Mild Cognitive Impairment and Pain

John54289 · June 18

I googled "Can Mild Cognitive Impairment result in pain in the body?" The response was, "Yes, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can be associated with bodily pain, although the relationship is complex and not fully understood. Research suggests that individuals with MCI are more likely to experience pain, and this pain may, in turn, contribute to or exacerbate cognitive decline." I did the same for "dementia" and received a similar response.

My DW takes 7 pills in the AM and 7 in the PM. This includes Naproxen for arthritis. She complains of pain in various areas of the body but says currently the chronic pain is in her back as though it is in the right kidney. A urinalysis and chest x-ray have not been helpful.

Your input is sought. Thank you.

harshedbuzz · June 18

@John54289

I'm sorry you wife is dealing with pain.

Pain can be tricky in dementia as sometimes PWD will report vague pain or use pain as an excuse to get out of doing something challenging or in which they have no interest.

You were wise to have her checked physically to rule out something treatable. FWIW, my dad complained bitterly of pain in his ribs in the middle stages of dementia. He'd fallen off a curb and held my mom responsible as she didn't break his fall which he recalled despite his poor short-term memory. We did have him examined by his new PCP and had a broken rib ruled out. When we took him to his new pulmo, a chest CT scan was ordered. The imagining showed stones and inflammation in his gall bladder which had been removed in 1981. Evidently the surgeon left some and it became a problem when dad reverted to his previous diet.

Another thing we saw with dad was that he became very sedentary with the onset of dementia. If this is something you are seeing with your DW, it could be the inactivity is contributing to her arthritis pain. As the PTs say, motion is lotion. Giving naproxen every 6-8 hours might provide better pain control.

HB

Mild Cognitive Impairment and Pain

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