I agree Chris, that weather plays a big part. For me I definitely have more pain and discomfort when it’s cold and damp. And, I itch more in the heat. The itching is a recent step in my neuropathy progression, so I’ll see what happens in the dry winter air in Vermont.
I’ve learned through reading so many Connect patient testimonials that there are a wide range of neuropathy symptoms, as well as a variety of treatment options with varying success. As you’ve alluded to, it seems trying different treatments to see what works best to meet our individual needs is a good course of action. I do agree that medical cannabis can potentially provide relief. However, cannabis (along with many pharmaceuticals for neuropathy treatment) have a major drug interaction with immunosuppressive meds, so I can’t use it.
Thank you as always for your insightful comments. Athena
Now that is just not fair. I am so sorry you can't experience what I call a normal day......not exactly pain-free and yet worth living. How about distractions.....to give the pain and discomfort some competition? My favorite one is doing jigsaw puzzles to send to my granddaughters. I was very fortunate to have spent years traveling. I find puzzles of cities and areas where I have been and introduce them, hoping that they will also have a chance to find that little village in Austria, or be chased by sheep in Ireland.
Good afternoon @razaborsi and @athenalee ..I gave this more thought and realized that we are not taking into account the weather changes in fall and winter. Part of those changes have to do with barometric pressure. As the pressure declines, the pain and discomfort rise. For example, right now a storm is on its way and it is quite brisk outside....in the 30's. I just came back from the river and my body is complaining already, especially my hands.
Regarding the lidocaine compound recipe above......I used those for a while and kept asking my neurologist for more efficacy in the compound. I was maxed out and so I went to medical cannabis. It was more effective as long as I chose the right ingredients.
How about Voltaren.....it used to be by Rx only and now is OTC. I found it helpful pre and post-surgery many years ago. It might be worth a try to see how it works now.
And if you want a record to show your clinician.....just give every day of Barometric pressure a score for your pain and stinging. See what happens.
I am here for you......still in discovery mode as are so many of us.
Be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris
I have very similar symptoms. Aquagenic Pruritus, itch from water contact. Also from change in temperature or from sweat. There is a Facebook group for this and someone there discovered that when she took her preworkout supplement that she did not experience itch…she narrowed it down to Beta Alanine, an otc amino acid supplement…I have been taking it for several years now and it works….I take 750 mg when itch starts, every four hours to control. I also take 1500 mg 30 mins before showering….for some reason, showering later in the day, it works better….I buy it on Amazon…I use the NOW brand…
Now that is just not fair. I am so sorry you can't experience what I call a normal day......not exactly pain-free and yet worth living. How about distractions.....to give the pain and discomfort some competition? My favorite one is doing jigsaw puzzles to send to my granddaughters. I was very fortunate to have spent years traveling. I find puzzles of cities and areas where I have been and introduce them, hoping that they will also have a chance to find that little village in Austria, or be chased by sheep in Ireland.
I wholeheartedly agree! When I had advanced liver disease I had a medical marijuana prescription…worked amazingly well in conjunction with a low level dose of Gabapentin for pain and sleep.
Thank you for the idea of distraction. Work takes up much of my time, clearly not a pain reliever! But, you’re right, keeping busy serves to divert one’s mind from focusing so much on discomfort.
Just catching up to all the comments. I have had pins/needles 5-10 minutes into exercise. Mostly back neck and head. Sometimes worse than others. I am 60 yo and remember having this in my 20s but went away. I tried decreasing caffeine, increasing B complex vitamins, changed my body soaps and lotions. Nothing seems to work so far. Read with interest about beta alanine. Will research this.
Just catching up to all the comments. I have had pins/needles 5-10 minutes into exercise. Mostly back neck and head. Sometimes worse than others. I am 60 yo and remember having this in my 20s but went away. I tried decreasing caffeine, increasing B complex vitamins, changed my body soaps and lotions. Nothing seems to work so far. Read with interest about beta alanine. Will research this.
About 10 minutes into aerobic exercise just before I start to sweat. Sometimes a hot environment or stress will start it. Mostly starts on back. Sometimes neck or scalp. Goes away in 3-4 minutes
About 10 minutes into aerobic exercise just before I start to sweat. Sometimes a hot environment or stress will start it. Mostly starts on back. Sometimes neck or scalp. Goes away in 3-4 minutes
Hi @johnbishop /@markopharm/@rezaborso : I have been having this since 4 years : I experience a strong pins and needles sensations and itches all over my upper body - face, neck, arms , shoulders back etc. It comes for 5 mins and once I start sweating it just vanishes. Sometimes when it just gets hot. For the benefit of others online I found these on the net :
1. It could be something called : cholinergic-urticaria. Not allowed to post links but look at articles at healthline.
2. I read somewhere that nerves misfiring information to the brain about itches when blood flows increase to the small blood vessels near the skin. The only way suggested was to excercise more so that the brain gets used to these messages (???)
Hope this helps..I too am confused and worry if this is related to any heart issues etc
Hi @johnbishop /@markopharm/@rezaborso : I have been having this since 4 years : I experience a strong pins and needles sensations and itches all over my upper body - face, neck, arms , shoulders back etc. It comes for 5 mins and once I start sweating it just vanishes. Sometimes when it just gets hot. For the benefit of others online I found these on the net :
1. It could be something called : cholinergic-urticaria. Not allowed to post links but look at articles at healthline.
2. I read somewhere that nerves misfiring information to the brain about itches when blood flows increase to the small blood vessels near the skin. The only way suggested was to excercise more so that the brain gets used to these messages (???)
Hope this helps..I too am confused and worry if this is related to any heart issues etc
Hi @mokrishs, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience. It's interesting that the pins, needles and itching symptoms go away once you start sweating. I thought I would post the link you mentioned for you since new members are not allowed to post links for a short period of time to prevent advertising and spam.
Yes, my husband experiences the same thing. He works out 6-7 times a week. Very active. Right before he breaks a sweat his whole body experiences pins and needles that are very painful. His face and arms and whole body break out in white hives. The pins and needles stop as soon as a sweat breaks. We use the VA medical and they have no idea what is wrong with him. I’m desperate for a solution for him. He’s been on antihistamines which only make him sleepy. I just bought zendocrine from doterra thinking maybe it’s his body trying to rid the toxins it has accumulated... hasn’t worked. We eat clean and have gone vegan since he developed this. He’s had this the last three years. Tried all natural soaps etc... nothing.. We’re at a complete loss and feel hopeless..
Similar story here. I'm 63 and have been on gel testosterone therapy for a few years. Several years ago I would get these pins & needles plus flushing in my upper torso & neck. Then it progressed into staying hot, even when the home temp was 63: tank top, shorts, flip flops. Had my testosterone checked and I was below 200. So, T therapy began at 50 mg of gel each morning. For about a year, that seemed to do the trick, no more pins & needles & my T went up to about 300. Went for urology checkup & T was measured again, and it remained the same but was advised to try to get my T above 500. So, my daily dose was doubled. I walk every day, between 4-5 miles. As some have mentioned, at about the 30 min mark, here come those pins & needles again with the flushing. Only lasts maybe 10 minutes but I walk through it and it goes away. BTW, I don't sweat though...just get a little warm. Also am dealing with stenosis & DDD at 2 levels in cervical spine. At least with me, I'm not so sure that it is only a low T issue. Still investigating. I wish you folks well; it's no fun.
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Now that is just not fair. I am so sorry you can't experience what I call a normal day......not exactly pain-free and yet worth living. How about distractions.....to give the pain and discomfort some competition? My favorite one is doing jigsaw puzzles to send to my granddaughters. I was very fortunate to have spent years traveling. I find puzzles of cities and areas where I have been and introduce them, hoping that they will also have a chance to find that little village in Austria, or be chased by sheep in Ireland.
May you have peace and ease.
Chris
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3 ReactionsGood advice! Barometer is my key to 🙂🙁
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1 ReactionI have very similar symptoms. Aquagenic Pruritus, itch from water contact. Also from change in temperature or from sweat. There is a Facebook group for this and someone there discovered that when she took her preworkout supplement that she did not experience itch…she narrowed it down to Beta Alanine, an otc amino acid supplement…I have been taking it for several years now and it works….I take 750 mg when itch starts, every four hours to control. I also take 1500 mg 30 mins before showering….for some reason, showering later in the day, it works better….I buy it on Amazon…I use the NOW brand…
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1 ReactionI wholeheartedly agree! When I had advanced liver disease I had a medical marijuana prescription…worked amazingly well in conjunction with a low level dose of Gabapentin for pain and sleep.
Thank you for the idea of distraction. Work takes up much of my time, clearly not a pain reliever! But, you’re right, keeping busy serves to divert one’s mind from focusing so much on discomfort.
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1 ReactionJust catching up to all the comments. I have had pins/needles 5-10 minutes into exercise. Mostly back neck and head. Sometimes worse than others. I am 60 yo and remember having this in my 20s but went away. I tried decreasing caffeine, increasing B complex vitamins, changed my body soaps and lotions. Nothing seems to work so far. Read with interest about beta alanine. Will research this.
Welcome @markopharm, Do the pins and needles feeling in the back neck and head occur after specific exercises or activities or is it any exercise?
About 10 minutes into aerobic exercise just before I start to sweat. Sometimes a hot environment or stress will start it. Mostly starts on back. Sometimes neck or scalp. Goes away in 3-4 minutes
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1 ReactionHi @johnbishop /@markopharm/@rezaborso : I have been having this since 4 years : I experience a strong pins and needles sensations and itches all over my upper body - face, neck, arms , shoulders back etc. It comes for 5 mins and once I start sweating it just vanishes. Sometimes when it just gets hot. For the benefit of others online I found these on the net :
1. It could be something called : cholinergic-urticaria. Not allowed to post links but look at articles at healthline.
2. I read somewhere that nerves misfiring information to the brain about itches when blood flows increase to the small blood vessels near the skin. The only way suggested was to excercise more so that the brain gets used to these messages (???)
Hope this helps..I too am confused and worry if this is related to any heart issues etc
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi @mokrishs, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience. It's interesting that the pins, needles and itching symptoms go away once you start sweating. I thought I would post the link you mentioned for you since new members are not allowed to post links for a short period of time to prevent advertising and spam.
What Is Cholinergic Urticaria and How Is It Treated?: https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-disorders/cholinergic-urticaria
Do you exercise so you start sweating to make the symptoms go away?
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2 ReactionsSimilar story here. I'm 63 and have been on gel testosterone therapy for a few years. Several years ago I would get these pins & needles plus flushing in my upper torso & neck. Then it progressed into staying hot, even when the home temp was 63: tank top, shorts, flip flops. Had my testosterone checked and I was below 200. So, T therapy began at 50 mg of gel each morning. For about a year, that seemed to do the trick, no more pins & needles & my T went up to about 300. Went for urology checkup & T was measured again, and it remained the same but was advised to try to get my T above 500. So, my daily dose was doubled. I walk every day, between 4-5 miles. As some have mentioned, at about the 30 min mark, here come those pins & needles again with the flushing. Only lasts maybe 10 minutes but I walk through it and it goes away. BTW, I don't sweat though...just get a little warm. Also am dealing with stenosis & DDD at 2 levels in cervical spine. At least with me, I'm not so sure that it is only a low T issue. Still investigating. I wish you folks well; it's no fun.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction