Pain management expert to provide information relief

Everton Park’s Hugh Banney is hoping an expert on pain management will help him and others in the community who are still dealing with the repercussions of having polio as children.

Next month to highlight Post Polio Awareness Week (2-8 August), Dr Stephen de Graaff will talk to Queenslanders who have Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) or who are experiencing the Late Effects of Polio (LEOP) at the Spinal Injuries Association (on Tuesday, 3 August).

As Director of Pain Services and Senior Rehabilitation Physician at Epworth Healthcare in Victoria, one of Dr de Graaff’s areas of research includes Post-Polio Sequelae.

Dr de Graaff said his presentation to guests at the Brisbane-based Association on Tuesday, 3 August would include an overview of pain management for people who have Post Polio Syndrome and information about surgery in regards to the Late Effects of Polio.

“Pain is unfortunately a constant companion of many polio survivors, and these fiercely independent individuals need advice, acknowledgement and strategies to manage the challenges that they are confronted with,” Dr de Graaff said.

“Because they are not commonly seen syndromes, there is a clear lack of awareness of PPS and LEOP in the community. The emphasis of management is targeted at pacing, function and quality of life issues rather than the medical model of management.”

Hugh was 14 years-old when he contracted polio in 1945. Isolated for months, Hugh said polio did not feature in his life for many years until he began experiencing the late effects of polio in the late 1980s.

“Polio is a viral disease the attacks the spinal cord and causes permanent or temporary paralysis,” he said.

“The nerves that were killed or damaged at the time of the initial virus attack when I was young were replaced by the development of compensatory nerves, which resulted in partial recovery.

“What is now believed to be happening is that those compensatory nerves are dying as the result of over use of muscles and joints and a return for many elderly people with polio to the wheelchairs, calipers and walking canes that many had long discarded.

“Many post polio sufferers are now experiencing considerable pain as the result of this reversal. The condition is called Post Polio Syndrome or known as experiencing the Late Effects of Polio.”

Symptoms are varied but include muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, sleep and breathing difficulties.

The Brisbane Post Polio Support Group formed in 1990 and Hugh is Convenor of the group, which meets monthly to discuss issues ranging from healthcare advice to accessibility issues in the community.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said Dr de Graaff’s visit next month would hopefully provide some much-needed information for people with the condition, which was still largely unknown.

“As the population ages, incidences of Post Polio Syndrome and the Late Effects of Polio will continue to come to light,” Mr Henley said.

“Dr de Graaff’s expertise will allow our members to learn how to live more independently and comfortably with their conditions.”

For more information on Post Polio Syndrome or your local Post Polio Support Group, please visit www.spinal.com.au.

Issued 30 July.