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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pat1 | @pat1 | Aug 21, 2018

I have suffered with this condition for 29 years. Many drs., types of cream, laser treatments, gabapentin, (other medications) electrical stimulation, chiropractic care, etc. I do not have any compression in my cervical spine & I avoid sunlight. I believe cause is unknown. My brother across the country suffers from it also, but not as much as me. I keep coolers at the bedside, so I can apply ice & hold it in place with velcro straps. Always worse at end of summer and at night, usually after 7 pm. Ice does provide relief. (I keep instant ice packs in my car too.)
I am going to try acupuncture next week.

sgmjohnny | @sgmjohnny | Aug 21, 2018

I have finally found relief from BRP with gabapentin capsules. It required several days of dosing before any relief was noticed but after a week I was completely free from itching; after three years of suffering and clawing my forearms, it is finally resolved!

pat1 | @pat1 | Aug 22, 2018

I just tried a new cream (formula 6b) from Transdermal Therapeutics, a company in Homewood., Alabama. I do get relief, FINALLY. I am also going to try acupuncture next week.

pat1 | @pat1 | Aug 22, 2018

In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome to Connect, @cropsey26 I moved your message to this existing discussion where you can read..." + (show)

I have been suffering for 29 years, I don't have cervical spine issues, & I avoid sun. I use a cream (formula 6B) from a company in
Alabama, called Transdermal Therapeutics. You will need a dr. prescription. It is the only thing that works. I am going to try acupuncture next week. I have tried, chiropractic care, laser treatments, a million creams from dermatologists, electrical stimulation of my arms & only ice works. I believe the cause is unknown, my brother across the country suffers from this also, but only slightly. (My burning, etc. is usually at night & worse in the Fall.) I am a carrier of Fragile X syndrome and in mid life there can be neurological symptoms associated with this genetic disorder. I'd be interested to see if there is a link.

sgmjohnny | @sgmjohnny | Aug 22, 2018

In reply to @autumnmoon "Yes, I too have " moderate to severe disc space narrowing and anterior osteophytosis at C5-C6...." + (show)

@autumnmoon

Yes, I too have " moderate to severe disc space narrowing and anterior osteophytosis at C5-C6. I have been experiencing the sting/burn/ itch for many, many years. It started on my neck and on really bad years (during summer and into fall) such as this one, has spread to my elbow area on my right arm and to my wrist on the left arm. It seems to be mostly at the area around the joints (neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist). It took me years of searching the internet to come up with my diagnosis, which was later confirmed by a dermatologist. I have also been diagnosed with MCTD and the rheumatologist prescribed gabapentin 300mg at night. This helped last year to make it bearable, but certainly didn't eliminate the itch altogether. This is a very small dose and I'm wondering a couple of things....number one, what dose has been effective for others? And....is this more common in those of us who also have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that causes arthritic problems? I know the feeling of wanting to rip off my skin, or have a shirt with sleeve inserts made of freezer gel packs, or wanting to smash my head thru the wall being driving mad with itching. Talk about something that interferes with "quality of life"!!! Is there anything that actually "cures" this?? One wonders how many people with or without a mental illness may have been diagnosed as being delusional after complaining about feeling like there were bugs crawling under their skin, that may have actually had BRP. I usually describe it as feeling like the "Backwoods Off" commercial where the guy puts his arm in a screened box full of mosquitoes and they swarm all over his arm. Too bad "Backwoods Off" does't work for this....sigh. The only thing that works for me is ice (and the Gabapentin takes the edge off, usually). The areas of my joints also are much warmer to the touch than the rest of my skin with some redness and mild swelling. It's awful! What medical specialty deals with this problem....rheumatology? neurology? orthopaedics? I do know that dermatology doesn't, as it's not really a skin disorder. I'm so discouraged....

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I empathize with your BRP and I've had this problem for three years now. I've tried every remedy and only Gabapentin capsules have provided any relief. It took over a week of dosing before it finally took effect, but it completely relieved the maddening itching and I was finally able to get some sleep.

mrschamcham | @mrschamcham | Aug 23, 2018

Ice is the only real remedy for me, but it is messy and hard to carry around, I have however recently tried Biofreeze which really helps especially at night time or when I am really hot.

njcarolnjn | @njcarolnjn | Aug 23, 2018

Try clove oil.....straight...it works much better than bio freeze and look up the group on facebook this condition is real and I wish someone would take an interest in it...

coolkat | @coolkat | Aug 25, 2018

In reply to @njcarolnjn "Try clove oil.....straight...it works much better than bio freeze and look up the group on facebook..." + (show)

What's the group called please?

coolkat | @coolkat | Aug 25, 2018

I'm new here and just stumbled upon this site while looking for answers as to why my left arm won't stop itching... It started about 2 yrs ago on one forearm and lasted about 3-4 months... Then it went away for a few weeks and came back on opposite forearm and lasted a few months as well.... Then went away this winter... And now it's back again on left arm , and has been itching for about a month now.... I have scabs and sores on my arm and is now scaly and bumpy and dry from scratching so much...I don't have the spinal issues like lots here do... But I do get a lot of sun.... I see there is different procedures for the spinal issues that can help ... But what about people that don't have the spinal issues... I'm going nuts with all the scratching.... It almost always only itches at night when I'm going to bed...

noeley | @noeley | Aug 27, 2018

Yes, Patrick, I suffer from this condition and have done for over 14 years, have you found any help to prevent or stop the itch apart from Ice? I used 'Aloe Vera Propolis,' made by "forever living" (google for information) I have to say it saved my sanity for years. We have had a wonderful summer with wonderful sunshine (unusual for my country) and I holidayed beside the beach for 2 months sitting in the sun for many hours every week. My arms have never ever
been so bad as they are this August, that tells me the sun is a big factor in causing the itch. I believe because of my exposure to so much sunshine the Aloe Vera was not working. For me, over the past years, my problem starts in the Autumn and
usually on one arm, at the moment it is both arms.Try moisturizing your arms every 2 to 3 hours with silkcocks base and then ware long sleeves, it will give relief for a period of time. DO NOT DISMISS ALOE VERA WITH PROPOLIS. I am also going to be tested for histamine. Let me know if there is anyone with a tip to help with this awful itch. Noeley

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