WHAT IS POST POLIO SYNDROME
Post Polio Syndrome is a poorly understood condition that can affect people who have had polio in the past.
Polio is a viral infection that used to be common in the UK, but is now rare.
Most people who had Polio would have fought off the infection without even realising they were infected.
Some people with Polio would have had paralysis, muscle weakness and shrinking of the muscles. But usually, these problems would have either gone away over the following weeks or months, or remained the same for years afterwards.
Post Polio Syndrome is where some of these symptoms return or get worse many years or decades after the original polio infection.
SYMPTOMS OF POST POLIO SYNDROME
Post Polio Syndrome can include a wide range of symptoms that develop gradually over time, including:
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persistent fatigue (extreme tiredness)
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muscle weakness
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shrinking muscles
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muscle and joint pain
The condition can have a significant impact on everyday life, making it very difficult to get around and carry out certain tasks and activities. The symptoms tend to get gradually worse over many years, but this happens very slowly and treatment may help slow it down further.
Post Polio Syndrome is rarely life-threatening, although some people develop breathing and swallowing difficulties that can lead to serious problems, such as chest infections.
WHO'S AFFECTED
Post Polio Syndrome only affects people who've had polio. It usually develops 15 to 40 years after the infection.
The condition has become more common in the UK in recent years, because of the high number of Polio cases that occurred during the 1940s and 1950s, before routine vaccination was introduced. It's estimated that there are around 120,000 people living in the UK who survived Polio when they were younger. Some of these have, or will develop, Post Polio Syndrome.
It's not known exactly how many Polio survivors are or will be affected by Post Polio Syndrome. Estimates vary from as low as 15% to as high as 80%.
WHAT CAUSES POST-POLIO SYNDROME?
The exact cause of post Polio Syndrome is unclear. It's not known whether anything can be done to prevent it.
The leading theory is that it's the result of the gradual deterioration of nerve cells in the spinal cord (motor neurones) that were damaged by the Polio virus. This would explain why the condition can take years to appear.
Post Polio Syndrome isn't contagious. The theory that the Polio virus may lie dormant in your body, causing Post Polio Syndrome when it becomes reactivated at a later stage, has been disproven.
It's not clear why only some people who've had polio develop Post Polio Syndrome. Those who had severe Polio when they were younger may be more likely to develop the condition.
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FREE WILL WRITING SERVICE
An Introduction to the McClure Solicitors Free Wills Service
This service is available to all British Polio Fellowship members and supporters.
Do you have a Will? If not, here is your chance to sort one out.
You already have a Will? Are you sure it is up to date and accurate?
The British Polio Fellowship is a charitable organisation within the UK working to help provide help and support to those living with the aftereffects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS). They work to provide vital information and campaign to raise awareness of PPS to allow those who are affected by PPS receive support to help them live independent & integrated lives. The British Polio Fellowship has partnered with McClure Solicitors to provide an all year round Free Will Writing Service. They will prepare your Will or review your existing Will free of charge, a service which usually costs £150 for a single client & £240 for couples. All they ask for in return is that you consider donating to help support the amazing work The British Polio Fellowship carries out. So, take this opportunity to get your Will written or reviewed for free – and help our charity at the same time.
Everyone benefits.
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McClure Solicitors write you a Will that you need at no cost.
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They raise funds for the British Polio Fellowship.
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Over 50% of clients go on to use McClure Solicitors for other services.
Around 36% of people over the age of 55 in the UK do not have a valid Will in place. Wills are important legal documents and without them, everything that people accumulate throughout their life may go to the wrong people in the event of their death. The good news is that McClure do not just provide ordinary Wills, they produce estate planning Wills if necessary. An ordinary Will only sets out who is to get your estate when you die and who is to administer it. However, that’s only step one. In addition to taking your instructions, McClure will discuss with you what effect the inheritance will have on your children or other beneficiaries. This is step two. This often means that a Will is not enough. You might need a Trust as well. This could be a Trust in your Will or, better still, a separate Lifetime Trust.
Here are some real examples of Wills that did not go far enough.
1. A widower left everything to his daughter. He dies. She inherited. Then she dies. She was now liable for Inheritance Tax from the estate she inherited of £55,000. His Will cost £150 when he made it, but it cost her estate £55,000.
2. A widow left her modest estate to her two daughters. They were on state benefits. When the mother died, they lost their benefits. And step three, they consider where your estate is likely to go next, for example, you might leave your estate to a son who gets divorced, and part of your estate ends up going outside your blood relatives. This is avoidable. If you already have a Will, well done you, but is it correct and up to date? Research shows that one in four Wills are defective in some way. McClure carry out free safety checks and, if necessary, will update or correct your Will for free. Get McClure to review your existing Will and, if it is fine, then well done! If any updates are required, you can get your new Will prepared at no cost under their Free Will service. All they ask is you consider donating for the British Polio Fellowship. B
For an appointment telephone McClure Solicitors on Freephone 0800 852 1999, or email them at contactus@mcclure-solicitors.co.uk and quote British Polio Fellowship.