Without in any sense being flip or undercutting the seriousness of your troubles* - which I experience in response to far from subtle stimulation - I am struck by the terrible irony that, for many of us, isolation is the worst part of this.

Mike


* See, Hyperacusis in patients with complex regional pain syndrome related dystonia, de Klaver MJ, van Rijn MA, Marinus J, Soede W, de Laat JA, van Hilten JJ, J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2007 Dec;78(12):1310-3. Epub 2007 Apr 30, FREE FULL TEXT @ http://www.rsds.org/2/library/articl...n_Marinus_.pdf

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1), patients may have manifestations of central involvement, including allodynia, hyperalgesia or dystonia. We noted that more severely affected patients may experience hyperacusis, which may also reflect central involvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and characteristics of hyperacusis in patients with CRPS related dystonia.

METHODS: The presence of hyperacusis, speech reception thresholds (SRT), pure-tone thresholds (PTT) and uncomfortable loudness (UCL) was evaluated in 40 patients with CRPS related dystonia.

RESULTS: PTT and SRT were normal for all patients. 15 patients (38%) reported hyperacusis and this was associated with allodynia/hyperalgesia and with more affected extremities. UCLs of patients with hyperacusis were significantly lower than UCLs of patients without hyperacusis.

CONCLUSION: Hyperacusis is common among severely affected patients with CRPS related dystonia and may indicate that the disease spreads beyond those circuits related to sensory-motor processing of extremities.

PMID: 17470470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17470470