The Dermatology Blog

I am an admitted itch sufferer, I have read all of your posts, and its great to know more about this since most doctors want you to spend hundreds on “rule-outs” before diagnosis is confirmed. Please respond to my post and…hear me out!

I too, believe that BPR is the cause of my itching(undiagnosed), however I’m reluctant to say that it’s caused by exposure to UV light, although I can see where the heat from the sun may cause the nerve to be more susceptible to inflammatory reaction. It’s my belief that there is some direct association with spinal nerves;

In 04′ I fell from a roof ( I was a roofer- plenty of sun exposure),broke both wrists and fractured my back, I had never experienced this unbearable itching before that time. I am curious- for my own research studies, if any of you also have ever experienced a cluster headache as I have? Since both cervicogenic headaches and BPR are associated with the cervical area of the spine, I think there may be a link to the nerves @ C5 and the conditions mentioned above. Additionally, after reading about the effectiveness of the drug Gabapentin, to my suprise this is also a treatment provided for cervicogenic headaches IE; migraines,clusters etc., with an effective rate @ 16-40 percent.
Obviously, everyone here understands their own body and we all seem somewhat educated. Does anyone here suffer from unexplained headaches or have anything to add to what I’ve written. Thank you for your thoughts/ideas in advanced.

I’ve suffered off and on with this itching for several years, thinking it was some kind of heat rash since I had it only during the warmest months of the year. Finally went to my derm because I was having such a hard time sleeping. She diagnosed BRP almost immediately and gave me a prescrption for Zonalon. Reading all the warnings on the packaging kind of scared me. I’m a marathon runner, and believe in icing for almost anything….so tried it on my itching arms the same way I would for an injury: Icing for 20 minutes, 3 times a day. This has produced pretty miraculous results! Ice in the moring, afternoon, and before bed, even if you aren’t itching at those times. I have slept peacefully for the last month even tho I’m still in the sun all day every day (for my job) and it’s been in the 90′s and 100′s for the past month.

@James
Reading your post I have to say that I have never injured my back. I was treated neck pain years ago I saw a chiropractor for almost a year with no real answer too the pain. Has anyone ever been diagnosed with the Epstein Barr virus? I had it about 12 years ago. I wonder if that has in bearing on this issue. But the explained itching for me I believe that is related to the sun. No headaches for me. I have had this itch for 10+. It drives me in sane. The ice pack for the only relief I had found. After reading all the post, I saw my Dr. and she did give me a prescription for Gabapentin and it is a wonder drug. I know a friend that takes it for migraines, which really helps her. I do believe that it is a nerve condition, without a doubt. I hope you are willing to try Gabapentin. IT REALLY WORKS FOR ME AND ALLOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS SITE.

Kindest regards,

Vickie

@claudia

There is no cream for this itch, believe me I have tried them all. you can read my other postings. Please try the drug Gabapentin, it is a miracle. I did experience dizziness for the first few days,but that side effect is gone. I hope your itching has gone for the season. Good luck to you Claudia.

Vickie

James- I have had a history of”cluster” and migraine headaches- and must say that I have had none since being on the gabapentin. Glad you mentioned that,as I had not made the co-relation. (My headacheswerenot frequent enough to warrant RX,but the cluster headaches always scared me-a searing sharp pain in the temple,in rapid succession.Diagnosed by my doc as the cluster migraine. On very rare occasions,I will experience a regular migraine- perhaps once every 2 years,at most.(But had them regularly as a child)

Vickie- YAY!! I am so happy for you that this drug is workingand that the dizziness has subsided.

Claudia- you are fortunate that the icing for only 20 minutes works for you. As you have read, most of us have had to sleep with ice packs on continuosly.

As for the sun-no one is exactly sure why it seems to aggravate the condition.But I have not curtained my sun exposure this summer (Impossible- I am always outdoors, year round as I own a horse farm), and I (shamefully) do not use sun screen.
Yet, Ihave had no itching since being on the Rx.

@Janice
Janice I have to tell you that you are my angel, without your postings I would have never tried gabapentin. I can see where you try to help everyone. I am so glad there are people like you. I feel like you are a caring person. God bless you for all of your concerns. I live in Virgina,what State do you live in? Take care.

I live in Delaware, about 8 miles from Rehoboth Beach. Sooo- altho I havetn been to the beach in years, we do have a pool on the farm,and I swim laps everyday,plus, I am outside cutting fields and doing all other assorted farm chores, so I get ALOT of sun exposure.

Vicki, I just want others here who have suffered as we to be persuaded to atleast consult their doctor about Gabapentin. I dont like taking drugs- I try to eat healthy and stay active to reduce the risk of health problems that require medication. Gabapentin and Advair (for allergy-induced asthma) are the only two Rx’s I need to take at this time (just turned 56 yesterday),and I wouldnt want to be without either!

Where in VA are you? I frequently go to the Middleburg area with my horses.

Thanks for your kind words- I’m just so happy to hear you are finding relief.I do so remember what it was like to be awake all night, scratching till my skin bled, and crying in agonized frustration.My husband totally thinking I was going crazy. And I was.

Hi Janice,

It was nice hearing from you. It is a small world, I live 5 miles north of Winchester, in a little town call Clear Brook. My brother-in-law works in Middleburg on a farm. I have to tell you that I tried only taking the 100mg twice a day and 300mg at bedtime. But it just did not work for me. So I am taking 3x300mg a day. There is not side effects at all. Yesterday was a terrible day for itching, I think the humidity make it worse. I have to keep my house so cold, that it feels like I live in Alaska. My husband freezes to death. He is very supportive of my illness. I don’t think that he think that I am losing my mind. LOL
I do have a Dr.’s Appt. in November with a very high-recommended Dermatologist in November. I have lupus and the Dr. I see has beg me for years to go see him, so I guess I will go this time. Hopefully one day they will detect the real cause for this itching. I can not believe the posting from other people. It does assure me that I am not crazy. Have a great weekend–I am sure will we talk again soon.

Kindest regards,

Vickie

going on 12 years with this dilemma. tried all kinds of things, diet changes, yoga, creams (otc and prescription). What is currently working for me is prudoxin 5% cream and a sun shirt. History: my itch started out being seasonal and then progressed to a daily nightmare with ice being the only solution. After at least 2 dozen doctors, I came across these blogs and then got a confirmed diagnosis from a dermatologist who has encountered only one other case of Brachialradial Pruritus. He biopsied a plug of skin from my arm near the elbow. I couldn’t even feel when the nurse was taking out that plug of skin…thats got to tell you something about the loss of nerve connection. He sent it to UC Davis Med for confirmation. After feeling so crazed for so long, it was good to get confirmation. Now I want to know the cause….. By the way, there are extensive blogs posted on on medhelp. Here’s the link to one of the forums… http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dermatology/itchy-arms–BRACHIORADIAL-PRURITUS/show/664851. Hope this helps! Keep posting and keep searching!!!!!

Anita

Could you tell me what is a sun shirt. I have seen many people memtion a sun shirt on other sites. Did the biopsy prove that is was Brachialradial Pruritus? What did he prescribe for you? I hope that the itching has gotten better for you. Have you tried Gabapentin? It seems to be helping me allot. I can not believe the people that suffers from this terrible illness. I want answers…

@anita

I thought that I was going crazy! The itching and burning on my arms is almost unbearable. The only relief that I have found is ice. I have gone to dermatologist and an allergist. I am thinking about going to a neurologist.

<. I am thinking about going to a neurologist.

If the allergist and the dermatologist havent been able to help you, then you need to see the neurologist, ASAP. A cervical spine xray and/or MRI should be the next step, IMO. Dont wait any longer- why suffer if there is a chance that there is a drug out there that can help!
Janice- Still itch -free and sleeping thru the night without the aid of creams or ice!

Vicki- a sun shirt is a shirt made with fabric that has a sun shield- the fabric prevents any UV rays from penetrating thru to the skin. Although you wouldnt know it, regular fabrics like cotton and synthetics do not block the UV rays 100%.

Thanks Janice. Justing wondering where do you find that shirt? Have a great day!!

Hi Viki- check Orvis,Cabelas, Travelsmith or any big outdoor- sports oriented stores. They are a specialty item, and are not cheap. But from what I remember reading about them- the fabric is very light and comfortable,even in hot temps.

I was surprised that i was able to spend virtually the same amount of time outdoors this summer without protection from the sun and still didnt have any problems with BRP. It’s not definite that sun exposure is the cause or exacerbates the condition, but I dont advocate excessive UV exposure either!

You havent mentioned how you are doing on the Rx. Are you able to sleep through the nights now, without ice?? Has the dizziness side effect abated? Inquiring minds want to know!

i gott the shingle 5 years now it went to my nerve sistem on my left side ribs and my back upper left the pain is brutal is there every day and night the doctors several of them they have no idea wath to do i had block shots i tried nuranten gabapeting electic shoks the burning and very sharp pain thi doc the other day i went to get a block shot before he was getting rady to inject me he said i dont think this is gonna do any good i feel they are so non wanting to help i’ve been taking liryca i think now i’m need of this drug and the doc put me on ativan i have post herpetic neuralgia they tell me i put ice but notting seems to help wath to do any one of you have this brutal pain burning and like stabbing pain is there any doctor or person to know how to cure this this doc suggested i smoke pot i even yry some chine erbes some told me to take vitamine e or d or b.do you have the same thing let me know

Thanks fot the info. on the shirt. I tried to decrease my odsage to 2×100 and 1×300 at bedtime. It just was not working for me. So I am back on 3×300 aday. I do not have any itching with that dose. Maybe when the cold weather is here to stay it will go away until next year. I can not wait to see if we have to keep taking it year around. Have a good day

The itch started in June and usually lasted until November. That was about 6 years ago. Now I have it all year round and the last couple of months have been the absolute worst!! I’ve been taking the gabapentin for several years and my dosage varies based on the time of year. I do take it all year round. In the winter I take 1 300 mg in the morning and one at night. Now I’m taking 2 300 mgs three times a day and if necessary a couple of more right before I go to sleep. I do not want to reach the maximum dosage (2400 mgs) because it scares me to death that it will stop working for me. If that happens, I cannot imagine what I will do.

O my- Maxine, that is not very encouraging for those of us whom are just beginning to use this drug. Do you have any history of cervical spine problems? And if so, please explain.

No history. In fact two years ago I had to have cervical disk replacement surgery (not because of “the itch”) but thought it might help…it did not. I just keep treating the symptoms. My opinion is that this is like an allergy. You cannot cure allergies, but you can treat the symptoms. That’s what we have to do…treat the symptoms. Use the gabapentin, mineral ice, freeze it, calomine lotion, ice cubes, etc. etc. just to stop the itching. If anyone has any other suggestions, I open to hearing them.

Maxine- Obviously,if you “had to have cervical disk replacement surgery” 2 years ago, you have/had a problem with your cervical spine. Something was wrong to require the surgery. My point is only to try to find the common denominator amongst us all-and cervical spine issues seems to be “it”.

Hello fellow itchers, I’m so happy to find you all. I started with this last year and thought I was out of my mind. My husband searchd the Internet and was able to give a name to my disorder. Of course, that didn’t help much since my none of the Dr.s I’ve seen have ever heard of it. My GP went with it though and referred me to a neurologist. He had no knowledge of this disorder but I had a nerve conduction study and had no abnormalities. When I had my MRI, it was noticed that I had a bulging disc between C-4 adn C-5 and C-5 and C-6. I am absolutely convinced this is not related to the sun (though I AM a sunworshipper) but is a nerve thing. I was on Lyrica for a while and it helped a little but did not take care of the itching totally. I found out about ice last year and it was a life saver (though it’s not fun to get up in the middle of the night and go sit in one’s family room holding ice packs on one’s arms for 20 minutes!!). I have found that if I lay FLAT ON MY BACK

with no pillow, I don’t have the itching at night. I ended up taking a steroid pack last year and it waent away and silly me……… I thought it was a fluky thing I was cured of. I thought I had doen something to my neck at the gym and would not have the problem anymore. I cut way back on what I do at the gym and life went on perfectly fine until a few weeks ago – almost the same time it started last year!!! What’s up with that seasonal thing???? Then, I thought mlaybe I did soemthing at the gym again but I no longer think so. I think it’s stress related (very stressful time at work for me) but also, everyone seems to say it’s seasonal. The latest thing my Dr. is trying is myofascial massages concentrated on my back and neck. When the massuese massages my back on my left side, (it’s only my left side so far this year but last year it was both)mly arm itches. WHAT IS THE ANSWER FOR US?? A lot of people have mentioned Gabapentin. I will try it but I don’t like take drugs on a regular basis. There is a link to a study in Germany about a woman who had surgery on her neck and was cured. I’m not ready to go there yet but it’s out there if we need it. Here’s the link http://www.nature.com/nrneurol/journal/v4/n6/full/ncpneuro0807.html Read after the MRI part. It says: “The patient recovered completely from the itching and burning sensations within 1 week after surgery.”

Janice and Vicky, I live in Northern Virginia and my daughter is a horse addict Let me know if you ever want to get together. I find comfort in knowing others who have this ridiculous problem!!:)

Hello everyone! After much research I think I finally have the answer to my itchy arms-BPR! Itchy doesn’t really do it justice does it? I have suffered from this for 5-6 yrs. I was diagnosed with MS this summer and while I was lucky not to have MS lesions on my spine (they are on my brain) they told me I have very bad stenosis and degeneration of the c5-c6 region. While I have garnered great success with my MS symptoms through my new way of eating (no gluten dairy or sugar)I did not receive any relief from my itching. Mine starts around Oct. and lasts until spring. Ice is my only relief. I see my neurologist in January and I will definitely talk to him about this if I can hold out that long. I wonder if the gabapentin will be an option for me. I have tried so hard to clear my body of toxins taking more drugs doesn’t make me happy but there doesn’t seem to be many options for this.

Hi Janice & Erin,

I just went to a dermatologist last Monday. He has definitely heard of this before. He sent me for a blood test to check my histamine level and an x-ray of my spine. The blood work could take up to 2 weeks for the results. He gave me singular and peratin and sarna lotion over the counter to help with the itching and burning. I have to say I have had little comfort.. but he assured me that he was going to dig deep to help resolve this problem.. He said it could be Brachioradial pruritic, but I have a rash on my shoulders and arms. He said that normally there is no visible rash. I have to contact next week to see if things are any better. I go back to Harrisonburg on the 17th of Dec. He also mention that it could be solar/cholinergic/adrenergic or Erthromelalgin.. I do believe that he is going to go out on the limb to help me. He as already contacted my regular doctor, and the Dr. that treats me for my lupus.. He did assure me that it is definitely a nerve disorder. I will keep you all posted with the results. Erin do you have a visible rash? I hope that we all will find answers for this miserable itching.. It would be nice to go to bed without an ice bag

Has anyone tried Vick’s vapor rub, it has been giving me relief from the terrible itching.

I can honestly tell you that I doubt any topical medication will provide anything more than temporary ( and very temporary-perhaps only an hour or so) relief from BRP. I have been on Gabapentin for 9months now- and have no itching symptoms whatsoever. We have an inground pool, and live 8 miles from the beach- and I spent just as much time in the sun without sunscreen this past summer as I have in past years. Usually,late summer thru the winter would be the WORST time for me.My icebags have remained in the medicine cabinet since last March.

Nov.19 I underwent rotator cuff surgery to repair a very bad tear ( 4cm x 2cm which is about 1 1/2″ x 3/4″ )to the tendon. I was concerned that the nerve block used ( given in the neck to numb the entire shoulder and arm) might somehow affect my BRP.I was careful to take the Gabapentin prior to and after the procedure,and was happy to find that I had no itching issues to complicate my recovery.

I dont like taking drugs either, but I wont miss a single dose of this stuff- it keeps me “normal”.

Vicki, I don’t have a visible rash. I don’t think BRP has a rash but do you think you’ve created it from scratching? I’m glad you ahve a Dr. willing to really work with you. Keep us posted!

Janice, I SO want Gabapentin to work for me but I’ve been on it a week and so far no change. Now, granted, my Dr. started me out VERY slow at 1X100mgs at night for a week, then 1 X100mgs in the am, yada, yada. I’m on another blog and I know that other people take a lot more so I upped my night time amount to 200mgs a few nights ago but still no luck. Last night I tested it out by trying to sleep on my side (the tell tale sign of having itching or not) and I woke up an hour later with my arms on fire and had to do ice packs, which as we know is absolutely miserable in the middle of a cold night!! So, can you tell me your amounts of Gabapentin you are taking and what you know about side effects, etc? I’m thinking of upping it up to 400mgs at night.

Janice and Vickie, I just re-read all of the blogs. It sounds like you both are taking alot more than I am. Let me know your current amounts. I think I will try 300 mgs tonight. I just want to get it “fixed” so I can sleep normally! BTW, I live in Dumfries, VA, near Quantico.

Thank the good Lord I just found this site! I’ve only had this terrible itching for about a month and I don’t know how any of you have been able to bear it for years. Mine didn’t come on until it started getting cold out, but I have fractured my neck twice. One time I had no clue until the chiro took x-rays years later, but the other time was due to an accident that left my arm partially paralyzed for 14 years. I’m leaning towards the back injury theory.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank all of you for your comments and telling your own experiences. I’m so relieved to know I’m not alone.

Erin- Sorry, I havent checked back here for awhile. I am still taking 300mg twice a day. I have found , however, that if I miss even a single dose, the itching threatens to come back. One night, I had forgotten the morning dose, and tookthe night time dose at 11pm. Not an hour later, I felt the arms start to itch, so I got up and took a second dose. Within an hour i was able to fall asleep for the night. So- I have realized that it is VERY important to not miss a single dose!!

300 mg twice a day is not alot- maximum dosage is 1800 mg a day.

FOUND YOUR ARTICLE ON GOOGLE. I BELIEVE THAT I SUFFER FROM BRACHIORADIAL PURITIS, BUT CANNOT FIND ANYONE FAMILIER WITH THIS CONDITION. CAN YOU RECCOMEND ANYONE ON LONG ISLAND, NY OR IN NYC? ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU

Hello everyone,im new to being on a forum, once I found this I nearly cried…..for 6 years now I have suffered this….. severe itching with no bloody sign of any thing on my arms……I just keep telling people its like prickles, I have been rubbing my arms all day and night for the past 6years…..I have been to docters and basically they think i’m allergic to something or suffering from anxiety…can you believe it……I have printed pages and pages now to take to the doctor…..
I suffer from this just as bad during the day as well as night…..Im running out of patience, I really dont know how we are all coping! Ice is what only helps but it soon wears off the feeling of freedom of itch…. im now armed with info to head to the docters to teach/inform them about what we have.(not anxiety, allergy)
I feel as though I’m not living properly as all I do is rub my arms lightly up and down to relieve the itch….its so overwhelming.
Im 25years old, very fit and active.

Is there anyone else here from Sydney Australia?

Carolyn- All I can suggest is that you ask your primary doctor to do a search on BRP- OR- print out this web site info and others to show him. Then, request a referral to a neurologist if the primary wont write a scrip for gabapentin. I was fortunate to have a very young, but very savvy, dermatologist ( she looked about 25yo!). It was she that immediately suspected BRP, and ordered a cervical spine x ray, which ultimatley showed a slightly ruptured disc which is causing impingement of the BR nerve.

Brooke-I think you are the first to post here from Australia. Have you ever had any sports-related ( or otherwise) injuries to your cervical spine area? Mine was caused by a fall off my horse- although I had no idea there was any changes to my cervical spine until the xray, several years later!

Janice thank you for writing back so quickly…i’m off to a specialist tom’ so hopefully he can do something for me….

Went to the docter today to get referred, and ended up crying because he just did not understand how much this is affecting mt life….all day and night scratching. I have no spine related injuries, although my left hip flexor is playing up at the moment and just starting to be able to run again…i’m all out of whack, right hip higher than left etc…..would that be a cause? I do spend alot of time in the sun in the middle of the day…

Brook-

I don’t know if your hip issue could have any inpact on the Brachioradial nerve- the nerve that runs down the arm.
It is thought that pressure on the Brachioradial nerve stem at the cervical spine is what is causing the itch. Instead of pain, as in some cases of pinched nerves, we experience the itching sensation.

What type of referral did you get? Dermatologist or neurologist? It will take a very well-informed dermatologist to look beyond the common causes.
They have been trained to treat skin issues, not nerve issues. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Hello Janice and fellow members, Im back from Dr. feeling let down to say the least….Im so prickly and itchy all day, as soon as I walk in there and begin my case I cry….coming from a capable young women I feel like a looney. Anyway he gave me doxepin to have at night time. Hopefully this will help….I wanted to go on gabapentin it seems thats the way to go….
My patience is almost run out….I dont know how people are coping out there…I seriously spend all day/night needing to rub my arms.

Brooke- Sounds like your doctor just “wrote you off” as a sl;ightly fanatic,depressed female. Doxepin is an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety drug. Does he not SEE that the reason you are depressed is due to the fact that you are sleep-deprived and miserable???? Doxepin will not work on the nerve ends like Gabapentin. Is there a reason why he would not precribe it?? Other that the fact that he might get a bigger kick-back from the Doxepin manufacturer?!
I sincerely hope you find relief with Doxepin, but I’m willing to bet that it’s not gonna work. If he won’t help you, find another doctor who will.

Hi Everyone,
I went to a highly recommended Dermatologist in Harrisonburg,Va two months ago. I am so happy that my Dr. recommended him. He has run series of test. On my last visit he did a skin biopsy. He called me today with the results and there was mass cell in the skin. I have been on singular once a day and periactin twice a day and 2 Claritin a day. I can finally say that is itching completely gone. I have suffered for 10 years+. He told me there are no test that will confirm BPR. I have appt. on the 27th of this month. I will let you all no if he gives me a name for the chronic itching. It feels so good to go to bed without an ice pack. He is such a caring Doctor I feel bless that I finally found a Doctor that truly cares about his annoying disease. He has been talking to a Professor in UVA., working to find an answer. I will keep you all posted..

Vickie

After my only post here, someone gave me a flyer from a neuropath in my area, in which he described the symptoms exactly. I have been going to him since then. He uses chiropractic, massage therapy, and strengthening exercises, and it is working for me. I had the same problem as one of the other posters, with one hip higher than the other, which was causing a misalignment of the spine. That misalignment was causing stretching of nerves in some areas and impingment in others.

I’m still having some problem with the itching, but only when my spine slips out of alignment, and it’s not nearly as bad. When it flares up it’s more like an annoyance now, instead of rip your arms off pain.

This Dr. is great. He knew right off what I was describing, as he has treated it many times. None of that “it’s in your head” stuff from him. We are working together to cure this. Good days, bad days, but so much better.

Hi- I too suffer from cluster headaches. One month ago, the itching started. Because of the intense itching at night, I thought I had scabbies or some other buggy thing. A dermatologist rules that out, diagnosed dermatitis and put me on cream and and oral antihistamine. As sighted so many time is these postings, neither made a dent in the itching. I have found that only ice packs are helpful. After reading your post, I am wondering if there is a connection between the cluster headaches and the intense itching. Think it’s worth a trip to the neurologist to find out?

Janice……thank you for your response. I have made an appt. with a new dermatologist that comes highly recommened, we’ll see! It’s crazy that so many people suffer with this condition that up until a few months ago I had never heard of. If interested, I have found that crainial-sacral therapy has been of some use. This is a type of bodywork modality that focuses on the energy and flow of cerebral spinal fluid within the spinal column. It has not gotten completely rid of the itch, but within 2 to 3 treatments I found I got tremendous relief. On a scale of 1 – 10 I would say I went from a 10 to a 4. Just another possibiliy for anyone interested. Good luck to everyone.

Thank you for your posts! I have had incredibly itchy forearms and sometimes shoulders for a while now. No rash, just like the rest of you- and much worse at night. I have a chiari malformation and have had spinal surgery (chiari decompression surgery). I still get some migraines- and I get a lot of spasms in my back and neck. I have some nerve damage and have always had a lot of arm pain related to my migraines- never itchiness though. It never occurred to me it could be related!

Thanks to your emails I’m going to pay attention now to my spasms and neck/head pain and see if I can find a relationship with the itchiness- it makes perfect sense. I haven’t been able to figure out why it’s itchy sometimes and sometimes fine- and I’ve tried diet and allergy stuff to no end with no luck.

I’ll also visit my neurologist and get the MRI she’s been recommending to make sure all is ok.

Thanks for all of your posts- I would have spent years focusing on a skin problem and never realized it was related to my spinal issues! I can also stop using the cortizone cream (and millions of other creams) which wasn’t really helping… and just focus on the ice which does bring relief.

Sarah- Let us know if your neurologist is familiar with BRP, and what treatment he/she suggests. Good luck!

Thanks- will do. I’ve been managing my neck/muscle spasms now when I get the itchiness and it’s made a HUGE difference. If I can get the muscles to stop spasm-ing and calm down then the itchiness goes away… amazing!

After years ofpondering its benefits, I have finally decided to spring for the Teeter hang-ups inversion table. I remember using inversion boots back in the 1980′s, but cant recall if i felt any benefits back then (I was young,fit,and had no back issues). My nagging fear is that, eventually,the Gabapentin may no longer be effective,so I am hoping that by stretching my spine, I can prevent this, or at least delay it.
Don’tknow if it’s all hype, or wether it may really help,but I will let you know after I’ve used it for awhile.

I have posted on here a few times before. Brooke- I took was on Doxepin yes it worked but like Sarah said its an Anti-depressant. I took cried at the Dr office. I was now put on Gabapentin, been on it now 3months and I have to say, it works. I take 300 mg one in the morning and one at night. I have had great nights sleeping (no waking up) and I’m able to enjoy going out in public without scratching my arms, I have buried my Ice pack I use to carry around. I was told by the Dr. though to ween myself off of it and I told him I can’t to scared the pain will come back. I don’t know how long this will work but for now I am happy. Good Luck.

Wow. I haven’t been on here since Christmas. I have another BRP blog that I’m a part of too and I get emailes when new posts are put up for that one so I check it more.
Vicki, so glad you are better. Yours sounded like a differnt thing than BRP since you had a rash. What are mass cells?
Janet, I quit the Gabapentin. It just wasn’t working but I must say, I never got to the 300 twice a day. I did take 300 at night though and still had it.
The general theory on my other blog is that this is a nerve thing (we all know that pretty much) and flares up due to inflammation. I’ve been taking a supplement recommended by someone else that has, among other things, Milk Thistle in it. Milk Thistle helps with inflammation. Something that has been very successful for another lady is Serrapeptase. Imight try that next year or later this year if it doesn’t go away soon). Mine is getting better now. Whether it’s due to the Milk Thistle supplement or, the end of the season, I don’t know. I’ll know if I’m really better when I try to sleep on my side for the entire night. I haven’t tried that in forever because I have PTSD about waking up with my arms on fire I used to have the itching flare up after my showers and that hasn’t happened in a couple of weeks so I’m hoping to be through this.
Brooke, I don’t think you need the Doxepin. I think you need to find a new Dr. I simply went to my GP and asked for Gabapentin. It’s a pretty commonly prescribed drug so there shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Also, you might try the two other things I mentioned above.
Janice, do let us know how the inversion table works.
We are getting two feet of snow here in Northern Virginia this weekend so I have time to sit at my computer. I’ll check back soon. Good luck everyone.

I just found this website by accident and I can’t believe all the people with this itchiness. I thought I was the one who invented the ice remedy.ha ha. Waking up in the middle of the night and racing to my freezer to calm the itch was maddening. And I have been a practicing RN for 45 years. My left forearm started this itch back in the 80′s and I can’t tell you how many MD’s I have been to. You can imagine the amount of creams and “no help” medications I acumulated. More often than not doctors blew me off. My itchiness now involves both forearms and an allergist I recently saw finally made me realize that I am not crazy. Cervical X rays revealed severe degenerative disc disease and I will be having an MRI soon. Thank you all so much for sharing – wish I had known about your comments sooner. The allergist put me on zantac twice a day – not for stomach issues – but to be an effective histamine blocker. Also an antihistamine once a day and both drugs have helped. But like many of you have said – I’d like not to take meds every day. Thanks again – I feel like I have an understanding group I can turn to.

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to tell everyone that I was diagnosed with BRP on my last visit to the Derm. And it is a nerve condition. Your body releases histamines in low level, but the Dr. told me that is not slowly release when you have BRP that is dump into your blood stream which causes the nerves to go haywire and cause the unbearable itching. I can honestly say that my itching has been gone seen I have been on the medicine. I have been taking 1 singulair once a day and 2 periactin twice aday and 2 Claritin a day.. It is a lot of medicine but it works..And I just wanted tell everyone that the rash that I had is from scratching is what the Dr. said. There is BRP and also notalgia paresthetica which is the same thing as BRP except it is year around.. We dont know if mine is gone from the summer months or if is the medication. The Dr. does not want me to go off the medicine just incase it is notalgia paresthetica. I know that I have suffered 10 years+ and I am so thankful that I found this Derm. He has done a biopsy , lots of blood work.. And has be
talking to a specialist at UVA. I do believe that my prayers have finally been answered.
If anyone has any question you can contact me by e-mail at saylor540@comcast.net Sun screen is a must and cover your arm at all times when you are outside.. I wish everyone good luck.. Hello Janice

Vickie