cognitive issues
 

Hi. I am 31 and have had crps for over 20 years. After a flare up a few years ago the crps spread and became worse. I have posted on here before about memory problems but in the last few months i have had some really bad episodes. I was just wondering if anyone else had these issues. Firstly i have the normal brain fog and forgetfulness but it is now at the point where i am worried about leaving the house on my own. A few days ago i came home from the shops when i emptied my handbag i found a few items in there i checked my recipt and they were not on there. I dont remember putting anything in my bag and would never intentionally steal something. Also i have put cups in the food pantry nearly taken something out of the oven without an oven glove. Hubby stopped me just in time. I am now at the point where i have to write everything down that i need to do or i completly forget about it.my main concern is that i often seem to put myself at risk but dont realise it or comprehend the danger. I was just wondering if anyone has had similar problems.

Hi Katie! So sorry you are dealing with this. I have had RSD for almost 22 1/2 years. I can relate to your cognitive issues 100%. My RSD has spread so much the last couple of years and with that, I noticed the "mind" problems. I am nothing like my former self. Just in the last week I picked up a hot pizza stone that I had just taken out of the oven, didn't even think about putting on an oven mitt. I put something in the toaster oven and forgot all about it, forgot to pay our cell phone bill (could've sworn I already did it). Husband doesn't want me using appliances when he is not home. I struggle with finding simple words to finish a sentence. I also have a hard time comprehending some of the simplest things.

The last day I worked was December 28, 2012. I was a financial & human resource manager. I was known for being so detailed and having a mind like a steel trap. I knew I was in trouble when I started making mistakes at work and forgetting to do time sensitive things.

This is so unlike me, and I have had a hard time with accepting it. While I am sorry that you are dealing with this too, I am glad to know I am not alone.

All the best,
Nanc
:hug:

Hi nanc. Thanks for your reply. I am sorry you are having these issues. But i am glad i am not alone. It is very frustrating i felt i knew and could handle everything crps threw at me but the cognitive issues were a real curveball. I am most scared of losing my independence.my friend suggested placing laminated instructions next to my appliances so i can hopefully avoid injury. The oven tray really scared me . I hope you get some improvment soon

I’ve had CRPS II for nearly 10 years. I can relate to you both. In the last year or so my short term memory is gone. I get lost in conversations with people. I search for words that I’m trying to say and spend time describing the word I can’t bring to my mouth. I can see in my mind’s eye the thing I’m trying to describe but can’t get the word out. This happens several times a day.

Also, several times a day I get to a room and I’m like “what the hell did I come in here for?” I know everyone has done that at one time or another, but for me it is several times daily. So much so that I get mad and start to talk to myself on my way so I won’t forget what I’m doing. I’ve had this happen while driving too.

I love to cook, or at least I use to. So I have tons of recipes in my head. I can no longer cook and talk to someone at the same time. Inevitably I will forget a step or an ingredient if I do not give this task my undivided attention.

Of all the things that CRPS brings, this really freaks me out. I’m not even sure of anything that can be done to improve on this problem.

I keep telling myself that it is all the meds I am taking. At least I am hoping so. I've lost simple words from my vocabulary. For instance, the word 'was.' There are others too. Usually 3-4 letter common words. I have to ask for a definition or look one up. Very humiliating.

Before I lost my ability to drive, I would get lost going from my building a few blocks to my husbands. I drove it every day. We carpooled. I didn't necessarily end up in a different place, it was that I didn't recognize the place I was in.

I stay out of the kitchen. I tell my husband it is his turn. I cooked for the first 25 years while the kids were home. June 28 was our 33 year anniversary. He has a way to go to catch up.

Hi. It is a huge relif to see I am not alone. I don't take medication so it can't be that for me. I have the same problems with speech, I speak very slowly to make sure I have the best chance of getting the words out, but most of the time I use the wrong word or the word I want to say is on the tip of my tounge but comes out in a jumble of sounds. I am seeing my Dr tomorrow and will discuss it with him again

I am with you Katie, I am not on any meds to blame this on :( I also experience that same thing with the word(s) right there on the tip of my tongue and just cannot get it out....frustrating!!

Let us know what your dr says about this!

I know I have it bad because I was sure I had posted in here 2 days ago but I can find nothing. Yes my brain is well and truely screwed

Took me ages to find what I'm about to post Kev!

Oh I hate this side of the condition.... I used to be pretty intelligent, but nowadays my brain is definitely leaking away! I posted this is another thread, hope you don't me recycling it :winky:

.....

The Date Fiasco - I book something for one day, and write in on the calendar. I then book something else for the same day that will clash. I talk about both things separately and quite confidently in conversation, without connecting the dots. The day comes near, i have that cold 'oh no' and have to let someone down. I come across as forgetful, disorganised and uncaring. Great. Ordinary folk don't forgive that kind of thing easily.

Word Fumbling - conversational hand-flapping combined with lots of "oh what's the word for that?!". I know what I mean, but the word just won't come. I hate it. I prefer typing lol, cos I can stop and think!

Name Shame - same as above, but names you know very well - family, friends, your doctor, that hunky actor from you-know-what, you know the one who was on that film about something with that girl from that thing on BBC2...

Top of the Stairs Confusion - you know, where you walk painfully upstairs for something, get to the top, and can't for the life of you remember what it was you came up for. Grr.

The Hallway Reluctance - going out, I often stand in the hall with my car keys, looking round because I'm convinced I've forgotten something I'm meant to take with me. Sometimes I have forgotten something, often I wasn't meant to take anything anyway. Omg the time I've spent just loitering...in pain...

Sudden Smack Self in Head Syndrome - when you are sat there quite happily watching TV, typing, on the phone etc.....and you suddenly think of something you should have done. Gets me every time. And I don't do rushing about very well now!
.....

Made me smile to write it anyway, that's got to be worth something :)

Bram :grouphug:

and words that make your sentence into an idiotic jumble but you have no idea that the word you said or typed wasn't the word you were thinking of

It is eerily creepy and brings me comfort, (if that makes sense), reading your comments. Your comment about having a word in your mind and not being able to get it to your mouth-I just wrote that almost exactly in a reply to my first post on this forum-actually one you replied too that once again your words could come right out of my mouth they are exactly how I feel.

At first when I described my mind issues I would just say that I couldn't remember a word to describe what I'm saying and people would just blow it off love yea yea we all forget things. But it wasn't like that-it wasn't like, "what's that actors' name?" and you can't remember. Finally I was able to describe it the same way you said to a t-I can see it in my mind but can't actually say it. It is so weird!

Now I do wonder if it's from the RSD or the meds or a combo of both. I am on neurotin, which definitely messes with my brain, and also Percocet and Norco. I feel like the neurotin is the main culprit but maybe not? I feel much more comfortable thinking that it's the meds causing it and not the disease because then I feel as though I can be back to normal one day, by not taking the meds, because if its the RSD, then it could be forever???? :(

yeah I don't know. But it is awful, that's for sure. In the meantime I can't live without Neurontin, so I suppose I will just keep fumbling for words and through my days. :rolleyes:

So I found this while reading up on movement disorders (I suffer from) along w/ other CRPS II symptoms. It made me think of this post so I thought I would share. Here is the web link to read the full article. http://crps-rsd-a-better-life.blogsp...-pain-and.html

And here is the abstract written by:
David Borsook1 email, Jaymin Upadhyay1 email, Eric H Chudler2 email and Lino Becerra1 email
1 P.A.I.N. Group, Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
2 Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington, Box 356540, Seattle, WA 98195, USA author email corresponding author email
Molecular Pain 2010, 6:27doi:10.1186/1744-8069-6-27

A key role of the basal ganglia in pain and analgesia - insights gained through human functional imaging

Abstract

The basal ganglia (BG) are composed of several nuclei involved in neural processing related to the execution of motor, cognitive and emotional activities. Preclinical and clinical data have implicated a role for these structures in pain processing. Recently neuroimaging has added important information on BG activation in conditions of acute pain, chronic pain and as a result of drug effects. Our current understanding of alterations in cortical and sub-cortical regions in pain suggests that the BG are uniquely involved in thalamo-cortico-BG loops to integrate many aspects of pain. These include the integration of motor, emotional, autonomic and cognitive responses to pain.


The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.molecularpain.com/content/6/1/27

any progress?
 

My husband suffers from a lot of the same types of memory issues I see mentioned here -

I was wondering, have any of you found anything that helps with your memory issues? Supplements, mental exercises, etc? He keeps a date book that he calls his brain but doesn't always remember to put everything in it.

We had a discussion this weekend that kinda of scared me - It was one we'd had recently but he didn't remember it, or rather he remembered parts of it but couldn't put it in context and thought we'd discussed it like a year ago.

My heart hurts seeing him struggle with this :(

Memory.. where did you go??
 

Hello Reddingaz,

He has obviously got one amazing woman standing by his side!!

I too have cognitive issues from both CRPS II and also from a TBI from a head on collision.. a frightening and stressful part of the whole journey. What has helped me is playing memory type board games, reading and I also purchased software from Brain-Train.com to help re-train my brain and stimulate memory.

Proper nutrition and sleep (which I know is hard) is also essential for brain function. Here is an excerpt that give kudos to certain vitamins for brain/memory health - obviously please check with your physician regarding vitamin interaction with certain medications before taking them. Also, it might be beneficial to have a complete blood count done to specifically check for any common vitamin deficiencies.

Memory Supplements With Potential

Although there are a variety of "brain boosters" on the market -- many chockfull of multiple substances -- most are lacking research to support their memory-enhancing claims.

Ginkgo biloba is one that shows more promise than many others and is commonly used in Europe for a type of dementia resulting from reduced blood flow, Lausier says. "Ginkgo biloba tends to improve blood flow in small vessels."

"A couple of meta-analyses and systematic reviews show that ginkgo biloba is helpful for dementia in about the same range as drugs being pushed very heavily to treat Alzheimer's," says Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, an associate professor in the complementary and alternative medicine Master's program of the department of physiology and biophysics at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Unfortunately, that's not all that successful, she adds. Ginkgo doesn’t seem to help prevent dementia. But in people who already have dementia, it may either improve symptoms or stabilize symptoms so that they don’t get worse. In addition, some but not all studies show benefits in mood, alertness, and mental ability in healthy people who take ginkgo. More research needs to be done to be certain about these effects.

Here are a few other memory supplements that may also have some potential, but require much more study:

Omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 fish oil supplements have piqued great interest. Studies suggest that a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acid from foods such as cold-water fish, plant and nut oils, and English walnuts are strongly linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's. However, thorough studies comparing omega-3s to placebo are needed to prove this memory benefit from supplements.

Huperzine A. Also known as Chinese club moss, this natural medicine works in a similar way as Alzheimer's drugs. But more evidence is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.

Acetyl-L-carnitine. Some studies suggest that this amino acid might help Alzheimer's patients with memory problems. It may provide a greater benefit to people with early onset and a fast rate of the disease.

Vitamin E. Although vitamin E apparently doesn't decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's, it may slow its progression. Recent studies have raised concerns about an increased risk of deaths in unhealthy people who take high doses of vitamin E, so be sure to consult with your doctor before taking this supplement.

Asian (or Panax) ginseng. An herb that's sometimes used with ginkgo biloba, Asian ginseng may help with fatigue and quality of life, Fugh-Berman tells WebMD. But any benefit for memory, she says, has shown up mostly in a small group or subset of study participants.

Hope this helps,
Tessa

I thought this was all stemming from being a human and mom. Well this explains a lot. I think I've paid a bill well guess again. I go to the store get what I think I needed and guess what. I forgot milk. Good thing I have spell check otherwise I would be completely screwed. I'm not on any meds right now but I'm completely scatter brained. I even forgot who sang one of my favorite songs and she was on tv singing it. Shoot I even forgot to feed the cats the other day and they treated me like a pariah until I figured it out. They need tomstart speaking words lol.