Does dementia affect pain tolerance?

It's interesting. I sometimes thought my father's Alzheimer's actually deadened his pain. He didn't seem as bothered by things as I would have expected.

My cousin understandably had a lot of pain when she fell and fractured her spine. She didn't report much pain when she fractured her foot and hand. However, when she went on Cymbalta, which treats anxiety, depression and PAIN, she she stopped reporting pain. Whenever we asked, she said it was fine. She also had arthritis in her back, before the fall, and is comfortable with that as well. I'm not sure if it's the dementia that helps with the pain or her med.

If I recall correctly, I think Dad was on Xanax, which also treats anxiety. Maybe that explains it. Thanks.

Rain: I know, right! Morphine sent mother "'round the bend!" Then she gets mad at me for her having been given it! Hey, news flash mom "I wasn't the doc! "