Itch Relief…

Very interesting about the mercury thing. I have very old silver fillings that are probably mercury. hmmmm!

Susan

hi ginger thank you I will try the aloe gel.today my arms have itched, burned tingleeled, i feel as though i …….sleep softly JoAnn

Stephanie and Mark, I hope you read this since you two will be putting the survey together. Could you please put a question in there about mercury/silver fillings. (i.e. Do you have silver/mercury fillings?) Please see Judith’s October 9th post. I think it’s a good question to ask, it won’t hurt anyway 🙂

Susan

Hi Mary, that was really sweet of you, I have suffered with this for years, BUT last two times have been really torture, no relief. I got some sleeping pills, but so far they have not helped much. Maybe I will take 1plus 1/2 and see if that helps . This whole thing makes me feel hopeless,life is difficult enough! But i have gone years without any symptoms,I keep praying it will go away. for all of us!!!! God bless you all…sleep softly JoAnn

Hi everyone, it’s JoAnn again, I seem to want to talk to you all everyday,because you understand what i am going thru!!! The last two days I have been putting 100%naturalcolloidal oatmeal, with just a dab of water, and then i smooth it on my arms, and they do not itch for hours!!!! Has any one else tried this? I only drink once in awhile, but i have noticed when i have the itchies, i would rather not drink…..Think positive,and pretty green valleys, n sweet times n No itching God bless, sleep softly JoAnn

like the menthol ice gel, try VICKS VAPORUB…readily available, cheap, and it has worked for me during september, with the itching diminished alsmost to the point of being gone, for this year, at least!!!

Hi everyone, JoAnn here. Yesterday and last night I itched soooo bad, finally went to bed, with the ice packs on both arms, awoke this morning and now it is 8 in the evening, and I have NOT itched. I just took a bath and I just soaked for awhile, put some lotion on my legs, but I am afraid to put anything on my arms, it seemed every lotion I tried, after a day or so, quite working!!!!! And they seemed to itch worse, if that’s possible?????Yesterday I went to my vitamin store, I was thinking how I had gone literally years WITHOUT the itch. One pill I had taken for about 25 years, I just stop taking it.And then I was reading about vitB-12,and how it helps nerve endins in your body, so I bought some B-12 and odorless Garlic, which are also good for detoxification in your body.. The B-12 are 5000mg, the garlic tabs are Kyolic brand, that is the brand I have used for years. I donot know why I stopped itching for sure, but I am going to take the vitamins, and be more aware of what I eat and drink. I thought I shoud share, you all tried to be helpful, and I do appreciate , thank you!!!! I’ve never mention this I am 65 yrs blond. God bless you all…..sleep softly JoAnn

Hi,
Thanks for all your postings. My husband has suffered this upper arm itch for years. He says it feels like something is crawling under his skin. We too have tried all different kinds of creams. Have not tried ice or baking soda so that will be next!! I had no idea how big this problem was until I came upon this site. Thanks

My itching is only on my upper left arm. This makes years 2. Seems to only come on this time of year. Crushed ice in a plastic bag layed over the arm and held in place by a long sleve tight shirt helps bring relief. I read several post and saw mention of someone doing a survey. GREAT IDEA!!!!! I’ll certainly participate and if there’s room for questions on it I wonder if you would consider asking this one if it’s not already on there. How many of us have had that vacination on our upper arm. I don’t know excately what the vacination was for, I’ve heard polio, small pox but we know who we are, they stopped giving them somewhere around 1968, so those of us born before that should have on. I am 40 born in 1966, hair color is dark blonde with some red influence and my eyes are green, skin is light, freckles. no known allergies, if my iron is low I don’t know it but I was anemic 21 years ago, so possibly could be now and just don’t know it.

Hi all, Cate here from Australia….. I live in one of the hottest parts of the planet that being the north of Aussie…. and the tempreture is up to 108 degrees already…. (it’s spring coming into summer here)…I have placed a few post here one giving an introduction to my pleasure and relief at finding this sight…. another sharing my absolute relief as I had been to the chiropractor and all symptoms disapeared for 4 months and then the symptons returned…. Well, I thought I would give the chiropractor another go as it worked so well the last time…. I was disapointed as I went along looking for help again but it didn’t happen…. in fact it got worse and the weather got hotter…. I was lucky though because at my third appointment my one of my arms began to itch and I was able to show my chiro…. she felt my arm and could feel the heat generating from the friction caused when the nerve ending ‘vibrate’ causing the itch and burning sensation.. the chiro was surprised and baffled… the next time I went I took a copy of all the posts here and she spent a week reading through them…. she then manipulated my back… etc….. WELL since that day… last Wednesday…. to today Monday….. the itch has completely stopped…. I am sure it was due to the chiro working on me…. as both times I have got relief it has been after some sessions with the Chiro…

It didn’t happen straight away…. but it would appear again I am itch free for a while…. probably till I put my neck out again…. or as I’m getting older (48) until the oestoporosis sets in or arthrisis etc…. I guess what I’m saying is… I think I’ll have this most of my life….. I think it will happen more frequently as I get older… I think I will get some relief at different times of the year…. but I think it is worth every $45… fee she charges me once a week to get that relief….

To test my theory I have been out in the sun…. no itch…. turned of the air conditioning… no itch…. it niggles a little…. but I think that’s probably due to small amounts of injury to my nerves…. but it’s not an itch…just the skins likes a rub every now and then….

I hope this helps someone….. If you’ve had enough…. try weekly or twice weekly with a chiro…. get someone who’ll listen and see how it goes….. Cheers to all………

Cate…. 🙂

wow — i’ve been on here for quite a few months now and i’ve never been attacked for being willing to try something that might actually cure this disease. i am NOT a victim, i have tried both acupuncture AND chiropractors, i drink at least a half gallon of water a day, am a vegetarian of 14 years, do not eat junk food, and am educated enough to know that thalidomide has less side effects than most allergy medications and antidepressants. judith, while everyone is entitled to their opinion, try hard to remember that we are all on here, hopefully, to help one another. not everyone can be so pious and judgemental because we have not yet found relief.

I agree, Mark and sb, that we have had this malady long enough, and shared enough posts on this website, to know that we have different triggers causing the “itch” as well as different ways of finding relief.

Having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for over 20 years, I am a veteran of trying almost any treatment that is suggested to me. Some helped, some hindered, but I I learned to be open-minded about suggestions from fellow CFS sufferers. I use the same approach now with my itching, burning, … arms. Personally, I get the most relief from ice packs & chiro treatments. ( I believe that cervical disc degeneration is the cause of my BRP.)
By the way, do any of you also have CFS? I also have fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism and arthritis.
Thanks to everyone who has shared their stories & suggestions.

One more comment – I thought everyone was driven to distraction by labels on clothing but now realize it’s part of our repertoire of symptoms.
I applaud the companies that have started producing tagless clothing.
Thanks for listening.
Ann

For Anne,
I’m sorry if this is old news, but Harvey Diamond wrote a book, called “Living Without Pain- Pain Relief from Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. As I am not American I have no feeling for whether or not this Harvey Diamond is taken seriously. But the book might be worth looking into if you have these painful diseases.
Mari Anne, Copenhagen

A couple of thoughts on “our” itch…..
I am an RN and belong to a listserv for legal nurse consultants. There has been a conversation there about a man with an itch that sounds like ours, but all over his body. All the nurses have chimed in with ideas and thoughts. Some have suggested Atarax (hydroxyzine), or Sinequan (doxepin), and the science behind using them is very rational, but this thought was new to me.
Here it is: “If there are no contraindications, he may want to try Zantac. I have used it for itching that does not respond to H1 blockers like benadryl.I don’t know the exact physiology but since it technically is a histamine blocker, it has worked.”
I believe Zantac is sold over the counter, so it sure might not hurt to try it.
For me personally….right now….the Aloe gel slathered a couple of times a day is keeping me very comfortable. It’s cheap and I would think worth a try.

Isn’t Zantac for heartburn?

It is called Brachial pruritis. It is being researched, and has been for about 30 years. It appears to have 2 causes. One is an impinged nerve in the neck. The other cause appears to be from ultra violet light to the upper arms. Why there and nowhere else is unknown. It affects the nerves in the upper arms . The nerves return to normal after the beginning of winter. Protecting arms form to much sun seems to help. No releif or medication yet. Ice is all that works. Caspien cream doesn’t work. Most Drs. don’t know about it. Being studied. Look it up on the internet. The latest journal article on it was in the Journal of Dermatology, 2005 or 20006. We are not crazy. It has a name and is being studied.

I have volunteered to turn the questionnaire into a web-based link and post the link here… but somebody needs to first put it together.

my bad, I did miss it. I will email her. I can put the survey up electronically so we can all just click on the link to complete the survey. Thanks.

ginny, there are more than two causes. mine was adult-onset parvovirus. also, not sure the ultraviolet light thing is a cause so much as it is an irritant or “activator” to the condition.

just my take.

*sigh*

I know they are two completely different things, obviously. And I am talking about BRP, not itching in general which as we all know can be caused by anything from dry skin to a wool sweater to itching powder.
🙂

There are many causes to BRP, not just two. And I have gone to many journals, many sites, many articles in forming this opinion. I’ve written an article too – does that make me an expert? Many messages on this site have noted that BRP is not as simple as having one or two causes or one or two cures.

There are many types of causes which fall into separate categories (dermatologic, systemic, etc). Parvovirus, or slapped-cheek syndrome (also called fifth disease due to its commonality in children among other diseases e.g. measles, chicken pox, etc), is listed in several sources as one, systemic, cause of BRP. This was confirmed recently by my physician who did some research per my request.

Please don’t try to oversimplify this, or suggest as that those without your two causes don’t have BRP. The symptomology, and its resistance to most dry-skin lotions, and its favorable reaction to the application of ice, and its seasonal and night-time appearance, is fairly consistent.

In short, it’s easy to tell if one has this condition (and I most certainly do) but I don’t think it’s accurate or useful to say “everybody who has this got it through either cause A or B.”

Thanks JoAnn, just trying to be accurate, I know everyone here is just trying to be helpful. Itching started again. It seems like later in the season it moves from full forearms to the upper arm, sort of the inside of the bicep area. Does anyone else note this “northward” migration during the season? Much less pins and needles this fall than last, happily. Ice at bedtime does it.

Next year I am going to pursue a Capsaicin prescription I think.

WOW – I had no idea this was so common. My son and daughter both suffer with this itch for many years. Both in their 30’s and living in two completely different areas in Canada (east coast and western prairies). I am going to hook them up to this site to see if they can get some relief from any of the suggestions mentioned. Doctors have tested for scabies which is crazy since thier partners haven’t come down with it!! Thanks again for all the posts

I have been monitoring this site and have responded a few times. I have used ice to help at night also. Sometimes in the day when it really got bad. I researched until I found that a prescription of Zonalon cream helped tremendously and then the doc suggested that I take doxepin on a continual basis. I don’t like to take anything much more than I have to but went along with this suggestion because it had gotten to the point my arms were bloody most of the time and I was always on edge and irritable because of lack of sleep and rest. I really didn’t see how I could keep on the rest of my life with the itching as bad as it was. Well, I have been on the doxepin for a month now (50 mg – two at night before bedtime) and I have not had any peace like this for many years since the itching first started. It has really worked wonders for me. It takes a week or so to get in the system and I still itch a bit but it is only for a minute or two. I also take Clonazepam .5 mg if I start itching in the evening before bedtime. I haven’t had this kind of relief with all the creams, lotions, shots, allergy tablets, cortisone, etc that we all have tried. I tried the chiropractor also. This has worked for me and I am so grateful !!! Wanted to let all of you know. It’s easy to forget to write when you have relief. Try this and see if it will help you too. I will continue to monitor this site on occasion to check if anyone has the great results I’ve had. Good luck!!
JW in Arkansas

JW, the Zonalon cream worked great for me, too, but I developed an allergy to the cream it’s in (it itched!). I also have the oral version (doxepin), but haven’t tried it yet. Is it the oral version/doxepin or cream Zonalon/doxepin hydrochloride that works so well for you??

John, I have also found a ‘sweet spot’ for sleeping that within 30 seconds or so stops the itch/burn/electric stabbing … on my right side, no pillow. Turns my head real hard but seems to relieve the nerve pressure. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes to find the exact spot, but it works for me.

And to all, I’ve found a new chiropractor near Nashville (Dickson) that uses new technology called a Pro-Adjustor. It’s a computerized device that NASA developed initially to test metal fatigue in bolts on airplane wings and heat tiles on space shuttles. It has been adapted for chiropractors to test and repair functionality of the spine. I’ve been going several weeks and it seems also to be helping. For info on it Google ‘Pro Adjustor’.

Molly

Hi please find below the draft of questionnaire myself and Mari Anne has put together, if anyone would like to amend/add or change any details please let me know and then it can be uploaded to Marks website for us all to complete. I will then endeavour (with anyone who would like to help) to put together the answers and then hopefully find someone to help us, I had a lovely e-mail that suggested we could try students who may need to do a project of some sort which may assist us. Anyway lets see how the below goes and I look forward to hearing from you.

Questionnaire

Sex:
Age:
Skin type:
Hair colour:
Eye colour:
Height:
Build:
Weight (in pounds):

Country & climate (hottest & coldest month):

Where and on which arm/s do you itch? Left, right, upper, lower, all over? Does it move around? Describe as well as you can.

Which is your dominate hand? (i.e. right handed)

How long and how bad (1-5) have you had it?

How long does an ”attack” usually last?

Is your itching seasonal? If so, from when to when do you usually have it?

Is your itching related to any time of the day/night or does this vary?

Have you experienced any years without?

Did you do anything different in this period? (For example pregnancy, living in a different climate, have another job, eat different, move around different?) Describe.

Have you ever had other itching?

Neck problems? (Describe & how long for)

Have you received treatment for your neck problems?

Did it have any effect on your itching?

Back problems? (Describe & how long for)

Have you received treatment for your back problems?

Did it have any effect on your itching?

How many weeks of the year do you sunbathe?
Past: Present:

Do you get sunburns?
Past: Present:

Do you use a sunbed/how often?
Past: Present:

Do you use sun screen? If yes,what strength?
Past: Present:

Have you noticed the effect of sunbathing on your itching?
Past: Present:

Have you noticed the effect of using sun screen?
Past: Present:

Are you menopausal and if so how long for?

Have you noticed any change in itching habits before/during/ after your menopause?

Do you have any allergies?

Did or do you take any medication for your allergy?

Did or does it have any effect on your itching?

Have you tried any prescription medicine or prescription creams for your itching?

Did they have any effect?

Have you tried any non-prescription medicine or non-prescription creams for your itching?

Did they have any effect?
Have you tried a physiotherapist for your itching?

Did it have any effect?

Have you tried a chiropractor for your itching?

Did it have any effect?

Have you tried acupuncture for your itching?

Did it have any effect?

Have you noticed anything in particular that triggers the itching, makes it worse or makes it flare up? (For example sun, temperature, particular clothing, food, drink, exhaustion, positions you sit, lie or work in, etc?)

Have you found any remedy that in any way or periodically soothes the itching? Describe.

Does anyone in your family suffer?

Do you have any other health problems?

What regular medication do you take?

What “health remedies” do you use?

Do you have any silver/mecury fillings in your teeth?

Anything else you would like to mention?

roomes@hotmail.co.uk