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Dr. Richard Bruno, HD, PhD.
Chairman of the International Centre for Polio Education
and author of The Polio Paradox
Hosts The Harvest Center’s Post-Polio Coffee House
We share his Tips and Tidbits of PPS information as he shares them online. Every issue of Bruno "Bytes" is available in PDF format at the bottom of this page, along with an Index that covers each article by Subject. Feel free to print and share these with other survivors.
We’ll bring it to you – safely, without links.
Dr. Richard Bruno, HD, PhD.
Chairman of the International Centre for Polio Education
and author of The Polio Paradox
Hosts The Harvest Center’s Post-Polio Coffee House
We share his Tips and Tidbits of PPS information as he shares them online. Every issue of Bruno "Bytes" is available in PDF format at the bottom of this page, along with an Index that covers each article by Subject. Feel free to print and share these with other survivors.
Bruno Bytes - May, 2018
On the topic of Polio and Dopamine Producing Neurons (5/3/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Polio survivors, like Parkinson’s patients, make too little dopamine because the poliovirus killed dopamine producing neurons in the brain activating system and causes impaired attention. Along with attention problems, this study may help us understand why polio survivors report trouble with immediate or “scratch pad” memory:“…dopamine neurons play a critical role in the formation of episodic memory, which allows people to remember such things as where they parked the car in the morning and what they had for dinner last night.”
Study Sheds Light on How "Dopamine Neurons" Contribute to Memory Formation in Humans
Research from Cedars-Sinai sheds light on how the human brain rapidly forms new memories, providing insights into potential new treatments for memory disorders. A new study examined neurons that produce dopamine, a compound that acts as a transmitter for nerve impulses. It found that these dopamine neurons play a critical role in the formation of episodic memory, which allows people to remember such things as where they parked the car in the morning and what they had for dinner last night.
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Medications for Osteoporosis (5/7/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Osteoporosis meds and drug holidays. This is something to talk to your doctor about.
Fifteen Percent of Osteoporosis Patients Who Take "Drug Holidays" Suffer Bone Fractures.
Patients who take osteoporosis drugs for long periods typically are advised to temporarily discontinue the drugs to prevent rare but serious side effects to the jaw and thighs. A Loyola Medicine study has found that 15.4 percent of patients who take so-called "drug holidays" from osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates experienced bone fractures. During a six-year follow-up period, the yearly incidence of fractures ranged from 3.7 percent to 9.9 percent, with the most fractures occurring during the fourth and fifth years.
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Pain Medications (5/9/2018)
Original Post: What pain medication do you recommend for polio-survivors? After doing some work outside
in my shade garden this year I have developed new pain. Ibuprofen & Acetaminophen aren’t helping at all.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: You need a diagnosis before you would know what medication is needed.
Additional Post: What do you mean by "diagnosis"? Is this done by the process of elimination of other
conditions? This new pain is in my joints & lower back on my weaker side, from shoulder on down.
I had Polio when I was 10 and developed scoliosis at age 14. I wear a miserable back brace that probably
needs to be replaced.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: Diagnosis comes BY process of elimination. Typically for Polio survivors, rehabilitation
physicians (physiatrists) are best because they are trained to look at the source of the pain. They or an
orthopedist may send you for X-rays of your joints and your back, and maybe MRI.
REMEMBER: NOT EVERY SYMPTOM IS PPS!
On the topic of Sleep Apnea being Worse for Women (5/9/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Based on this study, it appears Sleep Apnea effects are worse for women.
Is Sleep Apnea Worse for Women? Studies Continue to Say “Yes.”
"The statistics are startling. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 26 percent of adults ages 30 to 70 have sleep apnea. Left untreated, its sleep-disturbing effects can lead to life-threatening cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke. And for women, the impact can be even more severe."
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (5/10/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Here’s ANOTHER Obstructive Sleep Apnea Warning: "...more than half of persons ages 65 and older have a high risk of OSA, a sleep disorder in which the throat collapses during sleep, causing the patient to repeatedly stop breathing for periods of 10 seconds or longer throughout the night. But only 8 percent of these individuals have been tested for OSA..."
OSA in Older Adults: Often Present, Seldom Investigated
From the University of Michigan - "Older Americans are often at a high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, yet this illness remains vastly under diagnosed, a new study finds."
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Sleep Apnea and Daytime Sleepiness (5/16/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: This article discusses the reality that Provigil (modafinil, and its relative armodafinil) did not improve driving performance in those with sleep apnea after six months of use and, as in polio survivors, it didn't decrease daytime sleepiness.
SLEEP - Accept NO Substitutes !
Drug Used to Treat Daytime Sleepiness Does Not Appear To Improve Driving in Those With Sleep Apnea
"A drug used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness may not improve driving ability in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who cannot tolerate standard therapies, according to new research published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine."
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Tired/Painful Legs (5/20/2018)
Original Post: I was lucky and did not suffer paralysis in legs. But now age 73, my Legs hurt. My thigh muscles are sore and becoming painful.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: Please remember that your whole body has been affected by the poliovirus. Your muscles have “over-performed” all these years and now the polio-damaged neurons that turn on those muscles are probably “overtired.” BUT you always must first rule out other causes for any symptoms
On the topic of Breathing Issues (5/20/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: For Everyone Who Has Breathing Questions:
Dr. John Bach is the world’s leading expert on breathing and Polio.
You can email him: bachjr@njms.rutgers.edu.
Dr. Bach's website page “The Breathe BB Forum” is: www.BreatheBB.com or www.BreatheNVS.com.
*Editor’s Note: Dr. John Bach, MD. actively participated with Dr. Richard Bruno, HD., PhD., Dr. Selma Calmes, MD. and
Dr. William DeMayo, MD. in the creation of an updated Anesthesia Warning Card for Polio Survivors. This card, along with the original NJ card is available HERE on our website. (The biographies of these four professional contributors are available on this page of our website as well).
On the topic of Neck Pain feeling like Swollen Glands (5/24/2018)
Original Post: Can bulbar Polio affect the neck muscles to a point that the glands fee painful? Sometimes it feels as though my gland is swollen, but the pain goes away by the next day.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: This is not a bulbar polio issue. Everyone who had polio had some degree of damage to the brain stem “bulb."
Neck and upper back muscle weakness and muscle strength imbalances are very common causes for polio survivors to have neck muscles go into spasm, the result of poor posture during the day or at night, spending too much time at the computer and overusing neck muscles. The muscle will become dense (hard) when it goes into spasm and feels like a neck gland is swollen. And the spasm can bounce back and forth between one side of the neck and the other, between neck and upper back and vice versa.
Using proper posture (see the chapter on “painless posture” in the Polio Survivors Handbook at postpolioinfo.com), moving and stretching gently during the day to prevent spasm and the use of heat and massage to reduce spasm are helpful. If the spasm doesn’t relent, deep tissue massage can be helpful as well as a Tylenol, ibuprofen if your tummy can take it and talk to your doctor about, low dose diazepam (Valium).
These May 2018 Bruno Bytes are available (in their entirety) in PDF format below.
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Polio survivors, like Parkinson’s patients, make too little dopamine because the poliovirus killed dopamine producing neurons in the brain activating system and causes impaired attention. Along with attention problems, this study may help us understand why polio survivors report trouble with immediate or “scratch pad” memory:“…dopamine neurons play a critical role in the formation of episodic memory, which allows people to remember such things as where they parked the car in the morning and what they had for dinner last night.”
Study Sheds Light on How "Dopamine Neurons" Contribute to Memory Formation in Humans
Research from Cedars-Sinai sheds light on how the human brain rapidly forms new memories, providing insights into potential new treatments for memory disorders. A new study examined neurons that produce dopamine, a compound that acts as a transmitter for nerve impulses. It found that these dopamine neurons play a critical role in the formation of episodic memory, which allows people to remember such things as where they parked the car in the morning and what they had for dinner last night.
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Medications for Osteoporosis (5/7/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Osteoporosis meds and drug holidays. This is something to talk to your doctor about.
Fifteen Percent of Osteoporosis Patients Who Take "Drug Holidays" Suffer Bone Fractures.
Patients who take osteoporosis drugs for long periods typically are advised to temporarily discontinue the drugs to prevent rare but serious side effects to the jaw and thighs. A Loyola Medicine study has found that 15.4 percent of patients who take so-called "drug holidays" from osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates experienced bone fractures. During a six-year follow-up period, the yearly incidence of fractures ranged from 3.7 percent to 9.9 percent, with the most fractures occurring during the fourth and fifth years.
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Pain Medications (5/9/2018)
Original Post: What pain medication do you recommend for polio-survivors? After doing some work outside
in my shade garden this year I have developed new pain. Ibuprofen & Acetaminophen aren’t helping at all.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: You need a diagnosis before you would know what medication is needed.
Additional Post: What do you mean by "diagnosis"? Is this done by the process of elimination of other
conditions? This new pain is in my joints & lower back on my weaker side, from shoulder on down.
I had Polio when I was 10 and developed scoliosis at age 14. I wear a miserable back brace that probably
needs to be replaced.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: Diagnosis comes BY process of elimination. Typically for Polio survivors, rehabilitation
physicians (physiatrists) are best because they are trained to look at the source of the pain. They or an
orthopedist may send you for X-rays of your joints and your back, and maybe MRI.
REMEMBER: NOT EVERY SYMPTOM IS PPS!
On the topic of Sleep Apnea being Worse for Women (5/9/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Based on this study, it appears Sleep Apnea effects are worse for women.
Is Sleep Apnea Worse for Women? Studies Continue to Say “Yes.”
"The statistics are startling. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 26 percent of adults ages 30 to 70 have sleep apnea. Left untreated, its sleep-disturbing effects can lead to life-threatening cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke. And for women, the impact can be even more severe."
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (5/10/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Here’s ANOTHER Obstructive Sleep Apnea Warning: "...more than half of persons ages 65 and older have a high risk of OSA, a sleep disorder in which the throat collapses during sleep, causing the patient to repeatedly stop breathing for periods of 10 seconds or longer throughout the night. But only 8 percent of these individuals have been tested for OSA..."
OSA in Older Adults: Often Present, Seldom Investigated
From the University of Michigan - "Older Americans are often at a high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, yet this illness remains vastly under diagnosed, a new study finds."
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Sleep Apnea and Daytime Sleepiness (5/16/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: This article discusses the reality that Provigil (modafinil, and its relative armodafinil) did not improve driving performance in those with sleep apnea after six months of use and, as in polio survivors, it didn't decrease daytime sleepiness.
SLEEP - Accept NO Substitutes !
Drug Used to Treat Daytime Sleepiness Does Not Appear To Improve Driving in Those With Sleep Apnea
"A drug used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness may not improve driving ability in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who cannot tolerate standard therapies, according to new research published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine."
The Complete Article is available HERE
On the topic of Tired/Painful Legs (5/20/2018)
Original Post: I was lucky and did not suffer paralysis in legs. But now age 73, my Legs hurt. My thigh muscles are sore and becoming painful.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: Please remember that your whole body has been affected by the poliovirus. Your muscles have “over-performed” all these years and now the polio-damaged neurons that turn on those muscles are probably “overtired.” BUT you always must first rule out other causes for any symptoms
On the topic of Breathing Issues (5/20/2018)
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: For Everyone Who Has Breathing Questions:
Dr. John Bach is the world’s leading expert on breathing and Polio.
You can email him: bachjr@njms.rutgers.edu.
Dr. Bach's website page “The Breathe BB Forum” is: www.BreatheBB.com or www.BreatheNVS.com.
*Editor’s Note: Dr. John Bach, MD. actively participated with Dr. Richard Bruno, HD., PhD., Dr. Selma Calmes, MD. and
Dr. William DeMayo, MD. in the creation of an updated Anesthesia Warning Card for Polio Survivors. This card, along with the original NJ card is available HERE on our website. (The biographies of these four professional contributors are available on this page of our website as well).
On the topic of Neck Pain feeling like Swollen Glands (5/24/2018)
Original Post: Can bulbar Polio affect the neck muscles to a point that the glands fee painful? Sometimes it feels as though my gland is swollen, but the pain goes away by the next day.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: This is not a bulbar polio issue. Everyone who had polio had some degree of damage to the brain stem “bulb."
Neck and upper back muscle weakness and muscle strength imbalances are very common causes for polio survivors to have neck muscles go into spasm, the result of poor posture during the day or at night, spending too much time at the computer and overusing neck muscles. The muscle will become dense (hard) when it goes into spasm and feels like a neck gland is swollen. And the spasm can bounce back and forth between one side of the neck and the other, between neck and upper back and vice versa.
Using proper posture (see the chapter on “painless posture” in the Polio Survivors Handbook at postpolioinfo.com), moving and stretching gently during the day to prevent spasm and the use of heat and massage to reduce spasm are helpful. If the spasm doesn’t relent, deep tissue massage can be helpful as well as a Tylenol, ibuprofen if your tummy can take it and talk to your doctor about, low dose diazepam (Valium).
These May 2018 Bruno Bytes are available (in their entirety) in PDF format below.
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"Casual Coffee Moments"
Would you like to see Dr. Bruno in "action" ?
The Video from his 2015 Conference is available HERE
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"Casual Coffee Moments"
Would you like to see Dr. Bruno in "action" ?
The Video from his 2015 Conference is available HERE
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"Post-Polio Fatigue" Log Here
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Complete "Bruno Bytes" from Previous Months
(In easily printable PDF format)
(In easily printable PDF format)
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
“Bruno Bytes” – How it all began
“Bruno Bytes” are published monthly, through a combined effort between Dr. Richard L. Bruno, HD, PhD. (biography above) and the Pa. Polio Survivor’s Network. They are answers to questions posted in the “Post-Polio Coffee House” (on Facebook). This partnership began in November, 2014.
“Bruno Bytes” help to teach polio survivors, spouses, caregivers and health care professionals about the many and varied topics related to the physical and emotional issues associated with having had polio and managing PPS.
“Bruno Bytes” are for education only and any personal treatment plan must be determined in association with a PPS knowledgeable health care professional.
“Bruno Bytes” are published monthly, through a combined effort between Dr. Richard L. Bruno, HD, PhD. (biography above) and the Pa. Polio Survivor’s Network. They are answers to questions posted in the “Post-Polio Coffee House” (on Facebook). This partnership began in November, 2014.
“Bruno Bytes” help to teach polio survivors, spouses, caregivers and health care professionals about the many and varied topics related to the physical and emotional issues associated with having had polio and managing PPS.
“Bruno Bytes” are for education only and any personal treatment plan must be determined in association with a PPS knowledgeable health care professional.