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

I'm sitting here going crazy. I'm actually recording myself itch my right forearm. I've not been diagnosed. One doc gave me the Gabapentin (sp) but for a numbness/tingling on my right side of my face. I did not take it. I remember 3 4th of July's ago this happened this severe and I thought it was b/c of drinking Hot Ginger ale and jalapenos. The itch feels hot to me, like burning from the inside and coming out. I've only had a few of these severe outbreaks but throughout of the year, I have minor itching and irritation. Never any outward rash, expect when I itch too hard. I'm 57 and this is being going on for about 4 years. I first was having the tingling on my right side of my face where I would have to move my mouth and put my whole hand on my face to calm it down. I was told I may have a pinched nerve that runs down near my right eye. I connect the two but the face thing has subsided quite a bit. Comes up something when the cold air in the car hits my face. This issue had not been this bad for many months. I was working in storage and I have a bad lower back on the right side. Often when I bend over like weeding or picking something up, even when bending my knees, I can't get up until I stretch out my back. Like being old. Anyway, I hope to get help. Maybe the Chiropractor, I did do a 6 month at one of those places that see you for less than 2 minutes but you going twice a week. He was saying he was going to fix the face numbness/tingling. I just didn't see the help and it was a lot of money. The next Chiro I went to didn't listen to me even though they say they are a neurologist. I quit them as well.

Good evening @naplesgc. Welcome to Connect. I am interested in your introduction. When you say you have not been diagnosed, I wonder how your clinician could give you Gabapentin for the itch. Does your doctor think you have Neuropathy? How is that related to what to me is an itch situation that initiates internally? The numbness and tingling is something I cope with because of my diagnosis of SFN, small fiber neuropathy. The "itch" is another symptom that to me is very frightening. My experience has been traumatic and what I think can be even worse than the pain.

Are you postponing the diagnosis? The test for SFN is a simple skin punch biopsy....just takes a few seconds. Knowledge is power and I certainly have found more helpful treatments now that I know what is causing the itch and the pain.

Are you seeing a Chiropractor for your back or the itching issue? Please, if you can, help me sort these things out so I can share my experiences with you appropriately.

May you be safe, free, and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris

I am a bit confused and am hoping that you will be able to tell me more.

Have you been diagnosed for Grover’s disease? Most MDs have never heard about it and it can only be diagnosed by a biopsy. Need to see a dermatologist. It’s rare yet I’m on a forum where there a many both male/female varying ages and if you look it up you can get a general idea of what it is but most info on internet is incorrect that it only lasts about a year, it’s for life. I was diagnosed almost a year ago. Started with small itchy rash and the more I scratched the more it spread and the itching drove me mad! Worse at nights. I won’t go into much more as you may not have this. Yes the area with the rash gets super hot and yes you are dying to scratch but it also hurt’s like it’s bruised. Good luck!

I suffer from Brachioradial Pruritus and have for a few years (I’m male, 80 yrs, good health otherwise) I’m curious how anyone with this affliction deals with an itching attack, I can get them simultaneously on my arms, shins, ankles

Hello all. I had this itching that was constant for nearly 8 weeks. After having blood tests I found I was quite low (although the doctors didn’t point this out to me) in B12. After researching heavily into B12 I found how vital it is for the nervous system. After taking it daily for 5 weeks my itching has pretty much gone. I get a very short lived flare up most evenings in just one spot but it’s completely manageable compared to where I was at a few months ago. The other interesting thing is that the body can only utilise 2 types of B12 - either from the skin of organic / home grown herbs and vegetables or the purest form supplement where there is literally no other additions. I purchased from here http://www.natureprovides.com and can’t recommend highly enough. I can’t guarantee this will work for others but I’m 99% sure this was the route problem of my itching.

Hi Lizzie85, thanks for your info on your itch with no rash.
Your thoughts on B12 are helpful to me. I also have an itch with no rash, currently on my arm (used to be on both arms) and I have been using an antihistamine for help. Now I have burning and hot feet! So I am looking for remedies for that. But I digress....I am using a B12 supplement after my blood work showed a low level. And I will now pursue a B12 wth no additions. Thank you!
bart12mike

I am new to this group and have had this maddening itch for years. Ice packs is only thing that helps me. Looking into CBD creams. I would hope the Mayo Clinic would research and find a solution .

I looked on here when at my worst and saw that ice worked for people. I have to say, it didn’t help me all that much. Literally nothing relieved it. I tried high strength CBD, acupuncture, osteopath, physio, I also brought DDR prime oil from Doterrra which others suggested but none of these worked for me. I was so low when this was at its worse and no one around me including doctors seemed to acknowledge how maddening it is.

The only other thing I can note apart from the B12 is that I was diagnosed with a Pulmonary embolism in May last year. I had to take blood thinners for 3 months and the itching started the same week I came off the medication. Out of interest has anyone else previously taken anticoagulants?

If you have low B12, you may have a gene mutation that impedes absorption, the MTHFR gene, there is a simple test for this…ask you doctor. There is an active form of B12 that is more easily absorbed.
Also, On a Facebook group for itch with no rash…some discovered that when they took a preworkout supplement they did not itch…Beta Alanine is a otc supplement that kills the itch for me for 5+ years…I buy the NOW brand on Amazon and take 750 mg every four hours as needed. The preworkout dose is higher and can cause skin tingling so start slow. Two Stanford pediatric dermatologists wrote a paper on beta Alanine and itch.