RSD patients with ADD-AD/HD - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

momcat4 · 11-10-2007, 11:19 AM

Many of the emotional/mental health issues faced by people with RSD seemed to be shared with teens and adults with ADD-AD/HD. Has anyone dealt with having both? Did the onset of RSD appear to make the ADD symptoms increase or get worse? Can medication for both be taken together safely (for example-prozac and concerta)?

Sunnycal · 11-10-2007, 01:22 PM

Interesting that you should bring this up. My husband (in his 50's, not a kid

), has had problems with not being able to pay attention, remember, focus, etc. The doctor suggested trying Strattera, which has helped tremendously. It has improved his memory, his ability to figure out instructions for putting something together, or learning a new computer program, etc. We don't know if the attention problems were caused by RSD, medication, or inherent (I don't think that is the case because he was incredibly efficient, years ago). He takes lots of other meds--methadone, wellbutrin, cymbalta, lyrica, etc. and the pharmacist says they are all fine together.
Sunny

momcat4 · 11-10-2007, 02:36 PM

That's good to know. I wonder if it is the RSD causing the memory and focus problems (I know it can), or if it is the medication, or simply undiagnosed ADD. Regardless of the initial cause, school and job success are affected. If taking something like Strattera or Concerta would improve things, that would be great. I would like to hear from others, too, especially teens and their parents that have had to deal with this issue.

rayefaye · 11-10-2007, 06:47 PM

I suffered for ADHD since being a child but back when I was small there was no such thing as ADHD or ADD. I was just considered a mischievous and unruly child but my two oldest brothers were too. I did have one daughter who was diagnoised with ADD and the oldest one was just as bad. But my youngest daughter was the only one who took ritalin for it but in the end I took her off of it. She would just sit in the classroom and just stare in to space and then by the time she got home and the ritaling wore off she was bouncing off the walls. Just like some say chocolate contributes to it but she was worse when she just ate a regular meal. She is still that way now and she's 18, she can be dragging around and then get up and eat and next thing you know she's wide open. I did have a neurologist who did say that I was suffering from adult ADHD but they have never given me nothing for it.

tame the flame · 11-10-2007, 08:01 PM

Hi everyone I'm a 50 yr female, we didn't have ADD-AD/AH testing when I was young either. I know I may suffer some what from it yet on the other hand for the past 6 years I know for sure my RSD has effected me more in my everyday doings..like being able to SPELL THE SIMPEST WORDS! like in a senteces, I can't put them together anymore. I can't follow insturtions anymore!! I can't handle money anymore because I can't remember how much I had or how much was given back to me!! I can't read anymore, something I loved to do, now I just look at the words and I can't focus and getting them to form into anything..I can read my news paper bits and pieces of things but trying to understand something my mind will not gasps ahold of it..I don't believe I'm on heavy meds. cymbalta, ultram, topomax lexapro and so on about the same as most of you. I can't even remember what was said to me less than a half hr ago. It scars me I don't know who I am anymore.