Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentLifestyle Remedies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lifestyle Remedies
This pain type is frequently associated withfibromyalgia.Some research suggests allodynia may be associated withmyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome(ME/CFS) as well.Other conditions associated with allodynia includediabetic/peripheral neuropathy,postherpetic neuralgia(nerve damage from shingles), andmigraines.
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.
Tatsiana Volkava / 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:
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 calledRaynaud’s syndrome, which can lead to tissue damage.
Allodynia is different fromhyperalgesia, 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?
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 fromcentral sensitization, which is believed to be an underlying mechanism of fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and severalother conditions.“Central” indicates the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and “sensitization” means that it’s become extra sensitive.
The pain signals of allodynia come from specialized nerves callednociceptors. 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:
How Fibromyalgia Is Diagnosed
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:
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:
Some people also get some relief with topical painkillers, such as lidocaine and menthol-based products like BioFreeze andTiger 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.
How Fibromyalgia Is Treated
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:
Warning: Massage TherapyIt’s possible formassage therapyand 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.
Warning: Massage Therapy
It’s possible formassage therapyand 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.
Does Myofascial Release Work for Fibromyalgia?
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 totailor 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 tocompensate for both cold and hot conditions.
Summary
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.
The 8 Types of Fibromyalgia Pain
Fibromyalgia Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sluka KA, Clauw DJ.Neurobiology of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain.Neuroscience. 2016;338:114-129. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.06.006Yasui M, Yoshimura T, Takeuchi S, et al.A chronic fatigue syndrome model demonstrates mechanical allodynia and muscular hyperalgesia via spinal microglial activation.Glia. 2014;62(9):1407-1417. doi:10.1002/glia.22687Cleveland Clinic.Allodynia.Lolignier S, Eijkelkamp N, Wood JN.Mechanical allodynia.Pflugers Arch. 2015;467(1):133-9. doi:10.1007/s00424-014-1532-0Vale TA, Symmonds M, Polydefkis M, et al.Chronic non-freezing cold injury results in neuropathic pain due to a sensory neuropathy.Brain. 2017;140(10):2557-2569. doi:10.1093/brain/awx215MedlinePlus.Raynaud’s disease.Cleveland Clinic.Neuropathic pain.International Association for the Study of Pain.Hyperalgesia.Forstenpointner J, Binder A, Maag R, et al.Neuroimaging of cold allodynia reveals a central disinhibition mechanism of pain.J Pain Res. 2019;12:3055-3066. doi:10.2147/JPR.S216508Viana F.Nociceptors: thermal allodynia and thermal pain.Handb Clin Neurol. 2018;156:103-119. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63912-7.00006-0Mínguez-Olaondo A, Quintas S, Morollón Sánchez-Mateos N, et al.Cutaneous Allodynia in Migraine: A Narrative Review.Front Neurol. 2022;12:831035. Published 2022 Jan 21. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.831035Crettaz B, Marziniak M, Willeke P, et al.Stress-induced allodynia – evidence of increased pain sensitivity in healthy humans and patients with chronic pain after experimentally induced psychosocial stress. Paul F, ed. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e69460. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069460National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Allodynia.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Pregabalin - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Gabapentin - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Amitriptyline hydrochloride - drug summary.Kocot-Kępska M, Zajączkowska R, Mika J, et al.Topical treatments and their molecular/cellular mechanisms in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain-narrative review.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(4):450. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13040450Baron R, Allegri M, Correa-Illanes G, et al.The 5% lidocaine-medicated plaster: Its inclusion in international treatment guidelines for treating localized neuropathic pain, and clinical evidence supporting its use.Pain Ther. 2016;5(2):149-169. doi:10.1007/s40122-016-0060-3Mlost J, Bryk M, Starowicz K.Cannabidiol for pain treatment: Focus on pharmacology and mechanism of action.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(22):8870. doi:10.3390/ijms21228870Lai HC, Lin YW, Hsieh CL.Acupuncture-analgesia-mediated alleviation of central sensitization.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:6173412. doi:10.1155/2019/6173412Pardos-Gascón EM, Narambuena L, Leal-Costa C, van-der Hofstadt-Román CJ.Differential efficacy between cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based therapies for chronic pain: Systematic review.Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2021;21(1):100197. doi:10.1016/j.ijchp.2020.08.001Eller-Smith OC, Nicol AL, Christianson JA.Potential mechanisms underlying centralized pain and emerging therapeutic interventions.Front Cell Neurosci. 2018;12:35. doi:10.3389/fncel.2018.00035
22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sluka KA, Clauw DJ.Neurobiology of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain.Neuroscience. 2016;338:114-129. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.06.006Yasui M, Yoshimura T, Takeuchi S, et al.A chronic fatigue syndrome model demonstrates mechanical allodynia and muscular hyperalgesia via spinal microglial activation.Glia. 2014;62(9):1407-1417. doi:10.1002/glia.22687Cleveland Clinic.Allodynia.Lolignier S, Eijkelkamp N, Wood JN.Mechanical allodynia.Pflugers Arch. 2015;467(1):133-9. doi:10.1007/s00424-014-1532-0Vale TA, Symmonds M, Polydefkis M, et al.Chronic non-freezing cold injury results in neuropathic pain due to a sensory neuropathy.Brain. 2017;140(10):2557-2569. doi:10.1093/brain/awx215MedlinePlus.Raynaud’s disease.Cleveland Clinic.Neuropathic pain.International Association for the Study of Pain.Hyperalgesia.Forstenpointner J, Binder A, Maag R, et al.Neuroimaging of cold allodynia reveals a central disinhibition mechanism of pain.J Pain Res. 2019;12:3055-3066. doi:10.2147/JPR.S216508Viana F.Nociceptors: thermal allodynia and thermal pain.Handb Clin Neurol. 2018;156:103-119. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63912-7.00006-0Mínguez-Olaondo A, Quintas S, Morollón Sánchez-Mateos N, et al.Cutaneous Allodynia in Migraine: A Narrative Review.Front Neurol. 2022;12:831035. Published 2022 Jan 21. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.831035Crettaz B, Marziniak M, Willeke P, et al.Stress-induced allodynia – evidence of increased pain sensitivity in healthy humans and patients with chronic pain after experimentally induced psychosocial stress. Paul F, ed. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e69460. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069460National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Allodynia.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Pregabalin - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Gabapentin - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Amitriptyline hydrochloride - drug summary.Kocot-Kępska M, Zajączkowska R, Mika J, et al.Topical treatments and their molecular/cellular mechanisms in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain-narrative review.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(4):450. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13040450Baron R, Allegri M, Correa-Illanes G, et al.The 5% lidocaine-medicated plaster: Its inclusion in international treatment guidelines for treating localized neuropathic pain, and clinical evidence supporting its use.Pain Ther. 2016;5(2):149-169. doi:10.1007/s40122-016-0060-3Mlost J, Bryk M, Starowicz K.Cannabidiol for pain treatment: Focus on pharmacology and mechanism of action.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(22):8870. doi:10.3390/ijms21228870Lai HC, Lin YW, Hsieh CL.Acupuncture-analgesia-mediated alleviation of central sensitization.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:6173412. doi:10.1155/2019/6173412Pardos-Gascón EM, Narambuena L, Leal-Costa C, van-der Hofstadt-Román CJ.Differential efficacy between cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based therapies for chronic pain: Systematic review.Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2021;21(1):100197. doi:10.1016/j.ijchp.2020.08.001Eller-Smith OC, Nicol AL, Christianson JA.Potential mechanisms underlying centralized pain and emerging therapeutic interventions.Front Cell Neurosci. 2018;12:35. doi:10.3389/fncel.2018.00035
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sluka KA, Clauw DJ.Neurobiology of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain.Neuroscience. 2016;338:114-129. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.06.006Yasui M, Yoshimura T, Takeuchi S, et al.A chronic fatigue syndrome model demonstrates mechanical allodynia and muscular hyperalgesia via spinal microglial activation.Glia. 2014;62(9):1407-1417. doi:10.1002/glia.22687Cleveland Clinic.Allodynia.Lolignier S, Eijkelkamp N, Wood JN.Mechanical allodynia.Pflugers Arch. 2015;467(1):133-9. doi:10.1007/s00424-014-1532-0Vale TA, Symmonds M, Polydefkis M, et al.Chronic non-freezing cold injury results in neuropathic pain due to a sensory neuropathy.Brain. 2017;140(10):2557-2569. doi:10.1093/brain/awx215MedlinePlus.Raynaud’s disease.Cleveland Clinic.Neuropathic pain.International Association for the Study of Pain.Hyperalgesia.Forstenpointner J, Binder A, Maag R, et al.Neuroimaging of cold allodynia reveals a central disinhibition mechanism of pain.J Pain Res. 2019;12:3055-3066. doi:10.2147/JPR.S216508Viana F.Nociceptors: thermal allodynia and thermal pain.Handb Clin Neurol. 2018;156:103-119. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63912-7.00006-0Mínguez-Olaondo A, Quintas S, Morollón Sánchez-Mateos N, et al.Cutaneous Allodynia in Migraine: A Narrative Review.Front Neurol. 2022;12:831035. Published 2022 Jan 21. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.831035Crettaz B, Marziniak M, Willeke P, et al.Stress-induced allodynia – evidence of increased pain sensitivity in healthy humans and patients with chronic pain after experimentally induced psychosocial stress. Paul F, ed. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e69460. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069460National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Allodynia.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Pregabalin - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Gabapentin - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Amitriptyline hydrochloride - drug summary.Kocot-Kępska M, Zajączkowska R, Mika J, et al.Topical treatments and their molecular/cellular mechanisms in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain-narrative review.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(4):450. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13040450Baron R, Allegri M, Correa-Illanes G, et al.The 5% lidocaine-medicated plaster: Its inclusion in international treatment guidelines for treating localized neuropathic pain, and clinical evidence supporting its use.Pain Ther. 2016;5(2):149-169. doi:10.1007/s40122-016-0060-3Mlost J, Bryk M, Starowicz K.Cannabidiol for pain treatment: Focus on pharmacology and mechanism of action.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(22):8870. doi:10.3390/ijms21228870Lai HC, Lin YW, Hsieh CL.Acupuncture-analgesia-mediated alleviation of central sensitization.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:6173412. doi:10.1155/2019/6173412Pardos-Gascón EM, Narambuena L, Leal-Costa C, van-der Hofstadt-Román CJ.Differential efficacy between cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based therapies for chronic pain: Systematic review.Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2021;21(1):100197. doi:10.1016/j.ijchp.2020.08.001Eller-Smith OC, Nicol AL, Christianson JA.Potential mechanisms underlying centralized pain and emerging therapeutic interventions.Front Cell Neurosci. 2018;12:35. doi:10.3389/fncel.2018.00035
Sluka KA, Clauw DJ.Neurobiology of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain.Neuroscience. 2016;338:114-129. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.06.006
Yasui M, Yoshimura T, Takeuchi S, et al.A chronic fatigue syndrome model demonstrates mechanical allodynia and muscular hyperalgesia via spinal microglial activation.Glia. 2014;62(9):1407-1417. doi:10.1002/glia.22687
Cleveland Clinic.Allodynia.
Lolignier S, Eijkelkamp N, Wood JN.Mechanical allodynia.Pflugers Arch. 2015;467(1):133-9. doi:10.1007/s00424-014-1532-0
Vale TA, Symmonds M, Polydefkis M, et al.Chronic non-freezing cold injury results in neuropathic pain due to a sensory neuropathy.Brain. 2017;140(10):2557-2569. doi:10.1093/brain/awx215
MedlinePlus.Raynaud’s disease.
Cleveland Clinic.Neuropathic pain.
International Association for the Study of Pain.Hyperalgesia.
Forstenpointner J, Binder A, Maag R, et al.Neuroimaging of cold allodynia reveals a central disinhibition mechanism of pain.J Pain Res. 2019;12:3055-3066. doi:10.2147/JPR.S216508
Viana F.Nociceptors: thermal allodynia and thermal pain.Handb Clin Neurol. 2018;156:103-119. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63912-7.00006-0
Mínguez-Olaondo A, Quintas S, Morollón Sánchez-Mateos N, et al.Cutaneous Allodynia in Migraine: A Narrative Review.Front Neurol. 2022;12:831035. Published 2022 Jan 21. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.831035
Crettaz B, Marziniak M, Willeke P, et al.Stress-induced allodynia – evidence of increased pain sensitivity in healthy humans and patients with chronic pain after experimentally induced psychosocial stress. Paul F, ed. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e69460. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069460
National Library of Medicine StatPearls.Allodynia.
Prescribers' Digital Reference.Pregabalin - drug summary.
Prescribers' Digital Reference.Gabapentin - drug summary.
Prescribers' Digital Reference.Amitriptyline hydrochloride - drug summary.
Kocot-Kępska M, Zajączkowska R, Mika J, et al.Topical treatments and their molecular/cellular mechanisms in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain-narrative review.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(4):450. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13040450
Baron R, Allegri M, Correa-Illanes G, et al.The 5% lidocaine-medicated plaster: Its inclusion in international treatment guidelines for treating localized neuropathic pain, and clinical evidence supporting its use.Pain Ther. 2016;5(2):149-169. doi:10.1007/s40122-016-0060-3
Mlost J, Bryk M, Starowicz K.Cannabidiol for pain treatment: Focus on pharmacology and mechanism of action.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(22):8870. doi:10.3390/ijms21228870
Lai HC, Lin YW, Hsieh CL.Acupuncture-analgesia-mediated alleviation of central sensitization.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:6173412. doi:10.1155/2019/6173412
Pardos-Gascón EM, Narambuena L, Leal-Costa C, van-der Hofstadt-Román CJ.Differential efficacy between cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based therapies for chronic pain: Systematic review.Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2021;21(1):100197. doi:10.1016/j.ijchp.2020.08.001
Eller-Smith OC, Nicol AL, Christianson JA.Potential mechanisms underlying centralized pain and emerging therapeutic interventions.Front Cell Neurosci. 2018;12:35. doi:10.3389/fncel.2018.00035
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
