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Itchy scalp due to neuropathy

Posted by igl @igl, Jul 8, 2023

Does anyone else have a problem with itchy scalp due to neuropathy? I've been through the Dermatologist route, tried natural and medicated prescribed shampoos and lotions, had pruitis tests - not excema, psoriasis, etc., and antihistamines. Last Dermatologist finally asked if I had neck issues. Yes! I fell and hit the back of my head hard and I sit at a computer all day. Said that was the cause. Next stop, Ortho Dr. said neck stenosis, disk degeneration - do P.T. Going to give that another try. Everyone thinks I'm crazy when I tell them I have scalp itch due to neuropathy. Should I see a neurologist? Won't they just prescribe P.T.? Anybody else?

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

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 9 1:25pm
In reply to @huhwhat1117 "I had shingles on my scalp, forehead and eye almost 5 years ago and have had..." + (show)
Profile picture for huhwhat1117 @huhwhat1117

I had shingles on my scalp, forehead and eye almost 5 years ago and have had Post Herpetic neuralgia and Itch ever since. I have had acupuncture, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulator, lidocaine injections, ga.ma knife radiation and nothing worked. I am on Lyrica, amitriptylin, Hydroxelene and Gabapentin and I still itch so bad I scratch until I bleed.
Any other suggestions??

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Welcome @huhwhat1117, Sorry to hear that you haven't found any help for the severe itching following your bout with shingles on your scalp, forehead and eye. It sounds like you have tried a lot of different treatments. I don't have any experience but I'm pretty sure you are not alone. I did a search of Connect and thought you might like to see what others have mentioned. Here's a link that lists the member comments - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/.

Mayo Clinic has some information on different treatments for itching that might be helpful to look through and discuss with your doctor - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/itchy-skin/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355010.

REPLY
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absoloodle | @absoloodle | May 9 5:24pm
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @absoloodle, Welcome to Connect. It sounds like you have a lot going on but the..." + (show)
Profile picture for John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop

Hello @absoloodle, Welcome to Connect. It sounds like you have a lot going on but the chronic scalp itching is the worst of your symptoms to manage. Hoping you get some answers in your upcoming neurology appointment. I also have degenerative disk disease along with kaiphosis (undiagnosed) but don't really have the itching as bad as you.

You might want to take a look at the following discussion:
-- Neuropathic itch anyone?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathic-itch-anyone/

Here's a research article that might be helpful for preparing some questions for your upcoming appointment with neurology.
-- Neuropathic Itch: Routes to Clinical Diagnosis
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7959783/
Do you have any pain symptoms along with the itching?

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@johnbishop, thank you!
Yes, the itching is crazy making and frequently causes me to lose sleep. I’ll peruse the research article soon. I’ll have plenty of time for that after Wednesday when I’ll begin recovering from unrelated surgery.

I’ve had spinal problems since I was 12 and wore a brace for two years. So considering what a mess my spine is, I’m extremely grateful that spinal pain isn’t something I deal with everyday. It comes and goes, but it’s not a daily thing.

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absoloodle | @absoloodle | May 10 11:08am
In reply to @huhwhat1117 "I had shingles on my scalp, forehead and eye almost 5 years ago and have had..." + (show)
Profile picture for huhwhat1117 @huhwhat1117

I had shingles on my scalp, forehead and eye almost 5 years ago and have had Post Herpetic neuralgia and Itch ever since. I have had acupuncture, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulator, lidocaine injections, ga.ma knife radiation and nothing worked. I am on Lyrica, amitriptylin, Hydroxelene and Gabapentin and I still itch so bad I scratch until I bleed.
Any other suggestions??

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@huhwhat1117, I am so sorry for your suffering and I truly understand. I also itch/scratch until I bleed. I’m especially disappointed to learn that none of those treatments worked. Sigh.

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absoloodle | @absoloodle | May 10 11:19am
In reply to @meharris03 "I'm a little late to the party, but wanted to share that I have had an..." + (show)
Profile picture for meharris03 @meharris03

I'm a little late to the party, but wanted to share that I have had an "itchy" scalp for almost a year. I am a 76 year old female. After seeing a dermatologist twice about the itching I finally decided to see a chiropractor. He took an x-ray of my neck. Seems that I was born with two fused vertebrae. C2 and C3. His thoughts on all of it was that the fused vertebrae, coupled with the degenerative disc disease in my spine, arthritis, and the regular aging process is why the itching is happening. In short, it is a neuropathic itch. I haven't seen a neurologist yet, because I don't want to go the medication route. I was on propafenone and metoporol for four years and recently quit taking those drugs. Sometimes medication works, but I have found that they come with a lot of extra baggage attached...the side effects can be worse than the symptoms! I eat healthy, maintain a good weight, exercise (I could do more), and try my best to stay clear of inflammatory foods. I have found that making a cold pack and putting it on my head helps alleviate the itching. Let's all keep forging forward. I am grateful I discovered this group tonight.

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@meharris03, your situation is so similar, although you’ve tried more treatments than I have. I have a severe stenosis at C5/C6 plus OA, DDD, Kaiphosis, scoliosis and bilateral sciatica. And, I’m 77.

Still looking for itch relief.

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2 replies
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faybe | @faybe | May 10 12:55pm
In reply to @absoloodle "@meharris03, your situation is so similar, although you’ve tried more treatments than I have. I have..." + (show)
Profile picture for absoloodle @absoloodle

@meharris03, your situation is so similar, although you’ve tried more treatments than I have. I have a severe stenosis at C5/C6 plus OA, DDD, Kaiphosis, scoliosis and bilateral sciatica. And, I’m 77.

Still looking for itch relief.

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@absoloodle
Read my reply to huhwhat1117

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Profile picture for faybe
faybe | @faybe | May 10 1:00pm
In reply to @huhwhat1117 "I had shingles on my scalp, forehead and eye almost 5 years ago and have had..." + (show)
Profile picture for huhwhat1117 @huhwhat1117

I had shingles on my scalp, forehead and eye almost 5 years ago and have had Post Herpetic neuralgia and Itch ever since. I have had acupuncture, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulator, lidocaine injections, ga.ma knife radiation and nothing worked. I am on Lyrica, amitriptylin, Hydroxelene and Gabapentin and I still itch so bad I scratch until I bleed.
Any other suggestions??

Jump to this post

@huhwhat1117 So sorry, I know how you feel. Please try what I use. Only use Head and Shoulders Shampoo for dry hair and conditioner. purchase Scalpicin for Itch scalp. About $8 at walmart, It is great sure hope this helps. Let me know faybe3@yahoo.com

REPLY
Profile picture for mldrenno
mldrenno | @mldrenno | May 10 4:17pm
In reply to @absoloodle "@meharris03, your situation is so similar, although you’ve tried more treatments than I have. I have..." + (show)
Profile picture for absoloodle @absoloodle

@meharris03, your situation is so similar, although you’ve tried more treatments than I have. I have a severe stenosis at C5/C6 plus OA, DDD, Kaiphosis, scoliosis and bilateral sciatica. And, I’m 77.

Still looking for itch relief.

Jump to this post

@absoloodle

I just joined this group. I had a CABG in 2021. I had intense itching and some neuropathy. The itching is the worst. My Dr. sent me to a dermatologist and she said it was probably eczema. My GP started me in Lyrica(pregabalin) in 2023.
The Lyrica took the itching away but not the pain. But I went from 50 mg a day to 250mg. My Dr. gave me a prescription for 100 mg once a day and a prescription for 250 mg. once a day. The pharmacist would not give me both so my Dr. told me to take it however but not go over 300 a day. So when I got the 100 mg prescription I took two a day. And when I got the 150 mg a day I took two of those a day. I was running out because I was taking two a day. The Dr. sent me a new prescription for 150 - 2 times a day but the pharmacy wouldn’t honor not honor it until May 28. So I ran out and the Dr. said I’d be fine. Just take 1 or 2 hydroxizine until I was through the withdrawal and drink lots of water and call me in a week or two. I am in my 7th day and the withdrawal is miserable. All that to say the itching is the worst. I’ve read and read and concluded it neuropathic itch. But what can help? I had itching on my scalp on the pregabalin but it did help. I had scaly sore on my head. The only thing that is kind of helping is using TGel shampoo and changing to all products that are all gentle and for itching. The sore on my head is gone but I have itching all over my body. I wish the Dr. or pharmacist would have explained to me how bad the pregabalin was to take. I also wish he had tapered me off. Is your itching possibly neuropathic?

REPLY
1 reply
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huhwhat1117 | @huhwhat1117 | 6 days ago
In reply to @mldrenno "@absoloodle I just joined this group. I had a CABG in 2021. I had intense itching..." + (show)
Profile picture for mldrenno @mldrenno

@absoloodle

I just joined this group. I had a CABG in 2021. I had intense itching and some neuropathy. The itching is the worst. My Dr. sent me to a dermatologist and she said it was probably eczema. My GP started me in Lyrica(pregabalin) in 2023.
The Lyrica took the itching away but not the pain. But I went from 50 mg a day to 250mg. My Dr. gave me a prescription for 100 mg once a day and a prescription for 250 mg. once a day. The pharmacist would not give me both so my Dr. told me to take it however but not go over 300 a day. So when I got the 100 mg prescription I took two a day. And when I got the 150 mg a day I took two of those a day. I was running out because I was taking two a day. The Dr. sent me a new prescription for 150 - 2 times a day but the pharmacy wouldn’t honor not honor it until May 28. So I ran out and the Dr. said I’d be fine. Just take 1 or 2 hydroxizine until I was through the withdrawal and drink lots of water and call me in a week or two. I am in my 7th day and the withdrawal is miserable. All that to say the itching is the worst. I’ve read and read and concluded it neuropathic itch. But what can help? I had itching on my scalp on the pregabalin but it did help. I had scaly sore on my head. The only thing that is kind of helping is using TGel shampoo and changing to all products that are all gentle and for itching. The sore on my head is gone but I have itching all over my body. I wish the Dr. or pharmacist would have explained to me how bad the pregabalin was to take. I also wish he had tapered me off. Is your itching possibly neuropathic?

Jump to this post

@mldrenno its from shingles and yes Post Herpetic neuralgia and itch

REPLY
Profile picture for newtoni48 (Jim)
newtoni48 (Jim) | @newtoni48 | 5 days ago

I don't see why it couldn't be neuropathy related. Since you've exhausted other avenues, a neurologist would be worth a shot.
My polyneuropathy mainly causes numbness below the knee and and electric pains in my feet. It is also accompanied by itching in my feet.
Have you tried topicals as others have suggested?
My foot itching responds well to topical lidocaine, or if milder, trolamine preparations like Aspercreme or Sarna.

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1 reply
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audry | @audry | 5 days ago

Hi, yes you are not going crazy and you are not alone! I suffer from sensory ganglionopathy causing nerve damage ( I also suffer from degenerative c spine causing trapped nerves). After a severe flare up a few months ago I was left with severe itching and twitching of my scalp. It has gradually reduced in intensity to a manageable level without treatment. I think the important thing is to try not to keep scratching as from what I have read, that can result in hair breakage and eventually could lead to hair loss. I know it’s not easy ( I used to wake up from scratching my scalp in my sleep) but hopefully it will settle. Kind regards, Audrey

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