What Is Dysesthesia?
Dysesthesia is derived from a combination of two ancient Greek terms that indicate "abnormal sensation." It frequently feels like a burning, prickling, or hurting sensation. It usually affects the legs or feet. One may also feel it in their arms. The pain may feel like one is being crushed around their chest or abdomen at times. This is referred to as the multiple sclerosis hug by some people.
It is often linked to multiple sclerosis, a chronic condition that harms the central nervous system, although it can also be present as a symptom of other illnesses. It can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, a stroke, or other neurological conditions as well. It is possible that the pain is acute, meaning that it comes on rapidly and then goes away. It could also be chronic, meaning it has been going on for a long while. Pain might appear out of nowhere at times or a regular sensation that can shift. Temperature changes may aggravate the discomfort, and one may notice it more after exercise or when an individual is attempting to sleep.
What Are the Types of Dysesthesias?
Different varieties of dysesthesia have an impact on different sections of the body, but they all cause skin irritation without causing skin injury.
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Cutaneous Dysesthesia: The majority of individuals with this form of dysesthesia have sensitive skin which does not respond to outside stimuli or touches in the way that it should. Pain, burning, or irritation might be triggered by loose-fitting clothing or a passing breeze in some circumstances.
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Scalp Dysesthesia: A number of individuals with this sort of dysesthesia will feel an excruciatingly painful burning sensation on or under the scalp's skin. Hair loss might result from this sensation, and scratching the scalp does not bring any relief. Scalp dysesthesia can sometimes be caused by a disorder affecting the vertebrae of the spine present in the neck.
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Oral Dysesthesia: The sensation of burning or pain in the mouth or oral structures, such as the jaw, tongue, and gums, is known as oral dysesthesia. Some clinicians also referred to it as "burning mouth syndrome." Doctors are baffled as to why this sensation arises. It could be a sign of a variety of illnesses that affect the oral cavity or body. Burning lips might happen at any time. A psychological illness can cause burning mouth syndrome. A person's perception of taste or temperature reaction may also change, and they may have difficulty eating or speaking.
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Occlusal Dysesthesia: This sort of dysesthesia causes a person to feel as if their bite is unpleasant for no obvious reason. Occlusal dysesthesia is a rather uncommon dental procedure side effect or problem.
What Causes Dysesthesia?
Dysesthesia occurs when nerve firing is disrupted, causing the brain to create atypical, unpleasant sensations ranging from moderate tingling to intense, stabbing pain. Nerve injury is the cause of dysesthesia. Dysesthesia is unpleasant, but it is not indicative of tissue injury. Although extended overuse or lack of use owing to pain and discomfort can cause damage to human tissues, they can still be totally functional and healthy.
Multiple sclerosis causes the protective layer around the nerves to break away. The messages between the brain and the rest of the body are disrupted as a result. Because the brain cannot read nerve signals correctly, it tells us that we are feeling something that we are not. It does not matter what type of multiple sclerosis an individual has, how severe it is, or how long they have had it if the person has evident discomfort. Dysesthesia is sometimes one of the first indicators of multiple sclerosis.
What Are the Symptoms of Dysesthesia?
Dysesthesia is a condition in which people experience strange feelings in reaction to normal stimuli. Gentle touch, for example, may be experienced as being unpleasant or painful. Symptoms might be localized or generalized, and their severity varies from person to person. Symptoms of dysesthesia include:
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Stinging, burning, or itching sensation.
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Pain that is severe, acute, shooting, or stabbing.
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A prickling sensation or pins and needles.
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It may produce an insensitivity to stimuli, or the absence of stimulation can bring sensitivity in some circumstances.
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A sensation that maybe something is crawling on or under the skin.
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The sensation of an electric shock.
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In the lack of any stimuli or in reaction to harmless stimuli such as mild contact, discomfort or pain can occur.
How Is Dysesthesia Linked With Multiple Sclerosis and Other Conditions?
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks or damages myelin, the protective fatty tissue layer of nerves that enables electrical impulses to flow. When myelin loss is minor, nerve signaling may be affected just a little or temporarily. However, significant myelin damage can completely block down nerve communication, resulting in excruciating, long-term agony.
Dysesthesia is a sign of nerve-damaging illnesses, particularly those that affect the central nervous system, spinal cord, and brain, such as multiple sclerosis. Dysesthesia is a common symptom seen in multiple sclerosis. Dysesthesia can be caused by anything that damages the nerves or the nervous system, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, Lyme disease, withdrawal from or misuse of drugs, stroke, vitamin deficiency, alcoholism, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), or any damage to the nerves.
Dysesthesia normally goes away within a few months if the individual does not have a long-term disease like multiple sclerosis. The dysesthesia is generally alleviated by treating the underlying disease.
How to Treat Dysesthesia?
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Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen, both over-the-counter pain relievers, are inefficient in addressing neuropathic pain like dysesthesia. Antidepressants such as Amitriptyline and Desipramine are often used to treat dysesthesia, while topical pain-relief creams containing Lidocaine or Capsaicin are commonly used to adjust the body's sensitivity to pain.
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Patients will generally be started on the lowest dose feasible and subsequently increased as needed by their doctor. Ask the doctor about all of the potential short- and long-term adverse effects before starting a new prescription. Make sure they know about all of the prescriptions, including supplements, to avoid dangerous pharmaceutical interactions. If dysesthesia leads someone to scratch their skin to the point of breaking it, they may be prescribed a topical therapy.
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Some natural therapies, when paired with medication, may provide some relief from chronic pain associated with dysesthesia using a warm or a cold compress on the affected area, bathing with Epsom salts and colloidal oats, wearing compression socks, stockings, or gloves, using aloe or calamine lotions. If someone wants to use herbs and supplements to aid with dysesthesia, they should talk to their doctor first to be sure the supplements would not conflict with any medications that they are taking.
Conclusion:
Dysesthesia that persists can affect a person's life in a variety of ways, such as making them anxious due to their inability to perform a daily routine task, irritation in various areas of skin, fatigue, and isolation, which they feel due to staying away from social gatherings. One should consult their primary care physician or a neurologist if the dysesthesia symptoms are interfering with their daily life. Other potential sources of pain should be investigated and ruled out. Dysesthesia does not necessarily necessitate medical intervention. However, if an individual seeks assistance, they have a number of options for managing their condition and improving their overall quality of life.
