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Rate ePoster

Neurological Rehabilitation

Chronic Pain and Rehabilitation Challenges in a Post-Polio Patient: A Case Report

Thursday, October 23, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MT
Location: Open Kiosks

    Poster Presenter(s)

  • Yashas Sattur, Other

    Medical Student
    Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
    Stratford, New Jersey

    • Co-Author(s)

  • AK

    Alexander King, DO

    Assistant Professor
    Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine/Rowan University
    Sewell, New Jersey

Disclosure(s):
Yashas Sattur, Other: No financial relationships to disclose
Case Diagnosis: Chronic pain and progressive neuromuscular weakness due to post-polio syndrome (PPS).

Case Description or Program Description: A 74-year-old male presented for a routine follow-up for chronic pain management, exhibiting bilateral hip and leg pain, neuropathy, gait instability, and neuromuscular impairment due to longstanding post-polio syndrome. His medical history included cervical spondylosis, restless leg syndrome, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, and multiple orthopedic procedures, including a traumatic finger amputation. Pain management involved sustained-release and immediate-release morphine, celecoxib, citalopram, hydroxyzine, ropinirole, and lovastatin, complemented by bilateral lower extremity braces for mobility support.

Setting: Outpatient neuromuscular (NMI) clinic focused on chronic pain management and functional optimization.

Assessment/Results: Diagnostic evaluation revealed chronic neuromuscular degeneration confirmed by EMG, chronic degenerative lumbar changes, mild inflammatory response, and stable but persistent functional limitations. Treatment maintained his pain at Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) scores ranging from 6–9, allowing stable functional performance without significant deterioration in daily activities.

Discussion (relevance): This case emphasizes the complexity of managing chronic pain and functional impairment in PPS patients, highlighting the necessity of multimodal interventions including tailored pharmacological treatment, mobility support devices, and proactive risk mitigation strategies like naloxone prescriptions alongside chronic opioid therapy. The persistent pain despite aggressive management reflects broader clinical challenges in PPS treatment and highlights the critical role of individualized interdisciplinary care.

Conclusions: Effective management of PPS-related chronic pain requires a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach, integrating pharmacological therapies, rehabilitation strategies, and safety measures to enhance quality of life. Persistent clinical challenges underscore the ongoing need for tailored interventions and further research into optimizing PPS care strategies.