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This stretch helped relieve my brachioradial pruritus
In 2019 I accidentally discovered a relief to my brachioradial pruritus condition. Since that time I have created a simple exercise, a stretch really, that has completely stopped my itching. I have to do it daily for about 2 minutes and it keeps the itching away ever since. And if I happen to feel any itching coming on I immediately use the stretch to make it go away.
The accidental discovery happened when I was using an inversion table for traction. I have occasional sciatica from a lumbar disc issue decades ago. When I get some foot pain caused by the sciatica I use the table for some traction relief. Coincidentally I was also suffering with a bout of forearm itching when I got on the table. When I finished the 15 minute session. The foot pain was almost gone but so was the arm itching. I realized they were similar issues and within a couple of days developed a simple neck traction exercise. So I added it to a daily morning stretching routine and the itching has stayed away ever since. If I occasionally feel itching coming the traction exercise takes my itching away in minutes.
The exercise is simple: While standing, I take my shoulders and roll them back and hold them down. Then I lift my head off the shoulders using my neck muscles. I hold that position and count to 30 slowly. Then I do my usual stretch of touching my toes for the same 30 seconds. I return to my first stretch of shoulders back and down while lifting my head off my shoulders and holding for 30 more seconds. I repeat this series 3 times.
Since starting this stretch a couple of years ago I've increase my stretch times to 60 seconds from 30 seconds.
This stretch has helped me but I sure there are levels of the brachioradial pruritus condition. I hope this helps some of you. Try it and let me know.
2 photos show my regular posture and then position for stretch (shoulders rolled back and down with head lifted)
What things do you do to relieve the symptoms of brachioradial pruritus, like itching, tingling or pain?
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This is a great stretch! Some recent research shows that BRP may be herpetic. Treatment with valacyclovir has successfully reduced recurrence of BRP to 0 in case studies. It may be worth checking about this with your doctor. Show them the following research and see if you can get on a valacyclovir regimen. I'm doing this right now. Since I started the treatment weeks after the itch began, it's probably too late to expect it to treat this episode, but it should reduce or eliminate the recurrence of BRP in the future. By the way, this is the same treatment used for cold sores, which is also herpetic. doi for research study: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000204606
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2 ReactionsYou are a godsend! Been having this symptom off and on for a year. Tried every cream from Aloe to Zinc!
Then last night I just did the one stretch. Shoulders down, head held high like an Amazon queen. The itching stopped!!! And I slept like a baby. When I felt a slight itch today - back to the stretch for a few seconds. My rash is going away already. And the itching is mostly stopped but if I feel it l, the stretch works. I can’t quite believe it! But I am enormously grateful. Going to let my dermatologist know as well. This is kind of a mystery condition and anything that helps one person - or two - could help many more. So so so thankful!
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3 Reactions@beckyrocco
I know, I was shocked too after years of scratching. To be clear this is not a skin condition. Your brain is fooled into thinking your forearms are itching. But the actual cause is cervical disc (between vertibrae) is bulging out making contact with the brachial nerve that leads to your arms. It makes contact with the nerves of the forearm, your brain feels it as itch. Your scratch without success, so you keep scratching until you create the rash.
I rarely get itching anymore because I do that stretch EVERY morning (2 x 30 seconds) when I get out of bed.
Thank you for this. I’m delighted to see a solution that doesn’t involve medications and topical creams. My forearms have been driving me crazy so I’m really looking forward to testing this natural solution ✌🏻
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1 Reaction@karenll that’s great to hear. It’s important to understand your skin isn’t actually itchy. Like sciatic pain of the leg, it originates at the lower spine when spinal disc bulges contacting the sciatic nerve sending messages to the brain. The brain interprets it as pain (in some cases). I had this and mine felt like my whole leg hurt. But later became foot pain. Nowadays (decades later) my big toe hurts and I get on my inversion table for traction.
Brachial nerve in the neck heading over the shoulder and down the arms gets touched by cervical spinal disc (probably bulging from poor posture). The stretch gives the disc a chance to pull back into place. When it does the brain stops getting the information (arm is itchy).
Others like my wife have the same but hers causes pain over the shoulder and down the arms gets touched. The stretch helps her as well.
You may need to be pro active about the stretch. I do it every morning 2 x 30 seconds of hold my head up off my shoulders. While rolling my shoulders back and holding them down.
Best of luck with your recovery
@restisaweapon thank you for your encouragement to practice the exercise daily. In addition, I have a silk Yoga sling/hammock and I’m going to try hanging upside down and see if that frees up my neck. Also thank you for the helpful info. If I can remember, my arms aren’t really itchy but that’s my brains interpretation, I’ll be able to stop scratching in such a demented way!
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