Comments on: Brachioradial Pruritis: Scratching Makes the Itching Worse

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:49:37 +0000

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.

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:29:12 +0000

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!!:)

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:17:32 +0000

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

By: Janice

Janice — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:14:47 +0000

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”.

By: Maxine

Maxine — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:38:29 +0000

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.

By: Janice

Janice — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:16:27 +0000

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.

By: Maxine

Maxine — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:09:03 +0000

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.

By: Vickie

Vickie — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:36:44 +0000

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

By: emilo

emilo — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:09:31 +0000

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

By: Janice

Janice — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:17:00 +0000

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!