What do you do for Neuropathy itch?

Good morning everyone. I am desperately in need of help with what is called Neuropathy itch. I have SFN (small fiber neuropathy) and am a medical cannabis user for pain. I don't know what to use for this itching. It appears that it reaches through several skin layers. No matter how much you scratch you make it worse, not better. Once you start itching, it's over....your are stuck scratching.

Have you tried certain baths? Oatmeal? I have a steroid cream called Triamcinolone Acetonide. Not exactly a wonder drug. Is there a better one?

The itching results in a terrible level of anxiety. I try to run away from it and cannot. It reminds me of summer in Minnesota when the mosquitoes launch their attacks. I am female with "O" negative blood which they just devour.

Even if you have a solution for other than neuropathy, please share and I will happily do the research. The stress of isolated living and a form of depression that is about our global community also creeps in.

The only thing that works right now for food is gelato.......Salted caramel, if you please. I hope you are all well and blessed with good health today.
Chris

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

I have conquered this this neuropathic itch: permanently. The full details in my file at Mayo, I used the new practice of Neuroplasticity an it took me 5 days,

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@user_che214927

I have conquered this this neuropathic itch: permanently. The full details in my file at Mayo, I used the new practice of Neuroplasticity an it took me 5 days,

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Good morning and "Good For You". I recognize the appearance of your leg. Looks way too familiar. Thanks for the update.........
Chris

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My legs and feet appear to be dry and flakey even though I apply a excellent moisturizer twice a day. The itch usually appears in the evening and bedtime it is so severe it drives me insane. I have tried every home remedy possible. A lidocaine cream and a triamcinole acetonide cream my pain doctor prescribed. They help some but are expensive and a tube full does not last long. I am open to any other helpful suggestions! My legs are covered with scratch marks and blood many times in the morning.

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@user_che214927

I have conquered this this neuropathic itch: permanently. The full details in my file at Mayo, I used the new practice of Neuroplasticity an it took me 5 days,

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Hi Barry,
I am trying to search for help for my husband's chest & arms rash with itching. VA sent him to 2 dermatologists, no answers to it. My nurse friend offered this idea of N itch! He does have pinched nerves in his back, soon to have a trial spinal cord stimulator placed but may not be appropriate if another procedure could eliminate or reduce itching...affects his sleep. This rash began May 2021!! Now dermatologist added another Rx for helping...He takes so many already for diabetes, heart disease, etc. We are 75 but hope to live longer without so many health problems added!! Help, if you can, PLEASE! I'm printing off information for him to read today. With new hope, Neon

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@neon

Hi Barry,
I am trying to search for help for my husband's chest & arms rash with itching. VA sent him to 2 dermatologists, no answers to it. My nurse friend offered this idea of N itch! He does have pinched nerves in his back, soon to have a trial spinal cord stimulator placed but may not be appropriate if another procedure could eliminate or reduce itching...affects his sleep. This rash began May 2021!! Now dermatologist added another Rx for helping...He takes so many already for diabetes, heart disease, etc. We are 75 but hope to live longer without so many health problems added!! Help, if you can, PLEASE! I'm printing off information for him to read today. With new hope, Neon

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Good evening @neon. I am happy to see that Barry has explained neuroplasticity to you. Because your husband might be able to get immediate help I want to introduce you to a "quick fix". Last year my dermatologist brought me some samples of a product called Dermeleve. It is not the be-all-end-all solution. However, it works within minutes for immediate results when applied on the skin where the N itch has appeared. And......it lasts about 6 hours. You can purchase it online at dermeleve.com. And recently there has been a new medication that my dermatologist is impressed with for the N itch and that is called Dupixent. It is a preventative medication and can be found on its own website, dupixent.com. She has patients who have responded well, especially those with atopic dermatitis.

Which of your husbands' medications help or are supposed to help with the N itch? You may want to have a patch test to find our if there are any irritants hanging around that may need to go. An example would be laundry soap. If that is one of the culprits then you just buy the one on the "safe" list. Perhaps your dermatologist has alredy covered this issue.

One of the differences that I note is that the N itch comes from within the body. Perhaps the worst flare I have ever had was when my partner was working with polyurethane and the fragrance of it set off a complete body itch that needed immediate attention. Evidently there are lists of fragrance irritants labeled VOC for Volatile Organic Compounds that are found around the home.

So......please don't be overwhelmed. However, it does take time to check out all of the possibilities. So....just tuck this allergen away unless your dermatologist sees a need for a test now.

You also mention other conditions that almost seem normal for those of us at the age of 75 and even 80. How else can I help you? It is a challenge to provide care for your partner. We try hard to work it out as we still have lots of life to enjoy, especially with wonderful grandchildren. What do you and your husband enjoy most at this age?

May you both be free of suffring and the causes of suffering..
Chris

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He should get a definite diagnosis from a dermatologist. It may not be neuropathy. It may oy may not be allergic. It may or may not be treatable. Good luck.

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I tried icing seem to stop the pain itching

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My doctor had me try gabapentin. That didn't help. He then tried the related drug pregabalin 100mg 2 times per day. That worked great.
I do have to be careful because too much exercise of the low back causes an increase in symptoms.
My doctor says that this is not a rash and that the problem comes from small nerves in the low back.

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Lyrica (pregabalin) knocked mine out. I didn't need it for more than a few months.
I have been doing too much low back exercise lately and that seems to bring it back. This time I knew what to do and got back on the medicine as well as less back exercise

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@tonyrrt

Hi There, not sure I'm in the right group, but I have some symptoms that I cannot seem to get any real answers for so thought I'd start here. Since Feb 2019 I've had these symptoms:
- Cigar smell that I and others can smell coming from my mouth(not a smoker)
- Itching and tingling when pressure is applied anywhere on my body.
- Pain on both arms bi-laterally below shoulders
- Arms feel tired
- Horrible burning in center of chest
- Occasional dizziness and shortness of breath
- When scratching or rubbing due to itching and/or tingling, the cigar smell seems to activate
- Back pain from shoulder to mid back on both sides
- dry mouth at times
- hoarseness
- sore throat
- often having to clear phlegm from my throat
One doctor thinks I have Acid Reflux and that explains the sore throat, hoarsness, phlegm, burning in chest and maybe cigar smell; but I can't find an answer for the other symptoms. Has anybody else had the tingling combined with tired arms, dizziness, tiredness and/or back and shoulder pain?

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Did tried find spiritual help..? I went through something similar but my problem is spiritual..try to find a church and talk about this with people there...

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