Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic muscle pain that is characterized by tenderness and pain felt in specific locations and areas called as tender points. To rule out that a person is suffering from fibromyalgia there must be at least 11 to 18 specific locations in the body where you should feel the pain. The musculoskeletal discomfort felt during fibromyalgia is just one of the symptoms of the disease. Fibromyalgia is often associated with different types of pains.

There are three main types of fibromyalgia pains that are defined and given separate name in the medical world:

• Hyperalgesia

• Allodynia

• Painful Paresthesia

Apart from these there are several other pains also that the patient experiences. Hyperalgesia is the amplification of pain in fibromyalgia. The brain takes the pain normally and turns up the volume making it severe than the normal threshold. The drugs used in fibromyalgia aim at reducing the hyperalgesia.

Allodynia is a symptom wherein the skin hurts when it is touched or mild pressure is felt. There are many people who have described the feeling of allodynia as bad sunburn. It is a rare type of pain and is related to some conditions which include post herpetic neuralgia, neuropathy and migraine. It is also thought to be a hypersensitive reaction that results from central sensitization related to fibromyalgia. The pain signals are generated from specialized nerves called as nociceptors that get information about things like painful stimuli and temperature from the skin.

Allodynia is of three types namely:

• Tactile allodynia that originates from touch or applying little pressure

• Mechanical allodynia that results from something moving across the skin

• Thermal, this is the pain felt as a result of heat or cold that is not very severe

Some of the drugs that work well with people having the symptoms of allodynia include tramadol, ketamine, lidocaine, venlafaxine and morphine. There are also several topical applications available like aspercreme and capsaicin. Also, giving stress on what you wear can help you relive allodynia.

If you are suffering from allodynia then undergoing a massage therapy might also make it worse. But, if you feel that your overall condition can improve with a massage then you should discuss this with your doctor and also with your massage therapist so that the right line of treatment can be carried out. Many people feel the pain in certain areas like the waist, feet or the chest. You should avoid wearing tight clothes or fabrics that cause itching. This can increase the pain and discomfort. Warm water therapy has also been found to be useful in alleviating allodynia.

Paresthesias are nerve sensations that give you a feel of tingling, crawling, itching, burning or numbness. At times, these sensations can be painful. This particular syndrome can also be associated with chemotherapy, peripheral neuropathy or multiple sclerosis. You should have a proper diet containing all the vitamins and minerals that can provide your body with the right nutrition. Also, have additional vitamin supplements.

Jonathan Pitts

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