Brachioradial pruritus. (severe itching on forearms and neck, no rash).

Posted by Patrick Cotter @patrickcotter, Mar 19, 2012

Does anyone know of this. I think its rare but does exist. My neurologist does not know about this. I have compression between my c5 and c6 cervical disk and have had alot of sun damage to my skin.

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There are no answers here...no answers anywhere. I guess I shouldnt worry to much I will be dead soon due to lack of restorative sleep

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@thedinnymurph

Hi fellow BRP sufferers, especially @njcarolnjn ....I'm so very very sorry to know of your suffering and dilemma as I too have just gone nuts with this ridiculous condition. Had my third cervical epidural administered by the pain doc on Dec 1. By Dec 2 I was scratching. He said the third epidural might be the charm. NOT! Now the option he suggests is to see a neurosurgeon for spinal surgery on the cervical discs that are so bad they have caused the stenosis that's causing the impingement on the nerves that's causing the CRAZY ITCH/PAIN/BURN. So like you all I'm back to ice, ice, ice and steroid cream and lidocaine and pramoxine. Really nothing but ice helps and even that takes longer and longer to soothe.
Before I even think seriously about surgery, I'll try acupuncture and I read about a topical mixture of Elavil and ketamine (anybody try that?) My neurologist suggests mindfulness therapy!!!! He nearly launched me out of my chair! I told him I see a therapist already and am on Effexor and mirtazapine for depression and he can go mindful himself.
This BRP is starting to kind of take over my life. FL has approved medical marijuana and the pain doc said he could offer that. Whatever.

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i dont believe i saw this mindfullness yeah ok dont ya love it i feel like a dog that needs to be put out of his misery. i had a ketimine cream compounded just drugged me. i had lumbar surgery last year and im worse. i dont know what to do ive aged 1o years no one has any answers

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@thedinnymurph

Hi fellow BRP sufferers, especially @njcarolnjn ....I'm so very very sorry to know of your suffering and dilemma as I too have just gone nuts with this ridiculous condition. Had my third cervical epidural administered by the pain doc on Dec 1. By Dec 2 I was scratching. He said the third epidural might be the charm. NOT! Now the option he suggests is to see a neurosurgeon for spinal surgery on the cervical discs that are so bad they have caused the stenosis that's causing the impingement on the nerves that's causing the CRAZY ITCH/PAIN/BURN. So like you all I'm back to ice, ice, ice and steroid cream and lidocaine and pramoxine. Really nothing but ice helps and even that takes longer and longer to soothe.
Before I even think seriously about surgery, I'll try acupuncture and I read about a topical mixture of Elavil and ketamine (anybody try that?) My neurologist suggests mindfulness therapy!!!! He nearly launched me out of my chair! I told him I see a therapist already and am on Effexor and mirtazapine for depression and he can go mindful himself.
This BRP is starting to kind of take over my life. FL has approved medical marijuana and the pain doc said he could offer that. Whatever.

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oh acupuncture dudnt work for me either. Im now trying cyrotherapy and no glutten no sugar diet

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it has taken over my life

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@david33

Hi everyone,
My therapist and doctors believe it's stess related and mine sometines comes out as a rash and now it hits everywhere; legs, arms and belly. The doctor gave me itching cream which does help (only use for two weeks and stop, he calls the rash chiggers....lol) after that a month later the itching starts again and not long after the rash comes. This is very nerving and only me and my daughter has this condition, my husband and friend doesn't. Any clue could help.

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@njcarolnjn and @david33 I am convinced to two things with the stuff you struggle with. First, the only relationship to stress comes when this takes over your lives and your emotions and everything else. Second, the core of the disorder is inside your sensori-motor nerves, especially down your spines. It is not on or in your skin. It will break down your nerves, especially from your brain to your heart or lungs or pancreas if it is not stopped. Whether it is the same stuff I have I don't know, but I have a couple suggestions. They rely on you taking control of your nerves. In other words, start by doing various motions such as stretching and bending and lifting small stuff, and see if you can figure out where in the nerve train things seem to be affecting your pruritis. Then concentrate on your own movements and body controls to try to make it less powerful. I went through a period of time several years ago when everything I had itched. It lasted a couple years before I finally began to make it respond to my own body language. I tried every creme available, morphine, etc. that I and the doctors could find. Absolutely nothing worked until I tried this. It wasn't a complete cure, but it slowly helped, and it was something I could do, and inexpensive. I still itch a lot, but not nearly as bad. There are some simple signs. Foam or bubbles in the urine. Black or blue or purple spots on toes or around eyes or near syringe sites. Red eyelids. Bloody urine or stools. AFib. Tachycardia. Growing dementia. I know now it was some form of Amyloidosis, a disorder of blood, urine and protein, that gets into your nerve chains, separating the cells and shorting out the electrical circuits. It is rare, but deadly if not treated. And there is good treatment now. Have your Bindings SERUM FreeLiteChain Assay done. If your sFLC is over 1.4 mg/deciliter, or there is any other problem with your protein, plasma, urine, etc., have a strong lab check it out. It takes a special lab, such as Mayo, ARUP, Sloan Kettering, etc. And don't let your local medicos talk you out of getting the strongest lab work possible. About 8 persons each year out of each million will be diagnosed. Probably ten times as many get it and die without diagnosis.

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@njcarolnjn

acupucture does not work nothing works i am seriously thi king of taking my life because of this there is no relief my arms are scared for life have not selp in months all drs i see think im crazy

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I too have thought of suicide because of this awful itching..I know deep in my soul I cannot do that but I don’t want to live with this the rest of my life..I have been to several drs and get new creams but nothing helps but the ice pack I take with me everywhere. I have just made an appointment with a chiropractor that specializes in the neck region of the spine and hope to get some relief

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@cropsey26

what can i take to stop the non stop itching it never goes away i feel like i want to rip the skin off my arm i have tried evereything over the counter but it does nt work i can not take much longer of this what can u suggest for me todo

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Ice packs work temporarily. Chiropractic neck adjustments worked for me. It ha something to do with C5 and C6 in your neck.
Donnany

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@froglegs

Benzocaine comes in topical forms (also called lidocaine). I buy Solarcaine but it can be in a generic form, too. I get the spray so touching the skin is not necessary. It also comes in a gel form, for dry skin that's oily.

US Brand Name
Anacaine
Chiggerex
Mandelay
Medicone
Outgro
Solarcaine

Canadian Brand Name
Baby Orajel Nighttime Formula
Dermoplast Maximum Strength
Topicaine

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im sick and tired if all the bull on this condition. There is no help here so dont look for it. im 5 years and counting. Done it all and afraud for my future. capasin thx for that advice burns like u at yourself on fire. The drugs? cant funxtion on them. Chiro acupuncture? Dont count on it. i have cervical as well as lumbar issues. Had back surgery last year my back is worse. Do i dare chance letting them touch my neck. Too big a risk they dont know and honestly dont care.

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my question for the narrator is do u know if anyone that doesnt have terrible side effects from these toxic drugs!

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@njcarolnjn

acupucture does not work nothing works i am seriously thi king of taking my life because of this there is no relief my arms are scared for life have not selp in months all drs i see think im crazy

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@screamingmeanie, Hello. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm so sorry you feel this way. It must be awful. I'm glad you have found a place here among others that also suffer with the same symptoms to know that you are not alone.

Have you seen a chiropractor before for brachioradial pruritus? Please keep us updated with what they offer to you- it may be something that will help someone else as well.

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