Hyperalgesia

Hyperalgesia is an excessive sensitivity to painful stimuli. One form of hyperalgesia is visceral hyperalgesia, which is extreme sensitivity to something painful in the viscera (internal organs), usually those of the belly. Visceral hyperalgesia can also mean an increased awareness of the normal movements of internal organs, such as the intestines. Hyperalgesia is also a common symptom of people with irritable bowel syndrome, a disorder of the intestines with various signs and symptoms, and no clear biological cause. While hyperalgesia can occur in specific body parts, it can also be present throughout the body. When hyperalgesia occurs in specific body parts, it has been divided into primary and secondary types. In the primary type, increased pain sensitivity occurs directly in damaged tissue. In the secondary type, increased pain sensitivity occurs in surrounding undamaged tissues. Hyperalgesia can also be caused by long-term use of opioids, which ironically, is medication used to treat chronic pain.

Although hyperalgesia can be a genuine physical problem, clinicians should be alert to the possibility that a subjective report of increased sensitivity to pain may represent exaggeration, particularly if the patient is seeking compensation for an injury or pursuing litigation. Hyperalgesia comes from the Greek word "hyper" meaning "above," and the Greek word "algos" meaning "pain." Put the two together and you get "above pain," meaning too much pain.