Hyperalgesia and fibromyalgia: when the pain becomes too intense

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, intense fatigue and unusual sensitivity to pain, or hyperalgesia.

What is hyperalgesia? 

Medical explanation 

Hyperalgesia means an increased sensitivity to pain, where a stimulus that is normally not very painful becomes extremely painful. In people with fibromyalgia, this intense pain is common and can affect the entire body, making ordinary everyday movements particularly difficult.

Difference between normal and intense pain 

Unlike physiological pain, which is the body's normal response to injury or inflammation, hyperalgesia amplifies the perception of pain. A simple pressure on the skin or a slight movement can cause disproportionate pain. This hypersensitivity is a key feature of fibromyalgia and partly explains the intensity of chronic pain.

Hyperalgesia and fibromyalgia: how it works 

Central sensitization 

Hyperalgesia is mainly linked to central sensitization. The central nervous system becomes hyperexcitable, amplifying the pain signals received by the body. This nervous hyperexcitability causes normally tolerable stimuli to be interpreted as painful.

Other possible factors 

In addition to central sensitization, several factors can aggravate hyperalgesia:

• Chronic fatigue
  
• Stress and anxiety
  
• Sleep disorders
• Mild but persistent inflammation
  

These factors contribute to making pain even more difficult to bear.

Symptoms and the impact on everyday life 

In people suffering with fibromyalgia and hyperalgesia, symptoms can be particularly intense and debilitating. Pain is often widespread and patients are very sensitive to touch, frequently also experiencing persistent fatigue and sleep disorders. This hypersensitivity amplifies the sensation of pain, even during simple everyday activities, making daily life more difficult to manage.

Hyperalgesia therefore has a direct impact on quality of life. It can limit the patient's ability to work, reduce social interactions and increase fatigue by disrupting sleep. Understanding this mechanism allows patients and caregivers to adjust pain management techniques and improve patients' daily lives.

How to manage hyperalgesia as a fibromyalgia symptom? 

The treatment of hyperalgesia is based on a combination of drug and non-drug approaches. Non-drug methods, such as relaxation through meditation, breathing or sophrology exercises, as well as physiotherapy and gentle stretching, can help reduce pain perception. Improving your sleep quality and stress management are also key to reducing hyperalgesia.

Among drug treatments, there are certain medications that target neuropathic pain and specific fibromyalgia symptoms. Such treatment should be adjusted by a healthcare professional as the symptoms evolve, so regular follow-up is essential. The combination of these methods helps to relieve pain and improve patients' quality of life.

In a nutshell 

• Hyperalgesia is an amplification of pain, which transforms normal stimuli into intense pain.
  
• It is mainly linked to central sensitization of the nervous system, but fatigue, stress and sleep disorders can aggravate it.
  
• Symptoms include diffuse pain, hypersensitivity to touch, persistent fatigue and sleep disturbances.
  
• Hyperalgesia has a direct impact on quality of life, limiting daily and social activities.
  
• Pain management is based on a combination of non-drug (relaxation, physiotherapy, stress management) and drug treatments (targeted treatments, regular appointments).
  
• Understanding and managing hyperalgesia enables patients to live better with fibromyalgia and improve their daily comfort.