Hopefully, this hasn’t happened to you.
I mean it.
Your skin gets sensitive to touch, so sensitive.
From your (once) favorite clothes to hair scrunchies, chairs, water, and pretty much anything that comes in contact with your skin.
So why does your skin get sensitive to the touch with Fibromyalgia?
I see many moms in Fibro Facebook groups wonder why it feels like their skin is on fire or eternally bruised without the proof.
I was once there, too, not being able to put a name to the devastating pain.
Well, that pain could be allodynia.
Allodynia makes a living quite painful as soooo much touches your skin, whether it’s clothes, your kids, or the weather.
But know you’re not alone because 7 in 10 people with Fibromyalgia (FM) have or have experienced allodynia.
Scroll on to learn more about this rare nerve symptom, including the 3 types of allodynia, what causes it to flare up, and what you can do about it to find relief.
So why does your skin get sensitive to touch?
If you have Fibromyalgia, allodynia is the likely culprit if your skin is so sensitive that even the faintest touch hurts or is uncomfortable.
For example, something touching your skin may feel like sandpaper rubbing you raw. A finger touch on the fatty part of your arm could send you to tears.
And it’s very embarrassing when you fail to put on your brave face in public.
Get-togethers….how fun! But don’t touch me. Right?
However, tender skin can happen from other causes, such as an infection, dermatitis, or diabetes. Always consult with your doctor.
What is allodynia?
Allodynia is a type of nerve (neuropathic) pain that makes individuals’ skin very sensitive to touch, even from things that shouldn’t cause pain, like a light touch on the arm.
It’s a symptom of an underlying problem (i.e. Fibromyalgia), not a disease itself.
Individuals with allodynia have a lower pain threshold than those who do not.
From loose clothes, gentle embraces, even the wind – everything can hurt when you have allodynia.
What does allodynia feel like?
Skin feels incredibly sensitive to the touch when experiencing allodynia pain.
Any touch may feel like a burn, sting, or shooting pain.
Your skin may feel like sandpaper when someone touches you or as if it’s been bruised by a bat when you look “perfectly fine.”
A finger poke seems like it would hurt you more than a full-fledged punch.
If you can relate to any of these, you may be experiencing allodynia.
Types of allodynia
Allodynia is broken up into 3 types:
- mechanical (dynamic): pain from a moving, dynamic source
- tactile (static): pain from a still source
- thermal: pain from a minimal change in temperature on the skin
You can experience some or all of these types of allodynia.
Lucky me!
Trust me, I’ve thought this too.
1. Mechanical (dynamic)
Mechanical and tactile allodynia are very similar. Mechanical allodynia is when you experience pain from something moving across your skin.
Again, it’s dynamic, changing movement.
Examples of mechanical allodynia symptoms are:
- irritation from the feeling of sheets and blankets against your skin
- pain from your kids or pets climbing over you
- crying in the shower because the water hurts your skin
- pain from grocery bags hitting your thighs as you unload them from your car
2. Tactile (static)
Tactile allodynia is pain from light touch or pressure. It’s a static touch, such as a hug.
Other people mean so well, but sometimes the slightest touches hurt the most when you have Fibromyalgia.
Other examples of tactile allodynia are:
- pain from laying your head against a pillow
- discomfort from someone resting their hand on your shoulder
- irritation from clothes, like your shirt sleeves, neck collar, or waistband
3. Thermal
Thermal allodynia is pain that happens due to a small temperature change, which shouldn’t usually cause pain.
Examples of thermal allodynia include:
- pain from walking in and out of the walk-in cooler at work or handling items from the freezer
- discomfort from cold water hitting the skin while outside playing with your kids
- achiness from being outside in the heat
What causes allodynia to flare up?
Scientific evidence most strongly supports that allodynia happens due to nerves not communicating properly, which creates sensitization of your nervous system.
How you feel can also cause allodynia to onset.
And most recently, researchers have identified a possible gene that plays a role in your body’s sensitivity to touch called PIEZO2.
Here’s a more in depth look at why your allodynia may have started:
Your nerves aren’t talking correctly
Your nerves may be crossed in the body. One type of nerve ending – called nociceptors – may fire randomly and become increasingly sensitive, especially to heat and touch stimuli.
And that increased sensitivity in your nerves is called sensitization.
There are two types of sensitization: peripheral and central.
Peripheral sensitization travels throughout your body, whereas central sensitization stays in your brain and spinal cord and can also affect your senses.
You may experience central sensitization when sensitive to sound, smell, or light.
Your emotional state
How you feel can also impact your allodynia.
Recent studies have even shown that your mental state can cause your allodynia pain to spike.
A 2013 study of 13 women with Fibromyalgia and 10 women without found that the Fibro women had increased thermal sensitivity and clinical pain after undergoing a stress test (which was preparing a speech, delivering that speech, and doing a math problem ).
For the women without Fibro, stress didn’t affect how they perceived pain.
Fibro patients also showed a heightened response to pressure after the stress test. This suggests that stress levels have an impact on pain sensitivity.
The PIEZO2 gene
Furthermore, a gene called PIEZO2 is thought to be responsible for tactile allodynia.
A 2016 study found that the gene helped regulate tactile allodynia, as those with gene mutations tended to have reduced sensitivity to touch.
Doctors could be using this gene as part of your treatment plan in the future. Science is exciting stuff!
How long does allodynia last?
How long allodynia lasts varies from person to person. And remember, factors like your mental state can affect its duration, intensity, and frequency.
I’ve noticed that my pain tends to worsen when I’m down or ruminating, and I become more sensitive.
Of course, that’s not always the case, as I sometimes find everything bothering me on the best days.
But a pattern of allodynia intensifies when I’m mentally down or physically sick.
Can allodynia be in one spot?
You may experience allodynia in one spot for a while, but it can spread to other areas of your body.
This may happen because of an outside trigger (like you wearing the “wrong” clothes or a flare coming on) and/or your mental state.
One day the waistline on your pants may feel like it’s slicing into your hips, and the next day, your socks are too tight, and the hug your kiddo gives you hurts like hell.
Allodynia truly makes you live by the seat of your pants.
Or no pants, in some cases. Because pants hurt.
How is allodynia treated?
A cure does not yet exist, but allodynia pain can be relieved in many ways.
It’s best treated with a multidisciplinary approach, though what that is is different for everybody.
Methods to treat allodynia include:
- wearing loose clothing in a comfy fabric
- lifestyle changes, like more quality sleep and a healthier diet
- using topical medicines, like those with lidocaine and capsaicin
- taking oral medication, such as pregabalin and gabapentin
- cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt)
- listening to your body and resting when touched out or overstimulated
- nerve block injections
- spinal cord stimulation
From my experience with allodynia, I’ve learned that my mindset matters a lot (f this Fibro versus okay, so today might be a toughie), and the clothes I wear make a huge difference.
For example, I’ve stopped trying to squeeze myself into high-waisted activewear because my hips tend to scream after 1 minute. Or 60.
And I almost always regret not going with my tried and true faves!
Have you calmed your allodynia in another way? Comment below to help fellow Fibro mamas out!
Can allodynia kill you?
Allodynia won’t kill you, but it can make you feel like you wish it did.
The overwhelming pain can lead to poor mental health and cause you to have anxiety, depression, and feel lonely, which aggregates the pain.
You may also feel fatigued and have trouble sleeping with allodynia.
Who can diagnose allodynia?
Your primary care physician can diagnose allodynia, though no single test will do it.
Instead, your doctor will likely conduct a physical exam and discuss your symptoms with you and how severe and how long you’ve had them.
And because many conditions can cause chronic pain (like shingles and diabetes), your doctor will need to also review your medical history.
In addition, your doctor may perform some tests.
Some tests that are used in the diagnosis of allodynia include:
- urine tests
- blood tests (such as a complete blood count)
- nerve conduction studies
- mri and ct scans
These types will help your doctor rule out underlying causes of your allodynia. For example, diabetes can cause neuropathic pain like allodynia.
Who treats allodynia?
Your primary care doctor can work with you to treat your allodynia.
Neurologists, rheumatologists, and pain specialists also know about treating nerve pain.
Is allodynia rare?
Allodynia is rare, though it is more common in chronic conditions like peripheral neuropathy, migraines, and Fibromyalgia.
For instance, 40-70% of people who get migraines also feel allodynia pain.
It’s thought that about 70% of Fibromyalgia warriors suffer from allodynia.
Is allodynia hereditary?
Certain risk factors make developing allodynia more likely, but not much research has been done to determine whether it’s hereditary.
Risk factors that may make you more likely to get allodynia are:
- history of abuse or trauma
- you’re a smoker
- obesity
- you experience migraines
- you’re a woman
Your takeaway
So why does your skin get sensitive to touch? It’s probably allodynia, a rare type of nerve pain many people with Fibromyalgia – especially women – experience.
From being on the receiving end of a hug to laying your head on a pillow or putting on pants, anything touching your skin can feel excruciatingly painful.
Like sandpaper or tiny knives on the skin. So much ouch.
Do you feel better now that you can name the pain?
I hope so!
So now I’d love to hear about your experience.
When did you first notice something was “off”?
How do you deal with the pain?
Vent your heart out and spill those secrets! Because some days I can barely wear pants of the pain. And I know I’m not the only soul who has that problem!
