Ultra-sensitive to touch...OUCH

This is going to sound weird but I need some advice. I have fibromyalgia and  connective tissue disease (diagnosed in March 2008) along with hypothyroid, osteoporosis, and anxiety. Tonight I am in severe pain. I have a horrible migraine (took Imitrex) and am super sensitive to any kind of touch anywhere on my body. I have never experienced such pain before. Brushing my hair is so painful. I took a bath hoping to relieve the pain and the water on my body felt like my skin was peeling off. I take Soma, flexeril and Plaquenil. I can barely touch my legs, arms, neck, head you name it. Sitting on the chair is hurting my behind. Is this normal or am I going crazy? I am in so much pain I am actually thinking of going to emergency but am worried they will think I am nuts. How can I be in so much pain all over my body with even soft touch?

I get that feeling sometimes but I've never had it all over my body. It'll be one butt cheek and leg, or one shoulder and arm, or maybe just my abdomen. The most frequent location is my scalp. It lasts anywhere from hours to weeks. I can't stand it when it happens. I can't imagine feeling that way all over my body. I haven't found anything that helps, just time. So sorry!

Could it be a reaction to the Imitrex, or another med? Reactions can occur even after months or years of use. I know the all-over skin pain can be a bad reaction, so I suggest you call your doctor or pharmacist. If your skin reddens, blisters, or starts to peel go immediately to the ER.

Good Luck.

Hello KitKat,
I am currently experiencing the same thing. I have had it often in the past 12+ years - in fact, it was one of my first symptoms. Being touched anywhere except my head really hurts. I usually take Flexeril, Hydrocodone and go to sleep for 2-4 hours. I usually wake up feeling much better, but it doesn't last.

Ironically, I just saw my doc today. He's an internist, trained at Johns Hopkins, who is new to me. My original doc here closed his practice 2 months ago. I told him about the all-over pain and he touched/pressed several spots on my arm, back and neck. Then he said that it was NOT FMS, because that pain only occurs in the specific 18 tender points. I was kind of shocked, because I'd never heard this before. It DOES seem that each doc has a different "definition" of FMS though. Anyway, he is starting me on an increased dose of Neurontin. I currently take 300 mg/pm because it can cause sleepiness. My reason for taking it is to help deal with depression and I think it has helped. He is having me take an addition 300 mg in the AM and in two weeks, increase it to another 300 midday. That is 900 mg/day. He said I should notice a difference in a week. In the meantime, I'm seeing my Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner next Monday and I'll see what she thinks. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know you are NOT alone. I'll keep you posted on results. God Bless. grandmacarol

Skin hurting. I get that occasionally. All i can do is take some amyltriptilene and go to sleep. The regular pain meds don't come close to helping, it needs to be a neuroleptic: amyltripyilene, lyrica, something that helps the nervous system, cope. Call your doc.

Hi Kitkat,

Often people with fibro are sensitive to touch and it can be very painful, but to have it all over and so very painful is not normal. I would either go to the ER or call your doctor..no matter what time of day or night it is. You should not have to suffer like this. It may be fibro but it may be something different that you need to have checked out.

Good luck,
Chutz

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Co-Mod Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Forums
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Fibromyalgia, Ulcerative Colitis, Insulin dependent diabetic, collapsed disk, dermatitis herpetiformus, osteo arthritis in spine and other locations.
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The only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits. Albert Einstein: (1879-1955)

HI,

I have days like this. All I can do for it is to try to sleep. I hope it goes away soon for you.

Take care,

Donnaeil

I agree, sleep is the only thing that seems to break the cycle..  I went to hosp emerg 3 times, before I realized there is nothiing they can do.  It has to be managed by docs and specialists.  I had times the shower was like hail stones, I couldnt do my hair because the pain in my skull, still cant sit for mre than 20 mins or stand for more than 20 mins, initially before I saw specialist the only thing that helped me was sleep pills and muscle relaxants now ive been able to knock some of my meds down.  sue2z

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Fibromyalgia, ulcerative colonitus, arthritus, bi-polar

Hi, I get this. I am not sure whether it is my skin hurting or the muscle underneath or a combo of both. It's almost like I can't touch myself anywhere because it is too tender and sensitive. I haven't found any solution to this and I have no idea why it happens - I'm so sorry! I, too, have trouble brushing my hair because it is painful. My neurologist says that it is very normal in people with severe migraines. He gave it a name but I cannot remember. I wish I could! I have a feeling this sensitivity to touch may be related to your migraines and not fibro, but maybe these are related too. Wish I could help more.

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Crohn's (diagnosed in 2006 and currently in remission), severe migraines, Seborrheic Derm., Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (1994), chronic pain, ulcers/GERD and possibly Fibromyalgia? Medications: Nexium, Pentasa, Percocet and Vicodin as needed, Flintstone Vitamins (my favorite part!), calcium and magnesium supplements, vitamin D once weekly. I follow a low fiber, low residue diet.

HI everyone

Marlee,
after reading your post, I did some online investigating. While Neurontin is not an usual drug for depression, in some cases of "difficult" depressive episodes, it seems to be of some help, although there have been no long term studies on it. It was originally released for treatment of seizures and is of use with pain disorders. It wasn't my new doc who prescribed it for depression - he increased it for my all-over pain symptoms. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner that I see is the one who started me on it for depression when several other meds did not help much. I feel like my depression, while not gone, is more stabilized with Neurontin. We shall see what happens with the increase for pain.

gc

Hi KitKat, the problem my neurologist diagnosed me with is Allodynia. Sorry I couldn't remember the name earlier! This sounds like exactly what you're describing.

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Crohn's (diagnosed in 2006 and currently in remission), severe migraines, Seborrheic Derm., Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (1994), chronic pain, ulcers/GERD and possibly Fibromyalgia? Medications: Nexium, Pentasa, Percocet and Vicodin as needed, Flintstone Vitamins (my favorite part!), calcium and magnesium supplements, vitamin D once weekly. I follow a low fiber, low residue diet.

Thanks meowese

I looked up that Allodynia and it sounded like that was exactly what I had. Good to know. I hope I never feel that way again!!

 

 

 

Thanks again

Kitkat3