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Brachioradial pruritus. (severe itching on forearms and neck, no rash).
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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HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Skin Health group.
Might try spraying self with bactine at first sign of itching. After you have scratched yourself it is harder to to stop and makes itching worse. Keep spray by bed for night use. Hope this helps a bit.
I mixed up some diy blends-to apply topically, that ….so far….are giving me some relief….. here they are:
2oz. Witch hazel, Tbs alcohol, and about 10 drops of copaiba essential oil and about 20 of lavender oil
10 drops of tea tree, clove and lavender oil in an oil base of jojoba oil and argon oil
Colloidal silver
Manuka wound honey
Babo botanicals healing ointment from Whole Foods with colloidal oatmeal, Shea butter, aloe – no chemicals or additives
Shear Radiance pure whipped Shea butter with colloidal oatmeal
I am also taking Tumeric orally, twice a day- from Xhile Foods
Tomorrow I go to a physical Therapist for treatment, exercises and maybe a traction device
Also looking for a good massage therapist that does cranial sacral and myofascial and musculoskeletal alignment
I believe that one needs to try to call the skin down with natural products – no chemicals but also treat the C5-6 entrapment, or whatever might be going on with the spinal nerves in the neck. Good idea to get X-rays to determine. I did that and the nerve encroachment was there at the C5/6, which can affect sensation in the upper arms, which is where it is a problem for me.
Will keep you posted.
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1 Reactioni can’t stand fabric on my arms
Neither can I- but with these oils and creams, it isn’t a problem- but I am careful about fabrics- only cotton or something soft like bamboo- no itchy stuff like synthetic blends or itchy sweater type fabrics
All cotton is the best for your skin, especially sheets. Microfiber is terrible. It's hot and irritating. I loathe everything on my skin. I have so many scars on my arms. I am thankful to all of you.
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1 Reaction@bobbiellen You can find a list of myofascial release John Barnes methods trained therapists at https://www.myofascialrelease.com/ . If you don't find someone near you, call Therapy on the Rocks in Sedona, AZ and ask for names of people who trained there. They don't all pay to be listed on the website. You'll need an MRI to determine nerve entrapment and stenosis as X rays will just show the bones and alignment and some arthritis. I had cervical central canal stenosis at C5/C6 and had a spinal fusion at Mayo 2 years ago without added hardware. I stayed in my neck brace until it fused at 3 months. Get as many opinions as you need and look up anything and research papers you find on your surgeon. Get one who's area of interest matches your case, and who only does spine surgeries, and ask how many they have done. Make sure they explain to you exactly where your symptoms come from and how they determined that. They can get it wrong if you have overlapping symptoms with other nerve issues in which case surgery would not fix all the symptoms. I also had thoracic outlet syndrome at the same time as the spinal cord compression. Arnica gel helps pain applied topically. A therapist can also use a cold laser or Dolphin Neurostimulator to calm down symptoms and muscle spasms. This surgery is a big surgery, but for me it wasn't as painful as I expected and the pre-surgery nerve pain was gone immediately when I woke up from surgery.
The website listed myfascislrelease is for sale, so it's a dead link!
I have had some relief taking yoga, the stretches and movements seem to adjust something from the neck down, at one point I had a 3 year break without scratch the arms once….felt like a miracle. Now it is back, so I am back at yoga, and there is less itching already….I am getting a good nights sleep for a change without plopping the ice packs on my arms all night.
If u do have a problem use Vick’s vapour rub yes I know it’s for a cold – but it really helps me. To all in our BRP family please keep moisturizing MANY times a day and EXFOLIATE twice a week. Since I started taking amitriptyline (unfortunate it’s a drug) I am 85% better and the moisturizing helps with the 15%. I still use the ice but very rarely. I have had BRP for over 13 years.
Thanks for the tips.
I found temporary relief with Biofreeze- 4%?menthol but got tired of the smell.
Now I am staying moisturized with natural creams with Shea butter and colloidal oatmeal and am experimenting with essential oils.
Most importantly I am getting some relief- significant- with PT- manual and automatic cervical neck traction. Going to a cranial sacral massage therapist tomorrow and on 12/13 I am going to a PT who used cranial sacral therapy as one of many treatment modalities.
Last my PT, said to use a dry wash cloth on the area and rub it lightly – she said since the skin is so hypersensitive, it is helpful to desensitize it. She also said to try a vibrating sensation on it as well.
In short, I feel like the need to itch has drastically decreased and I am only just getting started with these treatments. Hopingcto eliminate nighttime icepacks; and certainlyvto get rid of this. Next summer, I will NOT be in the sun. I spent more time in the sun by the pool then I ever have this summer- since it was so hot outside. Never realized these would be the consequences. While I noticed some arm itching towards the end of summers – nothing so debilitating as this time. I used to put hydrocortisone on periodically and didn’t obsess about it because it was so random. This 24/7 stuff has got to stop!
Thanks so much Jennifer! I do appreciate all that information. I am looking for a good neurologist and neuro- surgeon. I live in Baltimore so one would think there would be good ones st Hopkins.
Question- you said pre- surgery nerve pain- did you have itching ?…….on your arms?