Allodynia: Anyone else sensitive to touch?

Posted by maria7521 @maria7521, Jul 22, 2018

Has anyone heard of the term allodynia?

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Hey guys! Does anyone have any suggestions for gloves etc - my hands have been overly sensitive, on fire and anything I touch makes me want to vomit. I've been researching it, but can't seem to settle on anything. Need something for at work and at home etc. Thanks a million 🙂 I forgot to mention, also, that my feet are sensitive too, so any suggestions for socks/shoes etc are welcomed. Thx!

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Google,reflex, sympathetic dystrophy

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@su8

Google,reflex, sympathetic dystrophy

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I have CRPS (RSD), unfortunately, and I know that allodynia is a symptom. But, I need something to help alleviate it (or, take the edge off) when it gets really bad, especially during a flare period.

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@rivermaya34

Hey guys! Does anyone have any suggestions for gloves etc - my hands have been overly sensitive, on fire and anything I touch makes me want to vomit. I've been researching it, but can't seem to settle on anything. Need something for at work and at home etc. Thanks a million 🙂 I forgot to mention, also, that my feet are sensitive too, so any suggestions for socks/shoes etc are welcomed. Thx!

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Let me specify - "researching it" i.e. NOT the condition, but the product(s)...if that makes sense.

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I’m sorry I can’t help too much. My doctor has sorta washed his hands of any further diagnosis beyond PN.
I have found Copper Fit gloves to help. Once they stretch a bit I find them not abrasive. And act as padding.
Socks: weird, but I wear them inside out. It prevents the rubbing. I hate sheets and blankets. The weight.
I don’t know if that helped. I also am in a continuous search for fabrics that don’t pinch or feel like sandpaper on my skin. Good luck!

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@rwinney

Hello @mindfulness. I'd be happy to answer your questions about the PRC program. I'm so happy to hear your husband is considering it.

Absolutely my pain has decreased for the sheer fact that not only did I learn the tools to work towards pain reduction, but I worked diligently after PRC and applied the learned principles. The most important thing to understand about PRC is that you get out of it what you put in to it. If your husband invests 3 weeks of rehabilitation and does not buy into this program, it will not work. Surprisingly, it's not rocket science. It's basic healthy principles taught to improve physical, behavioral, and emotional health. Change comes from improving the mind and body to have a better, more manageable quality of life. It's a recipe for reduced pain, symptoms, depression, insomnia, chemical intake, anxiety, etc... PRC principles break the cycle of pain that most people get swallowed up in and can not see their way out of.

I discontinued several medications, as it is part of the PRC requirements and an important part of why I chose to be there. Medication omission, or reduction, can be very scary, but once understanding the importance of chemical reduction to pain rehabilitation, you begin to learn the negative effects certain meds can have on forward progress of life quality. The PRC has a pharmaceutical team that will analyze your husband's list of meds and determine which are necessary (blood pressure, heart, etc...) and which are not helping him in his pain rehab journey. I was safely weaned off an addictive medication, and discontinued many others meds while there. I had a meeting with the Mayo pharmaceutical team to discuss all meds, their purpose, or lack there of.

May I respectfully ask, if your husband is living with chronic, not acute, conditions and suffers from chronic pain and symptoms which no other treatments have helped, cured or fixed, and he is in emotional distress and physically decondition as a result, what else is left? The problem runs deeper. Chronic conditions typically mean just that, they are chronic and not going anywhere. One can continue to aimlessly search or they can come to terms and work on acceptance by way of learning tools that help increase quality of life. The PRC teaches a holistic approach to doing just that.

At the end of the day, Rehabilitation = bravery with the acceptance of doing things differently. No one knows what's best for you and your husband. You both have to make that decision. My advice is to have an honest, heart to heart about what the program entails and whether he wants to commit to a 3 week out patient program, and put in the work. I can attest that he will be in good hands. It's simply amazing what this program does and how they change peoples lives. The PRC has a huge success rate of giving people (and their families) their life back. There are people, however, that aren't ready to commit to change or don't buy into the program. In either case, I wish your husband the strength to make the best decision for himself. I wish you the strength to continue being the great support system that I think you are. Life ain't easy, but so worth living when you can find joy despite circumstance.

Do you have any other questions that I can help with?

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Hi. I'm fairly new to this blog. I have allodynia on my back since it started abruptly (hence, I don't think it's diabetic neuropathy, as I understand that starts slowly and progresses, though I am diabetic) last January. Gabapentin helps keep me sane.
What is PRC? I will ask my doctor if cymbalta is worth a try and not contraindicated as I take a load of meds already.
Thanks for the info.

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@rivermaya34

I have CRPS (RSD), unfortunately, and I know that allodynia is a symptom. But, I need something to help alleviate it (or, take the edge off) when it gets really bad, especially during a flare period.

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Hi. I take gabapentin (Neurontin) for allodynia. It helps a lot but doesn't totally relieve the pain.
What is CRSP (RSD)?

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@justandie

Hi. I'm fairly new to this blog. I have allodynia on my back since it started abruptly (hence, I don't think it's diabetic neuropathy, as I understand that starts slowly and progresses, though I am diabetic) last January. Gabapentin helps keep me sane.
What is PRC? I will ask my doctor if cymbalta is worth a try and not contraindicated as I take a load of meds already.
Thanks for the info.

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Hello @andiedeluca1949, welcome. So glad you receive some relief from Gabapentin. Sanity is key!

Thanks for asking what PRC is - it stands for Pain Rehabilitation Center which is where the Mayo Clinic offers a 3 week pain rehabilitation program at each of their 3 locations. PRC is a fantastic learning experience that focuses on the four pillars of physical, behavioral, emotional and chemical well-being.

Here's more about the PRC program:

Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center -

https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/overview/ovc-20481691

In addition to medications that treat allodynia and neuropathy, what self-help tools have you tried or find benefit from?

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@justandie

Hi. I take gabapentin (Neurontin) for allodynia. It helps a lot but doesn't totally relieve the pain.
What is CRSP (RSD)?

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CRPS stands for chronic regional pain syndrome

RSD stands for reflex sympathetic dystrophy

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Yes, I have, I was diagnosed with it in October. Does anyone have any suggestions about clothing that can help with the allodynia and not make it so painful?

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