CRPS Question: Itching

Hello @rags. I would like to invite @mam14, @rsnowflake, @struggler23, @barbbie, @lizzyisme, to this conversation as they have all recently discussed having CRPS and may be able to share whether or not they have dealt with any itching as a result.

@rags, itching must certainly be a frustrating side-effect of what you are going through. While we wait for others to share their experience with treatment and side-effects, is there anything that has helped with relieving the itching?

Have you tried something like Benadryl for itch? I also recommend soft, white gloves on your hands, so you dont rip yourself apart. Bathe in Epsom salts to relieve your skin. Calamine lotion for your skin. What illness do you have? I don't know what the initials stand for. I have peripheral neuropathy, and often itch, and have given up trying to figure out why. I sting, too. Whirlpool baths may help you. God in heaven, how you are suffering. I am so sorry. Lori Renee

@justin@rags

First, thanks rags for writing, and thank you Justin for bringing my attention to this.

I have an allergy list to meds an arm long. Most of my reactions were laryngeal edema, anaphylaxis, and hives. I either read it or was told it,but CRPS and allergies go hand-in-hand. I also have celiac, so I am gluten free, lactose intolerant, and have true allergic reactions to kiwi and watermelon. I was on lyrica before being dx with CRPS for fibromyalgia. At an appt with rheumatologist I came down with laryngeal edema. He gave me a shot and that was the end of lyrica and the nasty weight gain. I like my spinal cord stimulator, cuts down on need for meds and helps with pain and the ability to move.

Hi I'm Renee. That's a really weird story , because it's MY story to the T word for word. I had severe hives for 10 years. No 1 could find what was caused hives, face swollen, and anifalaysis no diagnoses then I break my ankle and get crps!!!!! And that's you and that's me. Where do you live?

@rsnowflake,

I live in New York State. And you?

Thank you so much for adding others. The only thing that has helped was being on prednisone. But once weaned off it’s slowly coming back.

@rsnowflake @barbbie

I live in New York. I was pretty healthy before my ankle fracture. But do have severe environmental allergies. I’ve never suffered from hives prior to Jan 2019.

I’ve been reading that people with CRPS, their health starts declining once diagnosed. I feel like that has started since Jan. 13 months into this mess.

I really believe the itching is from the nerves. But I just don’t feel like anyone listens.

I don’t know which dr to go to to figure out my symptoms. Drs say take this med and then pass me off to the next dr.

My next stop is pain management but would he deal with the itching too. It’s my husbands dr so I know he won’t prescribe meds. So then what?

I know this isn’t an early find. I already have muscle atrophy in my calf and my ankle. But I don’t have the severe all day burning pain. But have everything else all day long.

@rsnowflake @rags,

Am waiting for reply from a pro. From my experience I stay away from pills. I do have a tens unit for pain, script for lidocaine patches and lidocaine -prolocaine cream, and my spinal cord stimulator. For extreme pain or parts not covered by stimulator, I do take prescribed oxycodone. I do take it sparingly. I do have about seven left out of thirty that I got in July.

Update-

So the itching was from the new medication Trileptal. My dr upped my dose on Thur and I woke up in complete hives. I called Dr. (on call dr called me back not my dr) right away and they told me to stop taking meds and take Benadryl. Woke up Sunday still in hives and they called in prednisone. I called my dr on Monday and he said to stay off all med for a week to let my system clear and call him back.
I tried going back to work today and couldn’t even make it a few hours. My whole body is shaking, my legs from my waist down feel like vibrating cinder blocks that are being electrocuted. I came home and took a tramadol which helped with the heavy ness in my legs but that’s it. I feel just awful.

I don’t see pain management until 3/28. What else can I take to ease this pain. I seem to be allergic to all the nerve meds.

Hey I'm Renee. I was diagnosed 2 years ago. After I broke my ankle and was in a boot 4 8
months. Sounds familiar! My orthopedic surgeon couldn't understand why all the xrays show it was healed. But my foot was so swollen and purple. I forgot to mention I've had undiagnosed hives for the last 10 years. Seems too much to b a coincidence.