SWAlexander
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Many people live with Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS), yet few speak openly about it.I have been to a lot of places and around thousands of people but never knew anyone else.
They’re often worn down by stigma or frustrated by a constant stream of misguided advice—whether from well-meaning individuals armed with “magazine wisdom,” or even medical professionals unfamiliar with the pathophysiology of PPS, who wrongly assume that exercise is the solution.
That’s why I wrote this science-based explanation:
Initial Damage:
During the acute phase of poliovirus infection, motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem are damaged or destroyed.
Compensatory Mechanism:
The surviving neurons respond by sprouting new terminal branches—a process known as collateral sprouting—to reinnervate the affected muscle fibers. This leads to the formation of enlarged “giant motor units.”
Progressive Decline:
Decades after initial recovery, these overburdened motor neurons begin to fail. Their progressive degeneration results in renewed denervation of muscle fibers.
Why Symptoms Return:
At this stage, the body’s compensatory mechanisms—such as acetylcholine synthesis and further sprouting—can no longer keep up. The result is increasing muscle weakness, fatigue, and the hallmark symptoms of Post-Polio Syndrome.
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