Post-polio syndrome is where the symptoms of polio returns or get worse many years after the original polio infection. Symptoms including paralysis, muscle weakness and shrinking of the muscles are most likely to relapse.

SYMPTOMS OF POST-POLIO SYNDROME

Post-polio syndrome develops gradually over time, which includes symptoms like :

• Persistent tiredness
• Muscle weakness
• Srinking muscles
• Muscle and joint pain
• Sleep apnoea

The symptoms tend to happen very slowly and treatment may help slow it down further. It is rarely life-threatening, although some people may develop breathing and swallowing difficulties that can lead to serious problems.

CAUSES OF POST-POLIO SYNDROME

The exact of disease is unknown.

When poliovirus infects our body, it affects nerve cells called motor neurons particularly those in our spinal cord that carry messages (electrical impulses) between our brain and our muscles.

Each neuron consists of three basic components:

• A cell body
• A major branching fiber (axon)
• Numerous smaller branching fibers (dendrites)

A polio infection often damages or destroys many of these motor neurons. To compensate for the resulting neuron shortage, the remaining neurons sprout new fibers, and the surviving motor units enlarge.

This promotes recovery of the use of our muscles, but it also pushes the nerve cell body to nourish the additional fibers. Over the years, this stress may be more than the neuron can handle, leading to the gradual deterioration of the sprouted fibers and, eventually, of the neuron itself.

RISK FACTORS

Factors that can increase our risk of developing post-polio syndrome include

• Severity of initial polio infection-The more severe the initial infection, the more likely that one will have signs and symptoms of post-polio syndrome.
• Age at onset of initial illness- If one developed polio as an adolescent or adult rather than as a child, our chances of developing post-polio syndrome increase.
• Recovery- The greater our recovery after acute polio, the more likely it seems that post-polio syndrome will develop, perhaps because greater recovery places additional stress on motor neurons.
• Excessive physical activity- If one often exercise to the point of exhaustion or fatigue,one might overwork already stressed-out motor neurons and increase our risk of post-polio syndrome.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR POST-POLIO SYNDROME

Homeopathic treatment will depend upon the total case history of the patient including mentle, physical, pathological condition of the patient.