Polio literature has for many years, mentioned polio survivors
experiencing fibromyalgia. In Western Australia we have been
successfully treating this with large doses of supplemental magnesium
chelate. Whereas polio people with just "muscle aches" and "cramps" may
only need smaller doses twice a day of magnesium, those whose symptoms
are bad enough or have been told by doctors that they have
"Fibromyalgia" seem to need greater doses and maybe more frequently
during the day ie before each meal and before bed as well (and even
during the night if they wake up with muscle pain or cramps).

We find that the best way to work out your dose is to take 100mg of
elemental magnesium (chelated seems to work best) at least twice a day
and increase the dose by 100mg (at one dose or two doses if severe
problems) every 2 - 3 days until you reach the point that your bowels
are tending towards diarrhoea. When this happens reduce the dose by the
last increase so that you are just below the dose that gives diarrhoea.
This should alleviate most muscle pain. Sometimes if the muscles are
really tight, some extra massage to help to loosen them may also be
necessary but after that, continued magnesium supplementation should
keep them relaxed so that massage is no longer necessary.

Magnesium usually only lasts about 12 hours at the most so this is why
it needs to be taken morning and night. Better absorbed on an empty
stomach and usually effective within a few minutes of taking it if
experiencing cramps, headaches, backaches, hiccups, twitching, spasm.
(If not resolving within 5 - 10 minutes, then you need to take a bit
more.) We have found that magnesium tablets (unless crumbly) are not
well absorbed. Magnesium capsules provide better absorption and
magnesium powder is the best absorbed.

People with fibromyalgia may have to take large doses for a few years
but people have reported back, that over time they have been able to
reduce the dose to a more normal dose that other polios find effective.
Taking Vitamin C at the same time may help to reduce the inflammation in
the muscles and raise the pain threshold. Vitamin C needs to be taken
as frequently and at the same time as the magnesium. Work out the dose
of Vitamin C the same way as for the magnesium. Again too much Vitamin
C at a time will give diarrhoea. Magnesium needs acid to help with
absorption so people on antacids may have problems absorbing oral
supplements. Take lemon juice or apple cider with your dose (Vitamin C
helps too) to aid absorption. Coca Cola will also help if the others
not available.

It is important to raise magnesium levels if they are low as you are
more likely to have a heart attack if magnesium or potassium levels are
low. We have one polio member needing to have magnesium intravenously
due to antacids, as his blood levels are extremely low and this has
resulted in a heart attack just recently.

Manganese works on tendons and if you are having severe muscle problems
then the tendons are being affected too. Manganese stops the stiffness
we get after sitting for a while, lessens tinnitus, twinges across
joints, torn tendons and muscles, tight tendons and aches, clumsiness,
loss of balance and a tendency to bump into furniture and doorways. Can
be taken once a day. Usual dose required varies from 20mg - 1200mg
elemental manganese. Occasionally too much may give diarrhoea. Start
with one tablet, increase every 3 days until stiffness going or up to 6
tablets a day (may divide the dose if needing 6).

Hope this will help.

Tessa Jupp RN
Polio Clinic Western Australia