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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@jal333

I have been researching this on again off again condition since last October, 2018 for a solution. My dermatologist suggested Zostrix an OTC capcaisin cream and a chiropractor. My primary care physician suggested topical ICE. I am currently maintaining the situation with Biofreeze spray and roll on. PIT injections are also known to help according to this Forum. The itching does increase anxiety and stress. External warm water, sun, heat makes it worse. Ice makes it better and having an ice pack on your forearms for about 15 minutes helps as well. It's a strange condition and I am unable to figure out why no one treatment seems to be able to help any one individual.

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This is an update. I’m on my second RX of Cymbalta & doing P.T. I’m having very minor burning after a shower that doesn’t last very long. A too warm shower aggrieved it! I hope this encourages someone & they get relief too. I was told to keep up the exercises or the symptoms will return. Standing up straight with your head up straight helps the nerves too!

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So I have had this issue for about 30 years or so and it's gotten so bad that I finally went to several doctors. The itching at night got so bad it was like an attack from the inside out in the middle of the night. The only thing I found was ice like a lot of other people. I haven't been able to sleep in a bed for about 6 months now. The only relief I get is I have a power recliner that I seem to be able to adjust where I can sleep about 5 hours at a max. Went to a neurologist in the last 2 months and he prescribed a special save or crème that comes in a little can made special. Not sure if I think it works. I use a chiropractor all the time and it doesn't seem to help for the itching problem. From sleeping in the recliner I had almost figured out the position to be in that I could sleep most of the night. The neurologist took xrays and such and determined I have arthritis starting in my neck. So last Friday the sent me to have a nerve block put in my neck. I thought this would be the answer to my relief. The first night was awful again in in the recliner and the second night was wonderful.I thought issue solved for now. Last night I tried back in the bed and it was like 3 hrs and I got that attack thing again and had to run for the ice. So the block and the xrays as far as I am concerned was a complete waste of money. Except we learned I have arthritis starting. So now I am back to just the ice as relief as I was before. I am up to 2700 mg of Gabapentin a day and I can tell if I don't take it at the intervals during the day I normally take it.

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@mannix

Hello, I have suffered from this condition for over 2 years, and it is ruining my life! I have tried many medications, acupuncture, chiropractors, dermatologists, neurologists and even doctors who have told me it is all in my head! Lyrica and Cymbalta mostly keep it at bay, but every so often it flares up, and then I need to basically shut down. I could do that with Benadryl, ice packs and an occasional glass of wine and cancelling whatever plans or work I had to do. Unfortunately, I have plateaued out on Benadryl, so all I can depend on are my ice packs. I am at my wits end! I live near Boston, home of some of the best hospitals in the world - you'd think they would be able to help me! I'd be happy to hear from anyone. Mannix

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You noted that the Drs that you have seen say it's just in your head. When I started going to the Drs here in the last 2 years most of them never even heard of this issue. I had to show them from google what it was. Most said I was the first to come to them about this issue. No it's not in your head I have found to many people with the same issue. Not many as bad as I have got it. But there are many out there and the resolve for this is the Drs will tell me I don't know and maybe we can try this to see if it will work

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Anybody ever does a study on this I am up for it. Raise my hand first. Not gonna play test pilot though.

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@justmiserable

So I have had this issue for about 30 years or so and it's gotten so bad that I finally went to several doctors. The itching at night got so bad it was like an attack from the inside out in the middle of the night. The only thing I found was ice like a lot of other people. I haven't been able to sleep in a bed for about 6 months now. The only relief I get is I have a power recliner that I seem to be able to adjust where I can sleep about 5 hours at a max. Went to a neurologist in the last 2 months and he prescribed a special save or crème that comes in a little can made special. Not sure if I think it works. I use a chiropractor all the time and it doesn't seem to help for the itching problem. From sleeping in the recliner I had almost figured out the position to be in that I could sleep most of the night. The neurologist took xrays and such and determined I have arthritis starting in my neck. So last Friday the sent me to have a nerve block put in my neck. I thought this would be the answer to my relief. The first night was awful again in in the recliner and the second night was wonderful.I thought issue solved for now. Last night I tried back in the bed and it was like 3 hrs and I got that attack thing again and had to run for the ice. So the block and the xrays as far as I am concerned was a complete waste of money. Except we learned I have arthritis starting. So now I am back to just the ice as relief as I was before. I am up to 2700 mg of Gabapentin a day and I can tell if I don't take it at the intervals during the day I normally take it.

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@justmiserable - I have found that CBD oil/cream has given me complete relief. I also have seen a chiropractor and the adjustment that he did in my upper back/neck are may have helped. Not sure which, but I will say I am grateful. Best of luck. This is a maddening condition!!

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@enoughalready

@justmiserable - I have found that CBD oil/cream has given me complete relief. I also have seen a chiropractor and the adjustment that he did in my upper back/neck are may have helped. Not sure which, but I will say I am grateful. Best of luck. This is a maddening condition!!

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I'm past the Chiropractor been going to them for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it makes it worse temporarily. The only place I have found and it's not every night to sleep for at least 5 hrs is my adjustable recliner like I mentioned. Back to the neurologist and see what else I can do in a couple more weeks for a recheck of the nerve block that didn't work. Or so far it hasn't shown me any improvement. Oh yea that nerve block in the neck, I'd rather do other things than that although I will live on. Big old sissy I am.

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@justmiserable

Anybody ever does a study on this I am up for it. Raise my hand first. Not gonna play test pilot though.

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I WILL BE THE NEXT ONE ☝️ ON THE LIST IT IS DRIVING ME IN SANE

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Does anyone have a rash with their itching? I get a rash on my forearms and little bumps on my triceps that pop up when the itch gets bad. Besides ice and essential oils I have been taking gabapentin that has gone from 300 to 1200 mg in about two months because it only works for a few weeks at one dose and needs to go up. I have read that this doesn’t cause a rash but I have one and I have cervical stenosis, which is probably the cause.

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@pfym

Does anyone have a rash with their itching? I get a rash on my forearms and little bumps on my triceps that pop up when the itch gets bad. Besides ice and essential oils I have been taking gabapentin that has gone from 300 to 1200 mg in about two months because it only works for a few weeks at one dose and needs to go up. I have read that this doesn’t cause a rash but I have one and I have cervical stenosis, which is probably the cause.

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pfm I don't get a rash but when the itching gets really bad sometimes on the forearms I get bumps you can feel with small white heads like a pimple that needs popped

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I had that nerve block in my neck a few days ago and the past 3 nights I have been able to sleep in the recliner without the itching. I adjust the recliner all the way back to the stop position and then raise it back up a little. Last 3 nights no itching woke me up but it's a new day, who knows about tonight. I know if I go sleep flat in the bed that's the wrong thing to do but I might try it in a couple of nights to see if I can make it through the night

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