allodynia
Pronunciation: al-oh-DIN-ee-uh
Pain response to normally non-painful stimuli, often indicating dysfunction in pain processing pathways.
Full Definition
Allodynia is a pathological pain condition characterized by the experience of pain in response to stimuli that normally do not provoke pain, such as light touch, gentle pressure, or temperature changes. This phenomenon indicates dysfunction in nociceptive processing pathways and can occur in various neurological conditions including neuropathic pain syndromes, migraine, fibromyalgia, and following nerve injury. Allodynia can be classified as mechanical (touch-evoked), thermal (temperature-evoked), or dynamic (movement-evoked). The condition significantly impacts quality of life and often requires specialized pain management approaches targeting central sensitization mechanisms.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from hyperalgesia (exaggerated response to painful stimuli).
In Context
- "The patient's allodynia was so severe that even the light touch of clothing caused unbearable pain." — Pain clinic assessment
- "Gabapentin therapy was initiated to address the patient's post-herpetic allodynia and hyperalgesia." — Treatment plan