The Post-Polio Clinic at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital is the only clinic of its kind in Canada. If you call to make an appointment, you may have to wait a few months before you can see one of the specialists. To help you decide whether or not you would benefit from making an appointment at the Post-Polio Clinic, we have asked a few questions of Dr. D^re Daria A. Trojan, physiatrist and director of the Clinic, who agreed to answer the question.

Who should visit the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital Post-Polio Clinic? 

D^re Trojan : Anyone who has had polio can come to the Post-Polio Clinic with a referral from a physician, preferably their family doctor.

Although the majority of patients come to the Post-Polio Clinic because they have new problems related to their original polio, there is no need to wait for their physical condition to deteriorate. Patients come here for an assessment of their difficulties and to learn how to cope better with their symptoms. If they have no new symptoms but have weaknesses from their original polio, we can also assess them and recommend preventative measures that fit their needs.

Is it important for people who have had polio to go to the Post-Polio Clinic or can they manage their symptoms without going?

D^re Trojan : This is a personal decision that can be discussed with the family physician. If there are new difficulties related to the initial polio, it is recommended to have an evaluation by a physician and not to self-diagnose. The main symptoms of post-polio syndrome (new weakness, fatigue, and pain) can be due to many other conditions and not necessarily PPS. Fatigue, for example, is very common even in the general population and can be due to a variety of causes, such as anemia, thyroid problems, obstructive sleep apnea, etc. Since there is no specific diagnostic test for PPS, all new symptoms require evaluation for potential causes, some of which may be treatable.

What should I expect when I make my first appointment at the Post-Polio Clinic?

D^re Trojan : At the first appointment, the patient is first evaluated by one of the two doctors at the clinic. The doctor will usually order certain tests, such as blood work (which can be done the same day at the Montreal Neurological Hospital), x-rays, CT or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, pulmonary function tests, electromyograms, sleep studies, or bone densitometry assessments.

Patients may need only one or a few of these tests. Most of the tests mentioned (except for blood tests) are done at different times, and many of them can be done in the area where the patient lives, especially if the patient lives far from the Clinic. Patients may also be referred, as needed, to other specialists or health care professionals, including lung specialists, sleep specialists, endocrinology, orthopedics, rheumatology, psychology, dietetics, orthotics, or social workers. These consultations will not necessarily be held on the same day as your first appointment at the Clinic.

Many patients will also be referred to physiotherapy or occupational therapy during their first visit. Patients may also be referred to resources outside the hospital, such as their CLSC or a local rehabilitation center.

For patients living in the regions, can a single appointment help them or do they have to come back to Montreal several times to be treated?

D^re Trojan : We believe that one appointment may be sufficient for an initial consultation. We see most patients every 6 to 12 months depending on their progress.

In the case of people who live outside of Montreal, we can make recommendations to their family physician. These patients can also come back, if they wish. Currently, patients from Jonquière and Quebec City meet with us on an annual basis.