Treating Post Polio Paralytic Sequelae: Scoliosis

Monday, March 29, 2010

Soliosis - John F Kennedy Johnson Rehabilitation Institute

I spent a day today at the John F Kennedy Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison NJ on a referral continuing my post summer rehabilitation treatment. During that visit I learned that continuing pain that I attributed mostly to leg discrepancy is actually due to scoliosis in my spine. I have done some research online and I found this really good site on scoliosis that I recommend to anyone interested in the condition http://www.iscoliosis.com/. They also have some great videos at http://www.iscoliosis.com/video.html?filename=exercise-exercise. Even though physical therapy provides some relief, it seems there are only two possible permanent treatment solutions to scoliosis, bracing or surgery.
Scoliosis is a frequent condition among post paralytic polio survivors.
The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York seems to be a center of excellence for the treatment of spinal conditions. See: http://www.hss.edu/spine-care-institute.asp

Check Out:

JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
http://www.iscoliosis.com/
http://www.hss.edu/spine-care-institute.asp

4 U!

"I myself have been through this ordeal, and I am a symbol of what can happen when people with disabilities are strongly supported."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

While there are a number of very laudable and powerful foundations and international organizations focused on the eradication of the disease, and we reference them here, our focus on this site is more on making life better for those who end up with permanently paralyzed limbs, contractures, spasticity and other musculoskeletal deformations and weakening.

Here you will find links to resources and sources of inspiration.

We are looking at medical approaches to make life better, we are initiating or pioneering research, we are linking up with all those who have similar interests.

So, while we speak primarily of polio here, therapeutic resources highlighted here may be of interest to people with Cerebral Palsy, ALS, spinal Cord injures, strokes,and other rare diseases that weaken muscular functioning

Statement of Beliefs

Anyone who has dealt with paralytic polio knows the daily struggle it represents. After a while many accept their life with their disability and stop the struggle toward a better day. This site is for those who have not given up. This site is for those still seeking a path to a better day. Your plight attracts little public attention. Most physicians have no clue how to effectively help you.

I am convinced that all functional or visible impairments associated with paralytic polio can be successfully remedied using a holistic approach combining:
- Surgical procedures to transfer muscles and nerves to paralyzed areas,
- orthopedic surgeries to correct bones deformities or asymmetries,
-Nutrients rich diets emphasizing nourishing/repairing the nervous system,
-temporary and targeted orthopedic braces
-Physical therapy to consolidate muscle strength in affected areas where they are still functional

-Various forms of ointments and massage, including acupuncture and moxibustion

To that end I will share what I believe are helpful stories, testimonies and references for further explorations.

Welcome!

I was unfortunate or fortunate to have my right foot paralyzed after a bout of polio when I was about 6 months old in the early seventies. It was a time when polio had all but disappeared from the face of the developed world after Jonas Salk's development of the polio vaccine in 1952. I hope here to:

- Enhance awareness to the various ways in which the aftermath of this disease affect patients' lives and the lives of those who surround them,

- Get more testimony from fellow patients or support groups.

- Get expert advice and support from various practitioners and interested parties.

- Share my own experiences struggling through this condition and the coping strategies I have developed.

-Use the site to cheer other people in similar conditions while cheering myself up.

- Leave a record of my trial and error process.

I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Treating Post Polio Paralytic Sequelae

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Monday, May 3, 2010

Stories that break the heart and warm it up at the same time

Monday, March 29, 2010

Soliosis - John F Kennedy Johnson Rehabilitation Institute