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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Also I have scars on my arms and have had to explain at every hospital, & doctor who sees my arms & every one has never heard of Brachioradial Pruritus! It's truly amazing that a skin doctor, or a doctor never heard of it. So many have this & it has a name!!

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I scratched til I bled on my forearms only for 30 years!! I found this on the Mayo Clinic Online Support Group. Not sure if you already know, its called Brachioradial Pruritus. Its related to cervical vertebra issues. I had a pinched nerve in my neck & my DO Dr who does gentle OMT'S which releases all my tight muscles. She accidentally released it. Since 2000 I was on hydroxizine. I cut back 2 yrs ago when itching stopped, when she did an OMT, gentle manipulations. The next day I realized no itching, scoured web & found this site. After 30 years! Only some on elbows. One Dr said try Aspercreme, it works!, Also Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP 0.1%

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I've had this for years, been to many doctors, no issues seen in neck MRI. Since I retired and no longer sit at a computer, bending my arms at the elbow typing all day...I haven't had a flare up. Historically, ice packs freezing the skin is only relief I could get.

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@lizzie85

Hello there, just wondering how you are with you BRP - did you ever take B12!?
I have come on here tonight as had the dreaded tingle in my arm and praying it’s not the start of months of hell 🙈 I had stopped taking B12 so pretty sure that’s the cause

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Never took Vit B - this started years ago out of the blue. I been prescribed many medications, topical cremes pills and njections. Nothing worked. Only thing that gives me relief is I use Ebanol - which is a numbing creme followed by Capzasin HP, OTC. Used to be 10.00 a tube. Shortage of it. I just purchased two tubes for 60.00 n Amazon. Nly place that has it. I wrote to the company and never got a reply. Will try again, probable call customer service. I have it all over my body. Started on my left arm then gradually spread Occasionally break out on my face. Thats it. I have other issues healthwise but those are another subject.

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@anniemaggie

I scratched til I bled on my forearms only for 30 years!! I found this on the Mayo Clinic Online Support Group. Not sure if you already know, its called Brachioradial Pruritus. Its related to cervical vertebra issues. I had a pinched nerve in my neck & my DO Dr who does gentle OMT'S which releases all my tight muscles. She accidentally released it. Since 2000 I was on hydroxizine. I cut back 2 yrs ago when itching stopped, when she did an OMT, gentle manipulations. The next day I realized no itching, scoured web & found this site. After 30 years! Only some on elbows. One Dr said try Aspercreme, it works!, Also Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP 0.1%

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I had mentikoned BRP to a Neu sinve I had an MRI and showed disks 5-6 pinched, My Dermatologist suggested i see the Neurologist. he didnt believe aord of it and wrote anastety letter to the Dermatologist saying it was not possible, I will look into what you said. Ok forgive me what is OMTS and what kind of Dr did this. I am nearly blind and am in my mid 70's -- so my husband is typing this for me.

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@anniemaggie

I was scratched til I bled on my forearms only for 30 years!! I found it on the Mayo clinic Online support group. Not sure if you already know, its called Brachioradial Pruritus. Its related to cervical vertibra issues. I had a pinched nerve in my neck & my DO Dr who does gentle OMT'S which releases all my tight muscles. Since 2000 I was on hydroxizine. I cut back 2 yrs ago when itching stopped. Only some on elbows. One Dr said try Aspercreme, it works!, Also Prescription Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP 0.1%

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I think I asked this question already. What type of dr is "DO" and what is gentle OMT's?

bob for Ilyne

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My BP, at this time, is not that severe. Though previously I have had these severe bouts that drove me crazy just like everyone else. For what it is worth. Today I take daily 25mg hydroxezine. One in the late morning and one before evening. Then on top of that in the evening I'll also take a Zyrtec or an Allegra just to help tamp down the itching that generally tends to flare more at night. If I still get tinges, I'll use a topical Aspercream 4% lidocaine. Either spray or lotion. I wish I didn't have to take all these meds (in additional to all the other stuff I take). But I find it's the only thing that comes close to tamping down the itch. I think I'm coming to the conclusion that the only way to really beat this thing is with surgery and implant plates (cages) to hold the C5 and C6 vertebrae more open. I'm a 68 year old male. So I'm thinking that degenerative cervical spine compression is just part of aging.

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@mikem56

My BP, at this time, is not that severe. Though previously I have had these severe bouts that drove me crazy just like everyone else. For what it is worth. Today I take daily 25mg hydroxezine. One in the late morning and one before evening. Then on top of that in the evening I'll also take a Zyrtec or an Allegra just to help tamp down the itching that generally tends to flare more at night. If I still get tinges, I'll use a topical Aspercream 4% lidocaine. Either spray or lotion. I wish I didn't have to take all these meds (in additional to all the other stuff I take). But I find it's the only thing that comes close to tamping down the itch. I think I'm coming to the conclusion that the only way to really beat this thing is with surgery and implant plates (cages) to hold the C5 and C6 vertebrae more open. I'm a 68 year old male. So I'm thinking that degenerative cervical spine compression is just part of aging.

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I am curious. Is this a type of nerve damage or something to do with the nerve? With my itches, I know some are dry skin, some are swelling ankles, some is neuropathy. I know it isn't bugs. I have the granuloma annulare and it just jumps up and starts itching. The more it does the more I feel anxiety. Vicious circle begins.

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Put ice pack on the itching areas, reaching an almost frozen skin feeling. That has killed the itch for me.

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Beta alanine kills the itch for me….it was discovered after someone didn’t itch when they worked out…it was their preworkout supplement and they isolated it to beta alanine. I buy the NOW BRAND on Amazon and take 750 mg every four hours as needed…works like a charm…taking too much can cause tingling…

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