What do you do for Neuropathy itch?

Good morning everyone. I am desperately in need of help with what is called Neuropathy itch. I have SFN (small fiber neuropathy) and am a medical cannabis user for pain. I don't know what to use for this itching. It appears that it reaches through several skin layers. No matter how much you scratch you make it worse, not better. Once you start itching, it's over....your are stuck scratching.

Have you tried certain baths? Oatmeal? I have a steroid cream called Triamcinolone Acetonide. Not exactly a wonder drug. Is there a better one?

The itching results in a terrible level of anxiety. I try to run away from it and cannot. It reminds me of summer in Minnesota when the mosquitoes launch their attacks. I am female with "O" negative blood which they just devour.

Even if you have a solution for other than neuropathy, please share and I will happily do the research. The stress of isolated living and a form of depression that is about our global community also creeps in.

The only thing that works right now for food is gelato.......Salted caramel, if you please. I hope you are all well and blessed with good health today.
Chris

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@artscaping Hi Chris, I am so sorry you itch. I do too, almost everyday, and some days, it is unbearable. Thank God, I can use an anti histamine, and it goes away. Benadryl seems to work best. I think I have itch from 2 sources, though. I am sure the neuropathy gives me itchy feet, and sometimes, I itch, here and there, all over. I think this may be from Kratom or Medical Marijuana, or both. They are plants, so of course, I may be a bit allergic to them. However, I must take them, or cry a lot. I do not know if you have tried an anti histamine, but it does work for me. CVS also sells an anti itch crème. It actually calls it an anti itch crème, and it works. It is not the over the counter steroid cream. That does not work at all for me. Very best of luck. Itching can really drive you nuts. Terrible. Thanks for all of your help, all of the time. Stay safe. Lori Renee

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@artscaping Hi Chris, ohhhh how rotten that your body is doing that to you. Im so sorry. I dont have neuropathic itch currently but had chilblains itch on my toes and feet last year and it was unbearable! Woke me up from a sound sleep and scratching was toxic as it just intensified the itch. I'm not sure the territory of your itch but, I would resort to icing my feet and toes. Freezing them out was my only relief. That and of course prescribed creams. I had mild neuropathic itch on my arms but, didnt last long.
Lady, I wish I had more for you because I understand the misery. ☹ Good luck.
Rachel

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Chris, I am so sorry to hear you are suffering from what must be maddening itching. The only thing I can think of is an epsom salt bath which I’m sure you may have already tried. I hope this symptom goes away quickly or you can find some relief. Helen

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Hi Chris. The itching drives you crazy, I know. I had a diabetic neuropathy rash on my shins a couple of months ago. It was so itchy! The most effective home remedy I had was Vicks Vaporub, which helps some, but is ineffective against the rash. Finally I got an appointment with my doctor, and he prescribed a steroid cream by the name of Betaderm Cr (Betamethasone Val.) From the first use, this cream stopped the itch, and the rash disappeared quickly. I didn't want to use a steroid, but that cream was a lifesaver!

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Hi Chris, Oh boy can I understand your pain! I had no idea that the itching I was suffering from was related to my Small Fiber Neuropathy, and I was literally scratching the skin off certain parts of body. I tried all kinds of cortisone creams, nothing worked. finally in desperation I called my neurologist and she told me that is was part of my SFN. She then gave me a prescription for oxcarbazepine 150 mg 2 tabs twice a day. Well it's been a life saver!!! No more itching!! Most of my worst itching was in the warmer weather which is when the worst burning pain is also, so we're coming into the warmer months now, so we'll see how things go from here, but I got through the entire winter like a dream, and most of last summer was fairly good so I'm ever so hopeful for this one as well. I really hate this disease and I know that's a strong, word, but I've lived with it since 2006 and it's only progressed. Quite honestly my neurologist isn't much help, as she sent me all over half the state looking for a cause and in the end labeled it idiopathic. Then I read an article on SFN that said it's the end result of long standing Sjogren's Disease. I told her that I was diagnosed with mixed collagen vascular disease with Lupus and Sjogren's as the presenting diseases when I was 16ys old. That was 50 yrs ago. It would seem to me if she was worth her weight in knowledge she would have known that especially since the article was in a neurology journal that was easy to find on line. She had my entire medical history that my regular MD gave her right from the start. Anyway I hope you get some relief, it sure helped me.

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@helennicola

Chris, I am so sorry to hear you are suffering from what must be maddening itching. The only thing I can think of is an epsom salt bath which I’m sure you may have already tried. I hope this symptom goes away quickly or you can find some relief. Helen

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@helennicola, Hi there, nice to see your post and feel the anticipation that you are going to tell me the good news. And you did. Here's what I did.....I took a warm shower and then slathered 1:3 CBD/THC P and B Releaf Balm all over my body. Topped it with some 3:1 CBD/THC in sensitive areas. Combined with the nighttime tincture, great improvement over yesterday.

Thanks for taking good care of me. How are you doing with the isolation and distress that seems to be all around us?
May you have happiness and the causes of happiness today.
Chris

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Hi There, not sure I'm in the right group, but I have some symptoms that I cannot seem to get any real answers for so thought I'd start here. Since Feb 2019 I've had these symptoms:
- Cigar smell that I and others can smell coming from my mouth(not a smoker)
- Itching and tingling when pressure is applied anywhere on my body.
- Pain on both arms bi-laterally below shoulders
- Arms feel tired
- Horrible burning in center of chest
- Occasional dizziness and shortness of breath
- When scratching or rubbing due to itching and/or tingling, the cigar smell seems to activate
- Back pain from shoulder to mid back on both sides
- dry mouth at times
- hoarseness
- sore throat
- often having to clear phlegm from my throat
One doctor thinks I have Acid Reflux and that explains the sore throat, hoarsness, phlegm, burning in chest and maybe cigar smell; but I can't find an answer for the other symptoms. Has anybody else had the tingling combined with tired arms, dizziness, tiredness and/or back and shoulder pain?

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@artscaping

@helennicola, Hi there, nice to see your post and feel the anticipation that you are going to tell me the good news. And you did. Here's what I did.....I took a warm shower and then slathered 1:3 CBD/THC P and B Releaf Balm all over my body. Topped it with some 3:1 CBD/THC in sensitive areas. Combined with the nighttime tincture, great improvement over yesterday.

Thanks for taking good care of me. How are you doing with the isolation and distress that seems to be all around us?
May you have happiness and the causes of happiness today.
Chris

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Thanks for the information. Where did you purchase the 3:1 and 1:3 CBD/THC. I am looking for a reliable source. Thanks for any info.

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My favorite symptom checker website is https://symptomchecker.isabelhealthcare.com/suggest_diagnoses_advanced/landing_page. You enter your symptoms and then go down the list and see what it says. You use regular layman’s terms.

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@artscaping

@helennicola, Hi there, nice to see your post and feel the anticipation that you are going to tell me the good news. And you did. Here's what I did.....I took a warm shower and then slathered 1:3 CBD/THC P and B Releaf Balm all over my body. Topped it with some 3:1 CBD/THC in sensitive areas. Combined with the nighttime tincture, great improvement over yesterday.

Thanks for taking good care of me. How are you doing with the isolation and distress that seems to be all around us?
May you have happiness and the causes of happiness today.
Chris

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I’m glad you’re feeling better Chris, I am ok, thanks for asking, my SFN seems to have worsened lately but I don’t know if it’s temporary due to the recent stress or just the nature of it. I am lucky in that the weather has been nice for walking so I can get out and enjoy nature; we have a lot of flowers and trees in bloom.

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