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

So I see a lot of comments on here that the issue really fires up more why folks are sleeping or in the middle of the night and they can't sleep like myself. I slept in the recliner chair again last night for about 3 hrs before the attack began again. Does anyone have a heads up or a reason why the issue seems to be stronger in the sleeping hours

Hi
I'm going to venture this reply from my experience. I take no pain killers and having had a severe rear end collision that gave me 5 discs ruptured & 2 shoulder surgeries. FOR ME I've leaned that when FINALLY asleep and calm any irritation on the affected Injuries creates a hypersensitivity- so in general you're occupied during awake hours and less likely to succumb until it's bad. Any disc injury that's left untreated gets worse and WORSE. Lifestyle changes help but it's always different for each person....
Neck traction helps me. Walking. Changing pillows in bed....etc
Don't stop helping yourself!!!!!!👍👍👍👍
THIS crap I just had a 4 week lull in symptoms then a long drive is triggering it- I'm flipping livid.
Anyway I've dissected my activity I walk and often walking helps get my body geometry in line- less attacks till I can get surgery.
MUCH love and peace your way.

I MEAN it.

Ps- I made the mistake of shaving the hair off my forearm it was so sensitive.
I took muscle relaxers BEFORE bed for a week and that calmed down the spasms and tightness crushing the nerves. ALSO ONLY ICING I STOPPED itching the areas completely. There's a reaction in the extremity WITH rough contact - least contact it started to heal.

Hi! Just joined this forum. Have been suffering with BRP for about 5 years now. Giving chiropractic a go next week to see if that changes anything. I have had x-rays with a chiro before and there were no signs of an upper cervical issue, but worth checking again. I really think my issue is self inflicted from too much sun exposure over the years.

Also, I'll share what has helped me. I use a brand called Emolent who makes a cream with 5% Lidocaine. I buy it off of Amazon. Really anything with a 5% Lidocaine concentration has worked for me in the past. It takes about 10-15 minutes to work and lasts about 3-4 hours before symptoms return. I put it on right before I go to bed and most nights just reapply a bit in the middle of the night. A pain in the butt to have to reapply, but at least it knocks out the burning sensation to let me sleep. Mine is more of a hot burning sensation vs. an itch...although it can get quite itchy at times. Like others, I used to scratch until I bled. I know some on here have mentioned they have had no luck with Lidocaine but maybe it helps others.

Have an appointment with a neurologist in a few weeks to inquire about Gabapentin. Have been to the dermatologist but they tell me what they tell everyone - antihistamines, ice it, etc. They referred me to the neurologist.

Glad I found this forum. Very insightful hearing everyone else's experiences.

Scott

I am self- diagnosed, but my symptoms are so much like yours. My itching is on my upper arms. It starts with a pinch, that feels like being stabbed, with a needle, then extreme itching starts, that is impossible not to scratch. No rash, ever, but the itching for hours. It does the go to the other arm, just as badly, but not as often.I do have a bad neck, and sleep, on a water pillow. Now, I don't feel like I'm crazy!!

Isn't that the lower extremities.

I agree, it comes from the neck. I was going to tell my Dermatologist, in Maech, but I canceled the appointment. She probably would have thought that I was crazy. Sometimes lotion or cream helps or ice, or sometimes nothing helps!!

I have been told, by more than one Dr., that my neck is in the opposite curvature, as normal. They always ask if I had an accident. Not that I know of, although I took plenty of spills skiing. I also was accidentally poisoned, at 9 mo., and took convulsions, for hours.
I am going to consult with a Neurologist.

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect @sunbird461846 and @scottshere

Scott, what did you learn from your appointment with the neurologist?
Sunbird, is this the first that you've learned about brachioradial pruritus? You mention that you've self-diagnosed. Have you suggested the diagnosis to a doctor?

My wife was diagnosed with BRP bout 10 years ago. She went to a few dermatologists, an allergists and everyone referred her to a Dr in Manhattan NY. We went there and he finally diagnosed her problem as BRP.. It started on her left arm, then spread to the other arm and has slowly spread all over her body. Topical cremes did not help, were only temporary, injectkions of some well known drugs on TV. Light treatments for 2 months, acupuncture and what else. She went to a neurologist and he sent a scathing letter to the Dermatologist practically suggesting that the Dermatologist didn't know what he was talking about. My wife also has the pressure between discs 5 and 6. So we stopped going to the Dermatoloigst after 12 year s or so, sincethere is not cure for this. my wife has found that Capsazion (OTC) and a numbing crème have helped her a lot. Not a cure but gives some relief. The numbng crème we got on Amazon.. I am sure there is more to say.