For some people, that still means a trip of over eight hours. Other groups, ours among them, hope to follow in their footsteps in establishing clinics in their areas. The clinics should also be affordable, if not free. People disabled by polio, trying to adapt their life-styles to maintain function and retain employment, have all the expenses of the rest of the population, plus the expenses of preventive care, pain control, therapy, and rehabilitative aids. In this regard, the coverage by group Blue Cross-Blue Shield health insurance is fairly typical.
Cost then becomes the barrier to otherwise available services.
Although people experiencing post-polio syndrome are victims of extreme fatigue, they find, unfortunately, that working less than 40 hours a week leads to a reduction in their group insurance coverage. Many polio survivors need adaptations that could be termed preventative rehabilitation to maximize function and minimize pain. Some personal examples of relatively simple and inexpensive changes include using revolving shelves in cupboards and on desks, using book supports to read, and using lightweight plastic dishes at home. Slightly more expensive are hot packs and an electric blanket to reduce pain and spasms. Higher priced adaptations include drive a car with automatic transmission, power steering, cruise control, and power seats.