Rod Muller - My Polio Story
I contracted polio at the age of 6 in 1956 and was affected from my hips down to my feet. Thankfully I did not have to go through the rigours of an Iron lung or leg irons and after a few months and lots of physiotherapy, went back to school and got on with life and really never gave it another thought.
Back in the early 1980s my Mum said to me one day have you heard that they are discovering people from back in the 40’s and 50, s were being diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome my comment was well it looks like I dodged that bullet
Rod Muller - My Polio Story
I contracted polio at the age of 6 in 1956 and was affected from my hips down to my feet.
Thankfully I did not have to go through the rigours of an Iron lung or leg irons and after a few months and lots of physiotherapy, went back to school and got on with life and really never gave it another thought.
Back in the early 1980s my Mum said to me one day have you heard that they are discovering people from back in the 40’s and 50, s were being diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome my comment was well it looks like I dodged that bullet.
Turn the clock forward to 2019 and I had to go for a simple sinus operation at the Stirling hospital, on my nose and when I woke up next morning stepped out of bed to go to the loo before breakfast and found myself a bit legless and thought to myself whoa this is a bit different this has never happened before. Hope it is not a Hydrocephalus problem. Yes, I suffer with it. I went home and over a period of a few weeks it got a bit better but then it didn’t I was suffering from lots of funny stuff going on in the lower part of my body so harked back to what my Mum had said. So, I went to see my doctor sat down in her office and asked the question what do you know about Post-Polio Syndrome, reply I know some people who attend our clinic who had polio but personally I know very little about it.
So, the next step was go and talk to my mate John Willoughby who was the Neurology professor at Flinders Uni for many years and after a fairly long chat he said yes, I am pretty sure you have PPS.
I contacted the Polio Australia people in Adelaide and was given the name of Nigel Quadros who was the go-to person in Adelaide to have a proper check-up, down at the Queen Liz Hospital and sure enough on consulting him he said yes you have classic PPS and told me a bunch of things I should pursue. It involved some major changes the first one being the fact I was told to halve my duty cycle which entailed slowing down from running my life at 100 kilometres an hour to 50 KPH in pretty much all categories because as time passes, I will begin to suffer more and more from a number of related issues. The first one being an increase in my fatigue levels
The degrading of my muscles and nervous system that had been attacked by the polio virus things I pick up day to day will appear to get heavier as time progresses. Things to be aware of Karma Rub (a life saver) and Magnesium Muscle eze. I suffer bad cramps, numbness and tingling that can happen anytime mainly in my feet. An increase relating to aches and pains in random places in the lower part of my body. An increase in my stress levels across the board. I am certainly weaker than what I was 3 years ago have installed 3 electric cranes to aid in any heavy lifting and I split my firewood into smaller chunks with a hydraulic splitter and I rely on other people to help me more often.
I was told a number of things I could do to help myself get on top of some of the degradation and reduce my rate of decline was to :-
Eat well not junk food and consume a minimum of 100 grams of good quality protein every day
Have access to a heated hydrotherapy pool…. so, I built one.
Find a good massage person
Find a good Physio person
Don’t let yourself get cold
Buy a copy of the Post-Polio Paradox book https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-polio-paradox-by-richard-l-bruno-and-richard-l-bruno-9780446690690.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fykVp0ryy3U&t=10s
Proper exercises relating to my afflicted areas but in a very measured way so as not to exacerbate the polio
Rest more when feeling tired i.e., pull up a chair and sit down for a bit and know when to call it a day.
Become aware of your spatial position at all times so if you have to grab hold of something or you need to bounce off a wall or just plain lean on something for a moment. Don’t let yourself get cold, Increase my sleep and relaxation time. Be very aware of anaesthetics carry your card
Thank you Rod for sharing your story
Dr Quadros Presentation Community Info Sessions March 2022 Poliomyelitis and the ageing Polio Survivor
Dr Quadros presentation at our recent Polio SA & Polio Australia Info Sessions
Poliomyelitis and the ageing Polio Survivor click on link to access
Polio Australia & Polio SA Community Info Sessions
Community Info Sessions happening in March Monday 21st March 2022 at West Adelaide Football Club 57 Milner Rd Richmond , 22nd March Victor Harbor, 24th March Port Augusta.
Polio Australia Staff in attendance , Polio SA Staff and committee and Guest Speakers Dr Nigel Quadros (Rehab Medicine Physician) Kate Seeliger (Neuro Physio)
Community Info Sessions happening in March Monday 21st March 2022 at West Adelaide Football Club 57 Milner Rd Richmond , 22nd March Victor Harbor Old School Building Community Centre
Torrens St, Victor Harbor SA 5211, 24th March Central Oval Community Sporting Hub
10 Augusta Terrace, Port Augusta, SA 5700 Port Augusta.
Polio Australia Staff in attendance, Polio SA Staff and Committee and Guest Speakers Dr Nigel Quadros (Rehab Medicine Physician) Kate Seeliger (Neuro Physio)
Congratulations Brett Howard OAM Order of Australia Medal in Australia Day Honours List
Brett Howard was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. Brett was nominated for an OAM for his dedication to powerboat racing and within the broader community. It is truly sad that Brett is not here with us today to share this truly amazing recognition he was our President for over 10 years and we thank him for his passion and devotion.
We thank Adelaide Speedboat Club for sharing the news of Brett Howard awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the Australia Day Honours list. Brett was nominated for his dedication to powerboat racing and within the broader community. Brett was our President here at Polio SA for over 10 years and we are forever grateful for his dedication to us and the Polio Community. We miss you Brett and thank you always for your passion and devotion. Congratulations to the Howard Family and Brett very well deserved.
Brett Ian Howard OAM
Today in the Australia Day Honours List a life member of the Adelaide Speedboat Club,
Brett Howard was awarded the Order of Australia Medal.
Brett was nominated for an OAM for his dedication to powerboat racing and within the broader community.
The ASBC would like to congratulate the Howard Family and Brett on this amazing achievement, this purely represents the kind of person that Brett was. It is truly sad that Brett is not here with us today to share this truly amazing recognition he deserves so much.
Muscles & Mobility The Physio Clinic Prospect
We received a flyer from Kate Seeliger Neurological & Vestibular Physiotherapist at The Physio Clinic Prospect for more details click on button below.
Many Post-Polio survivors can experience fatigue, weakness, pain, imbalance, falls & disturbed sleep. LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION? Exercise may be able to help! Exercise has many health benefits for polio survivors. Goals of exercise may include improving and/or maintaining an individual’s mobility and function, maximising their independence and providing relief from pain. Consideration must be given to stabilising weak limbs, supplementing strength, protecting joints, normalising movement patterns, reducing unnecessary load and pain and accommodating ongoing atrophy/ weakness
Polio SA Summer Newsletter 2021
In this edition
Disability Doesn't Discriminate Update
Greens Plan An Accessible Australia
Congratulations Raja
Building Better Homes A National Building Code for All Australians
Assistive Tech Equipment Donated
Managing Muscles and Mobility
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