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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Skin Health Support Group.

WOW! What a relief to find this! I had to diagnose myself from research on the internet, since most docs are clueless, and don't even know to refer or who to refer to. I think the last four years of posts on here cover about every possible treatment out there.....

Only relief for me has been icepacks and Biofreeze. Over the years, I have purchased mostly cortisone but also various anti-itch creams, natural creams, etc., however it wasn't until this fall that I realized there is more to this than the skin. My research revealed the terms brachial radial pruritis, neurogenic itch, etc. I am not keen on drugs or meds so I am trying acupuncture. I just convinced my doc (that I am leaving) to order spinal xrays. They revealed the narrowing at the C5-6, some entrapment, etc. I am skeptical of chiropractors but the ones that specialize in the neck, the NUCCA ones that know what they are doing, might be worth a try. I checked out the Amazon neck devices and there are so many - those inflatable ones look uncomfortable, compared to some of the other similar ones - so not yet sure what to try. I like the natural routes so I wanna look into the doterra stuff - the Deep Blue, the DDR and the Copaiba Oil.

Since my life has finally slowed down quite a bit and I have the time to think more deeply about this, I do remember that the end of the summers were always triggered the itching - I only get it on my upper arms, bilaterally, shoulders to above elbows only. Then it seems it would just go away, but this time I spent more time in the sun that usual, not realizing it would later turn into this. I never had to use ice packs before, never that bad.

In any event, I am at the point now, after 3 months of this, that I need to find a solution so I have been relentless in this online research and am paying out of pocket for acupuncture that I may stop. I have had about 4 treatments with one doc and two with another. I think the one that I have had the 4 with is better and he feels that it will take 10-12 treatments, but I am just not too sure about it all. At first I thought it might be the miracle cure, but not so sure now.

Going to speak with my physical therapist tomorrow and give her all the low down, to determine best exercises and neck device. Then I would like to consider a NUCCA chiropractor or the Japanese Amatsu.

I have moved to a more holistic lifestyle in the last three years, more plant based, sugar limited to Stevia 98% of the time, etc. I am semi-retired now and am also part of a centering prayer group. I do believe that what we eat and how we de-stress is critical. I also cut out med's - stopped the Lexapro, and the Lisinopryl. I was basically borderline HBP and find I don't really need it now. As for the Lexapro, same thing, or else I am just treatment resistant. In any event neither of them are worth the money or the side effects. I prefer to live presecription - drug free.

It is pointless to scratch, because it only makes it worse, so it is better to keep hydrated with lotion, and then when unbearable, apply the Biofreeze or the icepacks. But the constant and then fluctuating sensations of burning and stinging are a major life disruption and I find myself a bit on the OCD side to get this resolved. From what I have read, many have it far worse and I don't see now they have lived with it for soooo long.

My mother-in-law was over radiated from treatment for skin cancer on her legs and she has been complaining of itching on her legs but then sometimes she claims it is everywhere. Initially I thought it might be the radiation that damaged her nerve endings, at least in her legs, but not really too sure now. Maybe the neuropathy came from the over radiation.....in any event, I can pass this information on to her. She might benefit from that gabapentine drug - as she isn't weird about medications like I am.

BTW - I couldn't find the FB page that you all referred to. I saw a few FB pages related to BRP but none looked like it was like this, but more linked to someone promoting their services. There seems to be much more information here.

REPLY
@noeley

Again I recommend AMATZU (the treatment goes back hundreds of years) and it really works.

Jump to this post

Do they do that in the US? On the east coast? Anywhere near the mid-Atlantic? I couldn't find it anywhere around here.

REPLY
@noeley

Try clove
Oil mixed with a little water. I believe from all I have read that it is
Nerve endings from your spine and neck and the nerves are attached to ur arms etc. Try using the oil and keep ur skin moisturized all the time and keep all problem areas away from light as this problem seems to be photo sensitive. I always ware long sleeves as my problem is on my arms. I TRULY got great comfort from taking amitriptaline (sorry about spelling) which was prescribed by my GP. Thank God for them they have
Made a big difference and of course u know to use ice when the itch is very bad.

Jump to this post

going to try this. Just wondering if I should get the doterra clove oil? Seems the best brand around.

REPLY
@noeley

I too have BRP and this is by far the worse year for me. (I have the problem for 13 years) I did a lot of sunbathing this summer as the weather was beautiful. I paid a high price as both arms were very bad. My GP put me on tablets and they work 90% of the time ( anitriptyline 10mg two to be taken at night) at night before bed they can start itching and a quick placing of ice on the itchy area makes it better in a few minutes. I apply three times a day a cream called BOTANICA NATURAL HERBAL CREAM. I order it on line (www.botanica.ie) because the pharmacy I used has closed down. I also find covering my arms help as it seems to be photo sensitive. If I can be of any help do contact me.

Jump to this post

I can't see the ingredients online and it looks like it is only sold in Europe?

REPLY

I have had severe itching since since 88.

REPLY
@bobbiellen

WOW! What a relief to find this! I had to diagnose myself from research on the internet, since most docs are clueless, and don't even know to refer or who to refer to. I think the last four years of posts on here cover about every possible treatment out there.....

Only relief for me has been icepacks and Biofreeze. Over the years, I have purchased mostly cortisone but also various anti-itch creams, natural creams, etc., however it wasn't until this fall that I realized there is more to this than the skin. My research revealed the terms brachial radial pruritis, neurogenic itch, etc. I am not keen on drugs or meds so I am trying acupuncture. I just convinced my doc (that I am leaving) to order spinal xrays. They revealed the narrowing at the C5-6, some entrapment, etc. I am skeptical of chiropractors but the ones that specialize in the neck, the NUCCA ones that know what they are doing, might be worth a try. I checked out the Amazon neck devices and there are so many - those inflatable ones look uncomfortable, compared to some of the other similar ones - so not yet sure what to try. I like the natural routes so I wanna look into the doterra stuff - the Deep Blue, the DDR and the Copaiba Oil.

Since my life has finally slowed down quite a bit and I have the time to think more deeply about this, I do remember that the end of the summers were always triggered the itching - I only get it on my upper arms, bilaterally, shoulders to above elbows only. Then it seems it would just go away, but this time I spent more time in the sun that usual, not realizing it would later turn into this. I never had to use ice packs before, never that bad.

In any event, I am at the point now, after 3 months of this, that I need to find a solution so I have been relentless in this online research and am paying out of pocket for acupuncture that I may stop. I have had about 4 treatments with one doc and two with another. I think the one that I have had the 4 with is better and he feels that it will take 10-12 treatments, but I am just not too sure about it all. At first I thought it might be the miracle cure, but not so sure now.

Going to speak with my physical therapist tomorrow and give her all the low down, to determine best exercises and neck device. Then I would like to consider a NUCCA chiropractor or the Japanese Amatsu.

I have moved to a more holistic lifestyle in the last three years, more plant based, sugar limited to Stevia 98% of the time, etc. I am semi-retired now and am also part of a centering prayer group. I do believe that what we eat and how we de-stress is critical. I also cut out med's - stopped the Lexapro, and the Lisinopryl. I was basically borderline HBP and find I don't really need it now. As for the Lexapro, same thing, or else I am just treatment resistant. In any event neither of them are worth the money or the side effects. I prefer to live presecription - drug free.

It is pointless to scratch, because it only makes it worse, so it is better to keep hydrated with lotion, and then when unbearable, apply the Biofreeze or the icepacks. But the constant and then fluctuating sensations of burning and stinging are a major life disruption and I find myself a bit on the OCD side to get this resolved. From what I have read, many have it far worse and I don't see now they have lived with it for soooo long.

My mother-in-law was over radiated from treatment for skin cancer on her legs and she has been complaining of itching on her legs but then sometimes she claims it is everywhere. Initially I thought it might be the radiation that damaged her nerve endings, at least in her legs, but not really too sure now. Maybe the neuropathy came from the over radiation.....in any event, I can pass this information on to her. She might benefit from that gabapentine drug - as she isn't weird about medications like I am.

BTW - I couldn't find the FB page that you all referred to. I saw a few FB pages related to BRP but none looked like it was like this, but more linked to someone promoting their services. There seems to be much more information here.

Jump to this post

There are two FB Groups in BP. i have tried everything. Atlas chiro. only thing left for me is diet and the Amastsu. no here in NJ knows what that is at all

REPLY
@njcarolnjn

There are two FB Groups in BP. i have tried everything. Atlas chiro. only thing left for me is diet and the Amastsu. no here in NJ knows what that is at all

Jump to this post

Amatzu is a very very old Japanese treatment - the practitioner works on pressure points on the body starting at ur head and finishing at the feet. For example my friend told me she had bad pains going from her lower back down her leg, I recommended that she should go for Amatzu treatment and she was told it was her jaw being out of line which was causing the pain, she had 3 visits and never looked back. It’s an excellent treatment for the whole body. Google it.

REPLY
@noeley

Amatzu is a very very old Japanese treatment - the practitioner works on pressure points on the body starting at ur head and finishing at the feet. For example my friend told me she had bad pains going from her lower back down her leg, I recommended that she should go for Amatzu treatment and she was told it was her jaw being out of line which was causing the pain, she had 3 visits and never looked back. It’s an excellent treatment for the whole body. Google it.

Jump to this post

cant seem to find the Amatzu around here?

REPLY
@njcarolnjn

There are two FB Groups in BP. i have tried everything. Atlas chiro. only thing left for me is diet and the Amastsu. no here in NJ knows what that is at all

Jump to this post

on FB there seems to be so many BP groups; can't seem to find the one for brachio-radial pruritis

REPLY

not spelled that way. no seems to spell it correctky

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.