McConnell's Childhood Polio May Slow Recovery 7 Times Compared to Peers
Expert warns the 84-year-old senator's polio effects compound recovery challenges after June fall and pneumonia.
What to know
- McConnell returned to the Senate on September 14 after three months away following a June fall, hospitalization, and pneumonia; he attributes slow recovery to childhood polio effects.
- Medical experts warn polio survivors experience significantly slower recovery in older age as compensating nerve cells become overused and wear out over decades.
- Prolonged inactivity from hospitalization accelerates deterioration in aging polio survivors more than in the general population, complicating McConnell's path back to full function.
The dispute Whether polio effects are a significant medical factor in McConnell's slow recovery or whether his advanced age and pre-existing frailty are the primary causes. · positions read across 5 posts and comments
Age and general health decline, not polio specifically, are the real impediments to recovery.
-
“It's more that he's in his 80s, was already obviously in poor health, and that whatever caused the fall was probably a stroke or something else that's bad.”
Blue_Plastic_88 · Reddit ↗
Polio is a legitimate long-term health condition that compounds recovery challenges in aging survivors.
-
“Polio is no joke, my grandma caught it at 20 and she had life long medical issues because of it.”
mizushimo · Reddit ↗
McConnell should retire; his health status makes him unfit for office.
-
“He can't do the job. He needs to go. I swear the only reason these people don't retire is due to the lack of opportunity to do evil shit when they are not in office.”
Hamthrax · Reddit ↗
“When you start getting older those compensation mechanisms for the other half that wasn't affected by the polio, that pool of nerve cells starts being overused and wearing out.”
Dr. Freddie Maynard, Post-polio medicine specialist · Newsweek ↗
Mitch McConnell U.S. Senator (Kentucky)Dr. Freddie Maynard Post-polio medicine specialist
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlespostscomments
-
1
Expert warns polio effects may slow McConnell's recovery by factor of 7
Dr. Freddie Maynard, a physician specializing in post-polio medicine, tells Newsweek that polio survivors' recovery can be substantially slower than the general population, particularly when older survivors experience prolonged inactivity. Bed rest leads to rapid deterioration worse for polio survivors than for others.
“Bed rest rapidly leads to deterioration…for [polio] survivors it's even worse. It can be a very slow recovery…Much worse for older polio survivors than for normal people.”
— Dr. Freddie Maynard -
first by Newsweek, 4d ago
-
I think it's more than just polio that's impeding his "recovery." It's more that he's in his 80s, was already obviously in poor health, and that whatever caused the fall was probably a stroke or something else that's bad. He seemed to be extremely frail already.
2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
-
My youngest is the most stubborn person I have ever met. When he was 2 years old he would sometimes pursue someone who had offended him, with his right hand cocked ready to deliver the bitch slap.
-
He can't do the job. He needs to go. I swear the only reason these people don't retire is due to the lack of opportunity to do evil shit when they are not in office.
-
-
background
McConnell returns to Senate after three-month absence — McConnell returns to the Senate following roughly three months away. He attributes his difficult recovery partly to lingering effects of childhood polio and states he is "still not quite back to 100%" and will continue physical therapy.
-
background
McConnell's office attributes multiple falls to post-polio condition — McConnell's office discloses that the senator experienced several falls during the year attributed to his post-polio condition. The congressional Office of the Attending Physician confirms rehabilitation focused on rebuilding strength and reducing fall risk.
-
background
McConnell falls and loses consciousness — The 84-year-old Kentucky senator falls, loses consciousness, and is hospitalized. He later develops a mild case of pneumonia while hospitalized.
What people are saying 2 voices from 1 site · best of 5 · verbatim
- Sep 20
-
Polio is no joke, my grandma caught it at 20 and she had life long medical issues because of it.
- Sep 19
-
Polio? He is 84. That is what is causing his recovery to go slow. Hang up the cleats, you had a good game, now go away.