Post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome can cause a wide range of symptoms that canseverely affecteveryday life.
They tend to develop gradually and get worse very slowly over time.
Fatigue is the most common symptom of post-polio syndrome. It can take many forms, including:
Organising your activities so that you don't over-exert yourself and taking regular rests will help to reduce your fatigue.
Increasing muscle weakness is another common symptom of post-polio syndrome. It can be easy to confuse muscle weakness with muscle fatigue, but they are different.
Muscle weakness means that you're increasingly unable to use affected muscles, whether you feeltired or not. Weakness can occur in muscles that were previously affected by a polio infection, as well as in muscles that were not previously affected.
There may also be associated shrinking of affected muscles, known asatrophy.
Muscle and joint painare also common in post-polio syndrome. Muscle pain is usually feltas 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.
Joint pain is similar to Arthritis andconsists of soreness, stiffness and a reduced range of movement.
As well as the common symptoms of post-polio syndrome,several associated symptoms can arise from the combination of fatigue, muscle weakness, and muscle and joint pain.
Because of the symptoms mentioned above, most people with post-polio syndromebecome less physically active than they used to be.
This can often lead to weight gain and, in some cases, obesity . This in turn can make any fatigue, muscle weakness and pain worse.
As well as weight gain, the combination of fatigue, weakness and pain can lead to walking difficulties and increasing difficulty with mobility.
Many people with post-polio syndromewill require a walking aid such as crutches or a stickat some stage, and some people may eventually need to use a wheelchair.
In some people withpost-polio syndrome, breathing can be difficult because the breathingmuscles become weaker.
This can causeproblems such as shortness of breath , interrupted breathing while you sleep(sleep apnoea see below), and an increased risk of chest infections .
If you havepost-polio syndrome, it's important to seek medical advice as soon as possible if you experience symptoms of a possible chest infection. These can includecoughing up discoloured phlegm or blood, chest pain and wheezing.
Sleep apnoea affects many people withpost-polio syndrome. The walls of thethroat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing.
This can cause problems such as feeling very sleepy during the day, headaches and increased fatigue.
Weakness in the muscles you use for chewing and swallowing may lead to problems swallowing (dysphagia) , such as choking or gagging when you try to swallow.
You may experience changes in your voice and speech, such as hoarseness, low volume or a nasal-sounding voice, particularly after you've been speaking for a while or when you are tired.
Swallowing problems are usually mild and progress very slowly. A speech and language therapist may be able to help.
Some people withpost-polio syndrome find theybecome very sensitive to cold temperatures or a sudden drop in temperatureas a resultof poor blood supply.
Because of this intolerance to cold, people withpost-polio syndrome may need to wear extra layers of clothingto trytostay comfortable.
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 rare nowadays.
Read about the main symptoms of post-polio syndrome (PPS), including fatigue, weakness and pain.
Post-polio syndrome can be difficult to diagnose because there are no specific tests for it and symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions.
There's currently no cure for post-polio syndrome, so treatment focuses on helping you manage your symptoms and improving your quality of life.