Hi! I also experience short term memory loss and poor concentration. I attribute it to meds and not sleeping well but when i met with a neurologist well known for RSD he said RSD/CRPS causes changes which include stm loss and decrease concentration. For me it has been scarey because i have left the stove on and much more. These things have worked and helped me- I have a timer in kitchen incase i turn anything on or plug anything in. I have a calendar which everyone writes on and i check it every morning to make sure i dont miss or forget something. I have a pill box which is filled once a week so i am sure i take/took my meds(I could never remember if i took them or not) this has really helped. momof4

This is an example of what can happen when folks pick up on old threads, and are unaware of intervening activity.

The key to the whole issie is in an article that was Epubbed on March 19th: Neuropsychological deficits associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Libon DJ, Schwartzman RJ, Eppig J, Wambach D, Brahin E, Lee Peterlin B, Alexander G, Kalanuria A, J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2010 May;16(3):566-73, RSDSA ONLINE TEXT @ http://www.rsds.org/2/library/articl...ychol_2010.pdf:

Department of Neurology, Drexel University, College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. dlibon@Drexelmed.edu

Abstract
We sought to elucidate the existence of neuropsychological subtypes in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). One hundred thirty seven patients with CRPS were administered tests that assess executive control, naming/lexical retrieval, and declarative memory. A 2-step cluster analysis that does not require any a priori specification regarding the number of clusters, classified patients into three groups. Group 1 obtained scores that were in the average range on all tests (n = 48; normal CRSP group). Group 2 (n = 58; dysexecutive CRSP group) presented with mild impairment or statistically low average test performance on working memory/verbal fluency tests. Group 3 (n = 31; global CRSP group) produced scores in the statistically low average/borderline range on all tests with particularly reduced scores on naming/declarative memory tests. Between-group analyses found that the CRPS group 1 obtained higher scores than CRPS groups 2 and 3 on all tests. However, groups 2 and 3 were equally impaired on executive tests. CRPS group 3 was impaired on tests of naming/memory tests compared to the other groups. Significant neuropsychological deficits are present in 65% of patients, with many patients presenting with elements of a dysexecutive syndrome and some patients presenting with global cognitive impairment. [Emphasis added.]

PMID: 20298641 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20298641

And that was added 2/3 of the way along what was already a great thread on the subject - page 5, post#48 - Any others with RSD have memory/ concentration problems? http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=12479 I would urge anyone interested to check it out.

Mike

Along with countless other RSD symptoms, I definately have a horrible memory & really bad fatigue.

It's strange, I don't know if other people who have had this longer than I feel this way, but there comes a time when then pain isn't nearly as punishing as it was in the first four or five years or so. For me the neuro-cognitive stuff really seemed cut in around year 7 or so, although the Libon article suggests that in the 2/3rds of the CRPS patients who have some neuro-cognitive issues, it is independent of the length of illness. And with my loss of memory as well as organizational skills, etc., I appear to be in the unlucky quarter of RSD/CRPS patients. (Although that said, I think because of early blocks I was lucky to have avoided some of the other horrors of the disease.)

All I know is that at Years 0 and 2, the discrepancy between my verbal and non-verbal IQ sub-scores on the WISC-III was 22, consistent with a late diagnosis of fairly severe ADHD (inattentive), while by Year 8.5 the split had grown to what I was told is an astounding 45 points.

That and I floored my pain doc a couple of months ago, when I said that I would prefer pain as I had known it, over the neuro-cognitive stuff. Years of meditation practice have made dealing with physical pain fairly straightforward: you acknowledge but don't identify with it. Sort of like standing under a waterfall, you get wet from the spray but you're not pulled into the vortex below. For me, it's more challenging to have equanimity with never finishing a long article, let alone a book, to say nothing of remembering proper nouns. Or lose my train of thought mid-way through responding to what someone said in a conversation. Or to be treated by former peers (and some friends) like a kindly old and demented uncle. Or to take weeks in what should be filling out some simple forms . . . .

So I feel for you, anyone who happens to have caught a ride in this boat.

Mike

PS Unlike Pete’s experience, I tolerate Provigil pretty well, which helps with the fatigue that I personally had associated with medication, although I am carefull to take at least 500 mg. of Vit. B-1 (Thiamin) a day. That said, when I tried the newer Nuvigil, my BP shot up 30 – 40 points on both ends.

PPS I caught and corrected some mistakes in my last post, including an unfortunate choice of words that was not meant as it may have sounded. My apologies if I came across as insensitive. (Clueless at times yes, but insensitive no.)

9 years ago I got my first PDA Palm Pilot to help me remember all the stuff I just couldn't keep track of in my brain thanks to this bloody short term memory loss - and I've never looked back since. After going through 3 Palm Pilots I finally made the jump into a Smart Phone IPhone, but all the devices have accomplished the same task. They help keep me more organized in thought and action.

There are cheap $30 organizers that work pretty darn good, but if you're willing to blow a bit more money I can't recommend the usability of a PDA (personal digital assistant) type device enough. Be it reminders on what I need to do throughout the day or for keeping track of people, places and things I need to pick up at the store, the multiple ways I use these handy little devices throughout the day surprises even me.

Do expect around a 6 month growing in period, but I think once you make the leap into keeping your thoughts digitized you'll be glad you did. Now I just hope I remember I wrote this, Bob.

Bob -

Unfortunately, over some time now, I've largely lost my ability to manage new gadgets, especially those of the electronic persuasion, with multi-functional buttons to boot. It's called loss of executory function.

Mike

Hello to all. My first post. Yesterday I got lost on the way to the neurologist. Big bummer, I don't get lost. I can trace it back to where I made the wrong turn but have no idea why. I'm guessing I'm not going to be able to keep this part secret much longer.

I don't really keep secrets, it is just that things are so bizarre, there is no rational way to explain. I have been coming clean w/the Dr. I really didn't know I wasn't because I was lying to myself about the level of my pain. But my slowness was difficult to overcome. How in the world did everyone else get on hyperspeed? I feel like I'm still moving normal, well I did anyway. Now I'm realizing that the slug on the sidewalk would beat me to the curb. But I'm not allowed to go, too many steps off my daily limit and what is at the curb.

What a great forum this is. Been lurking for a bit, but decided to jump in today.