FDR Didn’t Have Polio?

Richard L. Bruno, HD, PhD
Chairperson, International Post-Polio Task Force
Director, International Centre for Polio Education
PostPolioInfo.com

I was interviewed about “researchers” saying FDR had, not polio, but Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) because he was an adult, had facial paralysis, "skin pain" in his legs, bowel and bladder problems – symptoms that are “statistically more common” in GBS.  I reviewed FDR’s medical records from before and during his time at Warm Springs:

Facial Paralysis:

•Many polio survivors had some damage to the facial nerve, especially “bulbar" polio survivors.

•FDR’s facial paralysis resolved.

Bowel and Bladder Problems:

A 1949 study found that 2% of polio survivors had urinary retention - were unable to urinate - right after they had polio. But anecdotal reports from the 1940's indicated that 65% of patients in some epidemics couldn't empty their bladders:

•A 1988 survey found that 11% of 203 polio survivors remembered having retention during the polio attack.

•In "bulbar" polio survivors who needed respirators retention was even more common.

•Constipation wasn't unusual in polio patients (nor is it unusual today in polio survivors).

Additional Observations:

• FDR had a high fever which is not a GBS symptom.

• FDR's leg paralysis wasn't symmetrical, as paralysis usually is in GBS. His one leg was affected before the other.

•70% of GBS patients recover completely. FDR? Not so much.

Could FDR have had GBS? Sure. Did he? I think it was highly unlikely. 

This just proves you shouldn't use "statistics" to diagnose a patient dead for more than 76 years.  Oh, and it also proves that you should know something about polio before you write an article saying FDR didn't have it.