There is a lot of information on the internet about the pain dimension involved with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Yet, the information about how CRPS robs patients of their normal cognitive and emotional function seems to be more fragmented. So, I pose this thread. In what areas of cognitive and emotional function are you aware of deficit due to the disease CRPS / RSD. I'll let others of you start the discussion.

-Spike-

Prior to CRPS I could do the NY Times Puzzle in pen without too much difficulty, now it seems too hard. I also could finish Cryptic Crossword puzzles in under 15 minutes, now it takes me longer. Sometimes I feel like my brain went into low power.

Hi Spike,
I always wonder the same thing.
My neurologist told me to expect problems with my emotional state and my RSD attorney also said it. And I have found it to be true. But there doesn't seem to be much on the subject.
I used to be calm under stressful circumstances but not anymore. After CRPS I easily flew off the handle at the littlest of things picking fights over dumb stuff with relatives. But I'm getting better at managing it.
Triggers still play havoc on me and thankfully I have an understanding wife. Some others not so much. It's hard to be in control and pain at the same time.
Like most circumstances in life, acceptance is a big part of the battle.
Be well...

I'm not that bad, but "what was the question?" lol This is a continuing statement that often frustrates others sometimes to the point they give up on getting an answer. Often times I think my answers makes sense to others because in my brain it all runs smoothly, but I often skip important words thinking I've already said them. I have noticed along with my family that when my pain is increased so goes my lack of communication. Concentrating on even reading a book becomes to frustrating as I remember I've just read that line six times when the connection seems to flow freely again.
If someone interrupts what I am saying often times I completely forget what I was talking about and won't be able to recall it for quite a while if at all.
I have a double whammy as my husband has a brain tumor w/seizures & also cognitive problems, so many times things can get pretty interesting or hair pulling. This can be very challenging in dealing with important things that need our full attention. Just going to the grocery store becomes a nightmare, for even with a list we will forget to get key items. Not having someone we can rely on to help just adds to the stress.
The doctors I use to see couldn't blame it on the medications for it's been ages since I've been on any.
I do take ginkgo & other memory herbs but so far can't remember if they work.

There's two things that go bad.
One thing is that your short term memory loss.
But I can't remember the other one...

Thank you Russell and AlaskanLady, I needed a laugh today. AlaskanLady could not have put it better. It's the concentration part that I have the hardest time with. I think it may be part of the whole short term memory thing, but I don't know. I can have a thought and two seconds later, I can't remember what it was and it can drive me crazy. If I am reading something, I too find that I have to read a line several times before it makes any sense to me and realize that I have just read it six times.

Here are the areas of cognitive and emotional loss that I have either read about in Medical Research Articles or personally experienced thus far:

1. Planning
2. Organizing
3. Self-Awareness
4. Self-Regulation
5. Initiation of Action
6. Word Recall
7. Lexical Memory
8. Conscious Memory of Events
9. Declarative Memory
10. Attention Deficit
11. Tactile Discrimination
12. Problems with Sleep
13. Depression
14. Irritability
15. Poor Judgement
16. Concentration Problems
17. Agitation
18. Panic Attacks
19. Stuttering
20. Stammering
21. Brain Blanking Out
22. Loss of Words in Brain
23. Inability to get the Thoughts From the Brain out through the Lips (Complete Silence)
24. Repetitive Reading of Printed Words without Retaining Understanding & Meaning

Although, I personally do not suffer from every one of these symptoms, it is no wonder why I suffer so terribly much of the time around the people that I am the closest to and in social settings, when prior to CRPS, I used to be such a people person!

Personally, I suffer in 22 of the areas listed above.


-Spike-

Russell, PurpleFoot721 & AlaskanLady,

How would you define your symptoms in just a few words, so we can add them to the list of my last post?

Well, as for me sometimes I think of something to say to my wife but by the time I wheel myself into the room that she's in I've forgot what I was going to say. Very frustrating.
Another one is that when typing I'll forget how to spell words that are easy to know. Makes me angry and feel dumb.
One last thing. I'm giving my driver/ wife directions and I'll be pointing left and say right. This one drives my wife crazy...
I could go on but I don't want to bore you...
Be safe...

Oh ya, one more thing. I used to play the piano but now I have trouble remembering some stuff. That really makes me crazy...