Imagine that you have a cup of tea in your hand in the morning. You feel the heat not just as heat, but as an unbearable, intense sensation that hurts your head. Or even if someone gently touches your hand, it feels like a lot of pressure. If you feel even small things like this 'too' intensely, you need to be aware of the condition we are talking about today called Hyperesthesia.
Simply put, what is Hyperesthesia?
Hyperesthesia is a condition in which your sense of touch is exaggerated or unusually intense. Simply put, things that normally feel mild to us can feel unbearably intense and painful to someone with this condition.
For example, when you touch a hot cup of coffee, you feel its heat. But it doesn't feel like it's burning you. But the heat is so intense that you can't stop thinking about it, until it becomes a headache. That means the feeling is too strong to ignore.
This hypersensitivity can affect everything your skin senses, such as touch, temperature, and pressure. You start to feel all of these things much more intensely than a normal person would. This condition is often seen along with neuropathic pain.
Why is this happening to us?
Hyperesthesia can be a sign that your nervous system is not working properly. Think of your nervous system as a volume controller. Normally, the brain keeps this volume at the right level. That is, we want to feel things, but we don't let it become too much and become a nuisance to the brain. It only sends out very strong signals when it's really needed, like a burning sensation.
Hyperesthesia occurs when there is a malfunction in some part of this sensory system, whether it's the nerves, spinal cord, or brain. This causes your sense of touch to be heightened to its maximum volume for no apparent reason.
Another thing to do with this is called "sensitization." This means that when certain sensations are experienced frequently or very strongly, the nerve cells that process those sensations become "hyperactive." Then even small things start to be felt very strongly, and sometimes these feelings can occur for no reason at all.
What are the main causes of hyperesthesia?
Hyperesthesia can be caused by any disease or condition that affects the way your nervous system sends and receives sensations. There are many things that can cause it. The table below will help you understand it more clearly.
| Category of causes | Examples |
|---|---|
| Diseases related to the nervous system itself |
|
| Vitamin and hormone problems | |
| Infectious diseases | |
| Immune system diseases (Autoimmune) | |
| Poisons or drugs | |
| Other reasons |
Hyperesthesia and other conditions that can also be heard
You may have heard a few other words like these related to emotions. It's important to understand the difference between them.
| Medical Term | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| Hyperesthesia | Feeling excessive and intense, even with a normal touch. |
| Hyperalgesia | Experiencing extreme pain from something that normally causes pain (e.g., feeling unbearable pain from a small prick). |
| Allodynia | Pain caused by something that is normally painless (e.g., feeling pain when clothing rubs against the body, or when combing hair). |
| Paresthesia | Distorted sensations such as numbness and tingling. |
| Dysesthesia | Distorted sensation related to touch (e.g., a burning sensation when water falls on the body). |
Sometimes this hypersensitivity can also affect hearing. It's called Auditory Hyperesthesia (Hyperacusis). Then even normal sounds start to sound too loud to bear.
How do I treat this? Who should I see?
If you have these symptoms, the first and most important thing to do is see your doctor . He or she will refer you to a neurologist if necessary.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. They may also do tests to find the exact cause:
- Blood tests (especially to check for things like vitamin levels and diabetes)
- Tests that measure nerve function (Electromyography [EMG] and Nerve Conduction Studies)
- MRI scans
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the condition. While treating the cause, medications are also given to control the symptoms of this hypersensitivity. Some of the most commonly used medications are:
- Certain antidepressants (Tricyclic antidepressants) used for nerve pain
- SNRIs (e.g. duloxetine)
- Antiseizure medications - e.g. gabapentin, pregabalin
- Topical anesthetics
- Other painkillers
The most important thing is that your doctor will decide what treatment is best for you, so be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.
Should I be worried about hyperesthesia?
Hyperesthesia, on its own, is not life-threatening. However, it should never be ignored, as it can be a symptom of another underlying medical condition .
Moreover, this condition can have a major impact on your daily life. These constant stressful feelings can also affect your mental health. Therefore, it is possible to lead to conditions such as anxiety and even depression.
Although this is not dangerous, it can have a significant impact on your happiness and well-being. Therefore, it is best to see a doctor as soon as possible.
The doctor is there to help you. He or she will not judge you for what you are feeling, but will help you find the cause and get your life back to normal.
Take-Home Message
- Hyperesthesia is a hypersensitivity to touch that makes even ordinary touch or heat feel unbearable.
- This is not something that just happens, but a symptom of a problem in the nervous system. So don't take it lightly.
- This can be caused by a number of different factors, from simple causes like vitamin deficiency to more serious diseases like diabetes and MS.
- If you have these symptoms, don't panic and don't self-medicate. See your doctor immediately to find out the real cause.
- There are effective treatments for the cause and symptoms, so with the right medical advice, you can return to a normal life.
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