Allodynia and Its Impact on People With Psoriatic Arthritis
People with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can have different types of joint pain in addition to the usual skin symptoms. In fact, pain is the most common symptom people with all forms of arthritis report to their doctors. More than one-third of people with arthritis say that pain interferes with their daily life. One-quarter of all people with the disease say their pain is severe.1-3
Types of pain in people with PsA include:1
- Pain and swelling in the fingers and toes
- Lower back pain
- Foot pain, such as plantar fasciitis
- Pain where tendons attach to the bones (this is called enthesitis)
- Eye inflammation and pain, known as uveitis
PsA pain is common in the hands and feet, but it can occur anywhere in the body.2
What is allodynia?
One unusual type of pain felt by some people with PsA is allodynia. Allodynia is a type of pain that is also common in people with fibromyalgia.2,4
In cases of allodynia, a person feels pain in response to something that would not normally cause pain. For example, if you stick a pin in your finger, you might expect it to hurt. What about a feather touching your skin? In people with allodynia, something like a feather or a soft sweater might cause a pain reaction.4
There are 3 main types of allodynia pain:4
- Tactile – from a gentle touch or shaking hands
- Dynamic – from clothing touching the skin
- Thermal – from temperature changes
Allodynia is a type of neuropathic pain. This means that it is caused by damage to the nerves instead of by direct damage to tissue. The nervous system does not send the right signals and so creates a feeling of pain when there should not be one. People with PsA are more likely to process pain abnormally or to feel pain from things that do not usually cause pain.4
What are some of the impacts of neuropathic pain?
Allodynia and other neuropathic pain can be linked to a number of other conditions in people with PsA.2,4
People may have anxiety or depression because everyday activities are no longer comfortable. If physical contact with others causes pain, a person is likely to become withdrawn.2,4
Allodynia can also cause sleep problems. Depression and anxiety can cause sleep disturbances. What’s more, bed linens touching the skin or rolling over in bed might cause discomfort. As a result, lack of sleep and fatigue will add to the depression and difficulty working or doing other daily tasks.2
What can I do about allodynia?
If left untreated, PsA can cause significant disruption to daily life. It can also lead to long-term joint damage. In particular, allodynia and other types of neuropathic pain are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Symptoms may improve over time or they may get worse. Talk to your doctor about ways to treat and manage the pain.2,4,5
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View all responsesThere are a number of possible treatments for allodynia and other neuropathic pain, including:2,4,5
- Antidepressant drugs
- Anticonvulsant drugs
- Anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids
- Antirheumatic medicines
- Topical creams and skin patches
- Occupational therapy (OT) or physical therapy (PT) for learning desensitization techniques
In more severe cases, your doctor may inject a nerve block or recommend surgery. They may also suggest some lifestyle measures such as frequent gentle activity and a balanced diet to ease symptoms. Avoiding or cutting down on alcohol and tobacco may also help.4,5
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