Allodynia is the experience of pain from things that do not normally hurt. in addition, a feather might cause pain when interacting with the skin instead of a gentle sensation. You might also experience pain from:
- Wearing clothes.
- A light tap on your shoulder.
- Temperature changes.
Allodynia falls under the group of neuropathy-type pain (nerve pain). This condition signals other diseases, including diabetes, shingles, fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches. Healthcare providers can treat allodynia by managing the primary condition causing the pain.
What sensations are associated with Allodynia?
People with allodynia often describe their skin as exceptionally sensitive. Touch transforms into sharp, stinging, burning. To some, it may feel like a sunburn.
What are the three characters of Allodynia?
Three forms of allodynia can be identified:
- Dynamic allodynia: When a moving object glides across your skin, such as when wearing clothes, also called Mechanical allodynia.
- Tactile allodynia: Produces pain from a light touch to the skin (like a handshake). Static or cutaneous pain are other terms used for this kind of allodynia.
- Thermal allodynia: Pain is induced by slight temperature changes, such as moving from inside a building to outside on the ground.
Causes
What causes Allodynia?
- Allodynia arises from a malfunction within the nervous system in pain processing. The derangement could be structural, functional, or chemical concerning the central nervous system, making the organ system centralized and sensitized to pain.
- Central sensitization is like a security system. Through these experiences, your body learns from them, just like a baby learns from its environment. When you place your hand on something hot, your nerves send messages to the body’s security system. And the alarm sounds to say “danger” to reflexively withdraw your hand from the heat.
- Health issues, injuries, or medicines can derail your central sensitization security system. Health issues, injuries, or medicines can derail it. Instead of sending the right signals, it sets off alarms at inappropriate times, such as when someone applies light pressure to a soft surface. This failure results from symptoms of allodynia.
What kinds of conditions might Allodynia arise from?
Allodynia may develop under the following conditions:
- Oral consumption of alcohol disorder.
- Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS).
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
- Neuropathy due to diabetes.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Migraine.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Herpes zoster (post-herpetic neuralgia).
- Trigeminal neuralgia (TN).
- Deficiency of vitamin D or vitamin B.
You might also be subject to allodynia after suffering an injury. A large cut, for instance, or even an amputation can distort nerve functions. Stroke-created trauma may develop increased pain and sensitivity.
Allodynia may also emerge if you receive radiation or chemotherapy for cancer.
In what ways will my healthcare provider diagnose what has caused my Allodynia?
Your healthcare provider will collect information during a physical examination concerning your symptoms and overall medical history. They will inquire as to what pain experiences you’ve had in the past that alleviated or worsened it, and how exactly you might be feeling. Most likely, someone will ask you to scale your pain from zero to 10, with the highest number signifying the worst pain imaginable. When you go for an examination, ensure that you inform your provider of all medications you are taking.
Our healthcare provider may perform different tests to locate the root cause. These are some of the above-mentioned tests:
- Blood assay (complete blood count).
- Urinalysis.
- MRI or CT scan.
- Electromyography (EMG).
- Nerve conduction studies (NCS).
Care and treatment
How much relief can Allodynia achieve?
Your healthcare provider would treat Allodynia primarily as to its cause. If no known etiology exists and if effective techniques are unavailable, pain management will be the primary focus. Your provider may include comprehensive pain management with:
Oral medicines: Many different medications can treat allodynia, including anti-seizure drugs and some antidepressants, but this list is not exhaustive. Doctors often use pregabalin to treat fibromyalgia, and they find triptans particularly useful for managing allodynia associated with migraines, administering these medications orally as per the guideline.
Topical medications: Capsaicin and lidocaine are examples of topical creams or lotions that you apply directly to the skin. You can also have a patch on your skin that continuously releases medication throughout the day.
Counseling and therapy: Getting along with chronic pain often means mental and emotional exhaustion, so consult your healthcare provider for counseling advice. You might get it electro therapeutically with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or biofeedback.
Physical therapy (PT): Your physician will suggest a PT program for desensitization. Your provider gently touches or applies some soft pressure to an area of your skin. Over a number of sessions, they will add to the pressure until it is no longer covered by other sensations.
Injections: When it pertains to analgesic applications for a nerve or nerve cluster, the provider may suggest a nerve block injection. Besides that he may prescribe injections of botulinum toxin A for ephemeral pain relief.
Surgery: If all else fails, surgical therapy may be all that is left. For example, your provider could recommend spinal cord stimulation; the procedure in which an electrical device implanted directly into your spinal cord sends electrical signals to reduce pain in the back and not cause it
So how long does Allodynia actually last?
It varies from person to person; what makes it last depends on the cause in question. In certain instances, allodynia may resolve on its own, typically related to migraines. Symptoms may persist for months or, in some cases, years. Treatment could manage the cause, thus reducing the duration of the effects on you.
Does Allodynia get worse with time?
Indeed, it could get worse over time. It would be best to manage the underlying problem to prevent this symptom from worsening with additional pain in the future.
Can we stop Allodynia?
It’s likely that there will always be at least some forms or manifestations of allodynia that cannot be completely prevented. However, among many other factors, one can reduce the risk of getting certain associated conditions:
Keep being active: Exercise or any form of regular activity enables an individual to learn and manage one’s stress, thus making the chances of getting migraine headaches very slim. Exercise also plays a very significant role for those with Fibromyalgia.
Know your family history: Go and speak with your provider if there are incidences of having members in your family who suffer from fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or diabetes. You may have to schedule checkups with your provider for health monitoring.
Maintain a healthy weight: Being obese entails more chances of developing diabetes; diabetes is a cause of allodynia. A healthcare provider can be indispensable in managing this.
Updated vaccinations: Ask your provider about the shingles vaccine to protect one from the viral infection.
Nutritious intake: Ingesting a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables would also tend to help prevent vitamin deficiencies.
When To Contact a Doctor
When should a healthcare provider involve themselves concerning Allodynia?
For the most part, contact your healthcare provider if you suddenly develop increased sensitivity to touch or feel pain for no apparent reason. This is especially important if it interferes with your ability to function on a daily basis or disrupts your sleep.
If allodynia comes on quickly, or it turns out to be very painful, contact your provider immediately. Consulting your provider for assessment, and identifying the cause of the pain, would also be necessary.