was carpal tunnel syndrome.
   At the clinic I had appointments each day with Physical and Occupational Therapists who are very much attuned to weak muscles, and how to help them without overstraining them. They prescribed exercises for me to do each day. On the third day of my visit a consultation was held on my behalf with the therapists, brace and shoe specialists, Dr. Silver and my husband. All the findings from my tests were discussed, and more tests ordered that could be performed in my home vicinity, including a CTMyelogram and a bone density study.
   I have a feeling that my report on the LRCP and Dr. Silver will need “to be continued”, but I must say that I now know a lot about my structural problems. It was a power-packed three days...a lot to absorb. After years of trying to attempt to solve one problem at a time...wondering if I were imagining it all. I now have more answers than I ever thought were there! But I can tell you this: If you want a comprehensive Post Polio workup, I know where you can get one!

Virginia Folino
Stonington, Maine

For more information, contact the
International Research Center for Polio
at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Framingham, Mass.
1-508-872-2200
Or on the web at:
http://www.polioclinic.com

                                                     Part 2