Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS) is an illness characterized by notable pain intensity without an identifiable physical cause.[1][6]
Characteristic symptoms include skin sensitivity to light touch, also known as allodynia. Associated symptoms may include changes associated with disuse including changes in skin texture, color, and temperature, and changes in hair and nail growth. In up to 80% of cases, symptoms are associated with psychological trauma or psychological stress.[3] AMPS may also follow physical injury or illness.[2] Other associations with AMPS include Ehlers-danlos syndrome, myositis, arthritis, and other rheumatologic diseases.[3]
Treatment for notable pain intensity without identifiable pathophysiology can include psychotherapy to alleviate psychological stress. Physical therapists, psychologically informed physical therapists in particular, can coach people on exercises they can do everyday at home. The prognosis for the condition is very positive, with the ability for majority of effected individuals to recover completely, but the management of the condition is a gradual improvement over time, which can leave many individuals feeling a lack of motivation or progress in their AMPS management. Clinicians who use this diagnosis sometimes apply it to children and adolescents. To date, this diagnosis is used more in women.[3][1]
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