What Is Allodynia?

A Type of Pain in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS

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Allodynia is a rare type of nerve pain that is triggered by something that wouldn't normally cause pain, such as the touch of your bedsheets, the seam of a sock, or the warmth coming off of freshly made toast.

This pain type is frequently associated with fibromyalgia. Some research suggests allodynia may be associated with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as well. Other conditions associated with allodynia include diabetic/peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia(nerve damage from shingles), and migraines.

Treatment for allodynia may include medications, such as Neurontin or tricyclic antidepressants, and topical pain relievers.

Outside of these conditions, allodynia is a rare symptom. Knowing more about it may help you better communicate with your healthcare providers and, in some cases, empower you to seek a second opinion about your pain.

Woman in pain
Frederic Cirou / Getty Images

Allodynia Symptoms

Allodynia doesn't feel the same for everyone. For some people, allodynia is a sharp pain, while others describe it as burning or stinging. Many people with allodynia experience skin pain that feels like a bad sunburn.

People with fibromyalgia often experience a type of nerve pain known as tactile allodynia. This can make your skin hurt from stimuli that would not normally cause pain, such as clothing tags, tight clothing, drying off with a towel, or brushing against something. Symptoms can be constant or come and go with flare-ups. 

Allodynia comes in three different forms. It's possible for you to have one, two, or all three kinds. The different forms include:

  • Tactile allodynia: This is pain caused by touch. This can include clothing pressing against the skin (especially the tighter parts of clothing, such as waistbands, bra straps, or the elastic part of socks), a hug, or someone touching you lightly on the arm.
  • Mechanical allodynia: This type of pain is caused by movement across the skin. This can be a towel as you dry yourself off, bedsheets brushing against you, or even the air from a fan moving over your skin.
  • Thermal (temperature-related) allodynia: This pain is caused by heat or cold that is not extreme enough to cause damage to your tissues. Your hands and feet may burn if they get chilled, or getting too hot may make them ache.

It's often hard for people, even those who experience allodynia, to understand how these otherwise harmless things can cause so much pain. However, it is real pain and doesn't mean that you're crazy or making too big a deal out of "normal" aches and pains.

Note that you should talk to your healthcare provider if your hands and feet turn blue when they're cold. This may be a symptom of a different condition called Raynaud's syndrome, which can lead to tissue damage.

Allodynia is different from hyperalgesia, which is the mechanism that "turns up the volume" of pain in these conditions. Hyperalgesia takes your pain and makes it worse, while allodynia is an actual type of pain.

What is the difference between allodynia and hyperalgesia?

Allodynia is when pain is caused by something that would not normally cause pain. Hyperalgesia is an over-exaggerated pain response. With hyperalgesia, the pain is due to something that would normally cause pain. However, the level of pain caused is much greater than it should be.  

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you have any symptoms of allodynia, you should talk with a healthcare provider. If you are experiencing abnormal or unexpected pain, especially if the pain is getting in the way of your daily activities or making it hard to sleep, see a healthcare provider to get an evaluation and the right treatment for you.

What Causes Allodynia?

Allodynia is thought to be a hypersensitive reaction to stimuli. Research suggests it may result from central sensitization, which is believed to be an underlying mechanism of fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and several other conditions. "Central" indicates the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and "sensitization" means that it's become extra sensitive.

In some conditions, research suggests allodynia may be caused by peripheral sensitization, which involves the nerves outside of your central nervous system.

The pain signals of allodynia come from specialized nerves called nociceptors. Their job is to sense information (like temperature and painful stimuli on the skin) right away. When these nerves become sensitized, they start interpreting all kinds of sensations as pain. Again, this is real pain that has just as much of an impact on you as any other source of pain.

No diagnostic test can identify allodynia. However, when you report this symptom to your healthcare provider, it can help them narrow down the possible causes of your pain and any other symptoms you may have.

Conditions and Factors Related to Allodynia

Certain medical conditions may increase the risk of developing allodynia, including:

  • Fibromyalgia: This condition causes fatigue, memory problems, and pain all over the body.
  • Migraine headaches: Allodynia and migraines can occur together about 60% of the time.
  • Peripheral neuropathy: A type of damage to the peripheral nervous system, it can cause pain.
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS): Nerve damage in the brain and spinal cord that is associated with MS can cause allodynia.
  • Shingles: Sometimes called post-herpetic neuralgia, this pain lingers for months or years after the shingles rash has resolved.
  • Medications: Some opioids and chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatments can cause pain sensitivity.
  • Diet and nutritional deficiencies: Very low levels of vitamins B or D can cause allodynia and excessive alcohol intake can cause nerve damage resulting in pain.
  • Diabetes: A complication of diabetes, called diabetic neuropathy, results in damaged nerves that cause pain.
  • Trauma: An injury, amputation, or radiation therapy can cause nerve damage that causes pain.
  • Stroke: Symptoms after a stroke can include heightened sensitivity to pain.
  • Stress: Although further research is needed, one small study showed stress-induced allodynia in both healthy participants and people with fibromyalgia.

Allodynia Diagnosis

There isn't a single test to diagnose allodynia, so your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms and other health conditions. They may perform several tests to check for diabetes, neurological disorders, or other conditions. Tests may include:

  • Blood and urine tests
  • MRI or CT scan to look for signs of MS, stroke, trauma, or other disease
  • Electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS)
  • Quantitative sensory testing (QST) to evaluate nerve damage

Allodynia Treatment

Typically, the underlying condition is treated first. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and anticonvulsant medications like gabapentin have been shown to help slow or prevent allodynia in animal models, but more human data is needed.

Most of the common drug treatments for illnesses that involve this symptom can help alleviate allodynia and other types of pain. These include:

  • Lyrica (pregabalin): Often prescribed for fibromyalgia, neuropathy, and postherpetic neuralgia, and sometimes used off-label for ME/CFS
  • Neurontin (gabapentin): Often prescribed for postherpetic neuralgia and used off-label for fibromyalgia and neuropathy
  • Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline: Often used off-label for fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and migraine

Some people also get some relief with topical painkillers, such as lidocaine and menthol-based products like BioFreeze and Tiger Balm. While testing on humans hasn't yet been done, numerous animal studies support the use of ingested and topical cannabidiol (CBD), a hemp product that doesn't create a "high," for allodynia.

Treating an underlying condition that is causing allodynia may also help. For example, taking medication to prevent migraines may reduce the risk of allodynia symptoms, or managing blood sugar levels to reduce the risk of diabetic neuropathy and the associated pain.

Most complementary and alternative treatments haven't been studied specifically for their effect on allodynia, but they have been investigated for central sensitization. As that's the suspected underlying mechanism of allodynia, it's possible that these treatments may be helpful:

  • Acupuncture: A 2019 review of studies on acupuncture for central sensitization concluded that the treatment can alleviate pain symptoms, including allodynia.
  • Mindfulness practices: Research published in 2020 suggests that practices involving mindfulness, including meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction, are effective for alleviating pain in conditions that involve central sensitization.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A psychological approach aimed at helping you make positive mental changes that impact your health, research has long shown that it may be beneficial in central sensitization.

Warning: Massage Therapy

It's possible for massage therapy and other hands-on treatments (such as Rolfing and chiropractic) to make allodynia worse. Thus, it's important to find a massage therapist who understands your condition and knows how to avoid aggravating your symptoms.

Lifestyle Remedies

Allodynia can make life difficult. Something as simple as wearing a shirt may become painful, or even agonizing. Many people who have allodynia find that they need to tailor their wardrobes to reduce the impact of this pain.

Thermal allodynia can play a role in another symptom—temperature sensitivity. To manage it, you may need to do things like dress in layers or move your workstation away from vents that blast you with hot or cold air. You may have to learn how to compensate for both cold and hot conditions.

Dietary Management

Some research has suggested that compounds in certain foods may alleviate neuropathic pain and the allodynia associated with it. While it's too early to say for sure, it may be that eating these foods or getting the active compounds via supplements could help ease your pain.

Allodynia-Fighting Foods
 Foods  Compounds
Hot chili peppers Capsaicin
Coffee Chlorogenic acid
Turmeric/curcumin Curcumin 
Soy Genistein
Tomato Lycopene
Grapes Naringin
Fish oil Omega-3s
Eggs and milk Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Seaweed Phlorotannins
Red kidney beans, capers Quercetin
Grapes, nuts, berries Resveratrol

Summary

Allodynia is a type of nerve pain that causes extreme skin sensitivity which is triggered by something that wouldn't normally cause pain. This may include the touch of your bedsheets, combing your hair, or hot or cold air moving over the skin. Medical conditions, medications, and trauma can cause allodynia. Allodynia is treated with oral medications and topical creams to relieve pain, as well as addressing the underlying condition that’s causing the pain.

If you are experiencing abnormal or unexpected pain, especially if the pain is getting in the way of your daily activities or making it hard to sleep, talk with a healthcare provider to determine the cause and best treatment option.

A Word From Verywell

The conditions associated with allodynia are often chronic and difficult to treat. You may not ever be completely free from the pain, but by working with your healthcare provider and making appropriate lifestyle changes, you may be able to minimize its impact on your life.

Fibromyalgia Doctor Discussion Guide

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By Adrienne Dellwo
Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic.