I just posted this in my comments on the post below, but decided to make it a post too for anyone that might wonder or might have more information to share.
I had allergy testing done because every year I have sinus problems (to the point I’ve asked a doctor before if they could just cut them out) – and any time I end up congested from allergies, I then end up with a sinus infection – or this last time I ended up with tonsillitis. We know it is allergies because Claritin helps keep the congestion away. I’ve had swollen glands most of the fall & winter this year and my doctor suspected it is also due to allergies. Now that we have tested me and found out what my allergies are, they will mix up a special serum just for me and I will go in once a week for injections. (I think it is once a week – maybe once every two weeks?) This will help me build up immunities to my allergies – hopefully preventing the sinus infections and tonsillitis of my past.
My family doctor just gave me Claritin constantly to fight my allergies, without ever testing to see what they were. I went to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist for my tonsillitis though, and he is the one that recommended it (I’ve always wondered why no one did it in the past). Now that we know what we’re fighting, we can fight it better.
On a positive note, I called my doctor’s office this afternoon and she had me come in so they could check my itchy arms. They hooked me up with some special prescription ointment that made the itch go away. For now. Cannabis products from https://d8superstore.com/category/cbg may also help reduce the effects of allergies like swelling or inflammation. If stress is what triggers your allergies or any other health conditions, Dab Pens offers products that may help relieve your stress.
1,336 replies on “Itch Relief…”
Hello again. One thing I feel certain of, it’s not climate. I live In P.E.I., Canada and we all know there’s no comparison to say, Florida/Arizona. I’m still itchy. Now I’m taking atihistamines, Allegra 12, non drowsy, in the day time and Benedryl at night. I use Aveeno as a moisturizer. Still, if my skin gets hot (or the blood vessels beneath the skin heats up) the itching will start and only ice packs will soothe it. So ice cools down whatever. What about hormones? I know a lot of you are much younger than me. I’m in my sixties and don’t take hormone supplements. The only medical condition I have is an underactive thyroid, which I take synthroid for. I also take 10 mg of Paxil and one halibut oil capsule a day. My doctor told me that a lack of vitamin B 12 can cause itching but I’ve had blood work done and everything is okay. I do have lower back pain but not severe enough to be treated. Sure is frustrating after dealing with this for a number of years. Oh yeah, I’m a brunette (well, I was) and have brown eyes. I used to love the sun and have burned a number of times, so I wouldn’t rule out skin damage. Thanks for listening.
Okay, the more I read the more I think it’s pinched nerves as well, but I have one question… If it is a pinched nerve or nerves How come we only suffer from the pinched nerves from July/August until December/January?
Susan 🙁
Well I am sorry to say I am another sufferer of this dasterdly condiiton.
I am 58 year old female, Italian, olive skin, brown hair and eyes, and live in the San Francisco Bay Area, were the weather isn’t too hot, or cold, some humidity, but it sure isn’t helping the itching.
My itching started out of the blue about 3 years ago. It started with my left shoulder and within several months had worked its way down to the lower arm, then shifted to the right shoulder and worked its way down, then disappeared. At that time I really didn’t pay that much attention to the time table. I did go to my primary GP who said it was dry skin – use lotion and sent me on my way. After several months I went back and he sent me to a neurologist who did all sorts of blood work and performed testing using electrical impulses on my nerves to make sure everything was connected correctly, in the end she said she didn’t know what else to do for me.
Then I went to my dermatologist several times and she , she put me on Doxepin and gave me Clobetasol Ointment and when that didn’t work she pretty much said it was in my head.
I changed doctors and went to a group associated with Stanford Hospital that is close to my home, that doctor put me through every test she could think of, CT scan, MRI, X-rays, blood workup, I spent a fortune and found out that I am totally healthy, then of course the itching subsided so I let it rest. When it came back I still didn’t pay attention to the timetable but went to another dermatologist that said use unscented soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents and no perfumes or scented body lotions, only use Cetaphil. I AM STILL ITCHING!
This year it started again in September and this time I am paying attention to the timetable. It happened as the weather started getting cooler, it doesn’t itch all day long, just in the morning, afternoon and at night and Ice is the only thing that seems to help. I have tried Icy-Hot patches, Tea Tree oil, Witch Hazel, and nothing seems to work except for the ice.
I am fearful about getting on a plane for a 5 hour trip (I hope they have lots of ice available, I will take the Ziploc bags).
It is a relief to know that this isn’t in my head and I am not crazy – we can’t all be crazy.
I sure hope some doctor is afflicted with it so they can exert some energy into finding out what this is.
I think I will do a spreadsheet and see what similarities there may be.
I will let you know what I find.
Please consider candida!
I have the lower forearm itching, but just on teh left arm. The only product I have found that relieves the itching is Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy Lotion. My husband uses it for red spots on his face.
my itching is definately damge to the nerve endings. i went on the sunbed yesterday for the 1st time in ages and i was awake all night itching (the worst in ages) There is no cure for it……..but like i said inmy last post Mycell foot powder has given me the best relief…hope this helps anyone
janey uk
Hi Emma, I know for myself, I did a complete Colon Cleanse for two months. This particular Cleanse was also for Candida, The itching in my arms hasn’t gone away, can’t say, for me anyway, that the itching has any relation to Candida at all.
Susan
Every night I read this column to see if anyone else has come up with the solution. I don’t have a bad back, not do I suffer from stress, so that can’t be it. The ice pack made up with frozen peas did help to soothe but didn’t cure the problem. Have now bought ice gel for strains – here’s hoping.
Hi everyone, I have been on the computer looking for help,after finding this web-site, i am searching for relief also. My left forearm is where it starts, i have all the same symptoms that you all have. I did not sleep much last night, the itching has been very intense, and i cannot stop scratching!!! I am thankful i found you all. I have tried so many creams, prescriptions, etc etc…I will e-mail more later, so tired, I pray I get to sleep tonight. God bless you all JoAnn
I am hoping more people join this web-site. from Long Beach, JoAnn
hi. it is 2:39 pm, the stinging, itching, burning pains in my left forearm woke me up after two hours of sleep,. the scratching is intense, I am really tired. If I could get some sleep, I could think so much clearer!! My left shoulder is burning, the stinging is making my whole body shake and jerk. If someone can help me.please get in touch…JoAnn
Hi it’s still the same day and i have already written in a couple of times, I am itching really bad tonight, no creams help me at all, the Dr. prescribed some pills, but they don’t seem to help either. Cristine, is your itching better? Does any one have other suggestions? I have little bumps on my arms also from scretching sooo much. I hope I hear from some of you, this is really hard to deal with!!! I am going to try to get some sleep. God bless JoAnn
JoAnn,
Have you ever looked up candida? I think this causes my itching, only I get it all over my body. Sometimes a simple candida cleanse is not enough. I’m trying threelac. I’d really suggest you keep an open mind and google it. It could just be your answer… ?
Hope this is helpful. I’d really reccommend the book The Yeast Connection by Dr. Crook.
Love Emma xo (19, Australia)
Hi JoAnn and everyone. One time when I went to my doctor and complained about the burning, stinging itch, he said that doctors are now finding out that so-called itching is actually pain (in disguise). Of course he still had no answers for me except that he sent me to a neurologist to be told that there is nothing wrong with my nerve endings. This nerve doctor had NO bedside manner and therefore there was no communication whatsoever. I’m wondering if my itching is quite as intense as it was in Aug, Sep, Oct. Ice is still the answer for me along with antihistimines. It has to be an allergy. What about exzema? Apparently there’s so many forms of exzema. Food for thought! Later……Doreen
Sorry, I’m spelling eczema wrong. Just looked up all the forms of eczema and it’s quite interesting. I have a form of Rosacea – it comes and goes. I wonder………………
hi, where is every one!!!! I need some suggestions and help for this dreadful itching i am going thru. i got some pills so i could sleep, i had not slept much for a few days, i was feeling really awful and the itching was going full on… i went and bought some jock-itch, because one of you said it helped, so i am going to give it a try. i have tried all the other creams etc etc…..I hope some of you answer back soon, iwill not give up, i need some in-put here, help me… The drs so far do not know how to deal with this, i am getting pretty frustraded!!!! besides itching all the time, along with the stinging burning and being so uncomfortable!!!!please someone answer. God bless joann
Hello everyone! I’,m Karie’s cousin,(90-94-99-100)
The last two weeks have been pure hell for me, plus I think I got the flu last week on top of it, or else it was all the fliipping medication I was taking.
I got sick for 4 days straight, skipped a day, then got sick again, today I had the dry-heves, yuck! Where shall I begin? Vick’s Vapor Rub gave me great relief, especially if the fan blew on it, then I also tried hydrogen peroxide-which makes it burn, because you are taking the oxygen out of your skin, then I applied TN dickinson’s Witch hazel, from Walgreens, I still use it, I get relief from the Witch hazel. Last friday, I was desperate, and so miserable, depressed and really tired of itching, thought I was losing my mind, very emotional, I went to the Dermatologist, oh wow, I did not get any warm fuzzies from my doctor. Okay everyone, here it is, You Have To Stop Itching and Icing. I loved the ice, lived with it on my arms all day long, the more the better, freeze that itch away. By applying the ice, makes the vessels swell, so your brain is saying itch, then the brain says itch me some more, we get obsessed with f—g itching. I was crushed and ready to cry when the doctor told me I was creating the problem, my mouth probably dropped to the floor, just kidding. You need to tell your brain you are not going to itch, and it is soooo hard. By stopping the ice which I have used for like 20 seconds twice since friday, believe it or not I feel so much better. The bumps are going away, and I have scratched sores from hives that I got from the flexall 454, which yes did stop the itch, but I was covered in hives all over my arms, in my pits, and under my tits, not good. I have about a dozen sores, looks like I am a meth freak only on my arms. The best thing I did for myself is stopped the Xanax, that was definately adding to my problems, I have been off all the drugs still on the Zoloft and today I feel human, I have had two itching episodes today, only on my left upper arm. The dermatologist gave me samples of Pramasone lotion 2.5% which by itself doesn’t cut the itch, but with some Elocon lotion 1% that I got from my Doctor, the itcht stops, I even put Witch hazel with it, I get relief. He did give me an RX for another lotion, but the pharmacy caouldn’t feel it until just last night, I have not tried it, but I am going to get it, since he said it was better than what I tried to get from my Dr. which was TMC 1% (Triamcinolone) mixed with Lubriderm lotion. A friend of mine in Montana, was having the same itch problem, she got the lotion, and she was cured in two days. She does not itch. I got some of the lotion it does help, but has not made me itch free. I notice when I get a little excited from a stressful moment, I start to get the tingling and I want to itch, and I do, but just barely. I hope this is not overwhelming and hard to follow. I’m so grateful for my cousin helping me do all the research, Thanx Karie!!
Oh ya, Candida, speaking with my Doctor if we had Candida we would probably all be dead by now. There are alot of symptoms there that we can all relate too, but it sounds like they really don’t know what Candida really is. I know we research it, but I believe in my Doctor, I don’t believe it is Candida.
So hope this a little hlep to anyone itching. I hope and pray you all find something that works. I will keep you posted on the next thing I try. Take Care you all. Please really try to relax, and stop itching, and icing, and you will feel so much better.
Hi, I’m Karie’s cousin, and I have a story to tell you all. but right now I am so exhausted, I promise to tell you all tomorrow. Just checking here to see what was up.Sleep Tight!!
Hi JoAnn, Have you tried Benedryl at night? It was the life saver when I was itching. It took my itching away for the 3 or 4 hours and then if I woke up, I would take some more. You need your sleep and I don’t think Benedryl is addictive. At least when I took it when I was itching and then the itching stopped, I didn’t take it anymore and didn’t feel I needed something to sleep. It’s worth a try to get some rest.
hi, i am 44 years old and my itching started last year ….. now again this year around the same time … about sept to dec??? it is driving me nuts. it is at night the itching and burning almost like someone sticking needles from the inside out .. scratching hurts so good … i now have little blisters, some scabbed over… and last year i thought maybe hives … but why on both my upper arms???? and no where else?? i too have brown hair brown eyes and have sun bathed for years and tanned in tanning beds some…. i am going crazy!!! HELP!!!!!
I’m bad, I thought after I wrote my story I lost it, and that’s why I wrote back and told you I had a story to tell. Didn’t realize our comments didn’t immediatley post. Hope you are all coping.
Joanne Chandler, I have read all your comments, have you tried ice or the blue gel (called “ICE”) menthalatum for sore muscles? That is pretty much what most of us use. Other than that not much else to say.
Susan
I am so happy that I found this. I have been itching since August. It started on a small spot on my right arm and is now causing itching on both arms. I went to a dermatologist who sent me to my internal med Dr. for further testing. All of my blood work was normal. I asked if she could do an MRI of my neck to rule out a disc problem but she thought it was an allergy. I have an allergy appointment on monday. i really don’t think that it is an allergy because I am taking pred, Zyrtec and Zantac and there is no relief. The only thing that works is ice packs, and sometimes distilled vinegar. I am so sick of only sleeping 2 hours a night and I can’t take a sleep aid because I have a two year old and I have to be alert for her. I am so sick of obsessing about this everyone thinks that I am just being dramatic. Has anyone else looked into nerve problems. I am thinking if the allergist can’t help me to try a chiropractor. any suggestions?
Hi everyone. read comment 117, sounds like maybe we are getting some where with this itchy situation, which buy the way i have had this on and off for several years, this time it is going on seven months, that is alot of itching!!!!! I am not going to use the ice anymore. I am going to try and get some of the tmc 1% with lotion and see if it works. This is really getting to me. Becky, i hope you have some one helping you out so you can get some rest!!! Just keep on checking the site, we can all help one another. We are all sane, we will find a solution!!! Thank you Edell, for the letter, i will try what you suggested, i appreciate it.. I do have some really good sleeping pills that are helping me sleep now, but i cannot take them too long!! My itching is usually worst at night time!! God bless you all JoAnn
Hi everyone, it’s JoAnn again. I have one more suggestion. All of you e-mail Dr. Phil on his web site and tell him about our itching arms etc etc… If alot of us do, maybe we could get some real help, we all know how great he is, if anyone could help us, it would be Dr. Phil. well come on, lets give it a try!!!!good night for now, God bless you all JoAnn
I’m wondering if oral antifungal drugs have been helpful for anyone???
Speaking of allergies? Do a lot of you have any allergies? I have various allergies and I assumed that this was part of it as it’s kind of come and gone over the past few years. However, it has gotten much worse over the last three weeks so maybe that doesn’t mean anything. I find it’s worse if I wear clothing that is tight to my elbow joint, as that is where it starts for me. Just the left arm though… Beer also seems to make it worse.
Hello to All:
How’s the itching? I wanted to tell you all, that after using the ice for forever, my skin was extremely tough and dried out, from underneath. I put lots of Lubriderm Lotion on, when I start to get an itch, I cover my arms a couple times with it. If If I’m still itching, I use Vick’s Vapor Rub Cream all over. The Vicks gives me relief.
I just picked up my new RX, which I think you should all try, Clobetasol Propionate Cream .05%, which is stronger than the TMC cream. today I have had a great day, just a couple moments of itching, put my lotion on once and then did the Vick’s. Night time is hard for me too. Last night I finally got some sleep, and looking forward to tonight to a good nights rest. I take lots of deep breaths and try to relax. I’ve never been tested for allergies. I am brunette, brown eyes and 44. In fact my right upper arm is starting to tingle, need to get to my fixes. Take Care!!!
Hi Marie, I have been suffering with this for about 4or 5 years now, I don’t have any allergies.
Susan
Hey Joanne, Susan here. I just sent off a long message to Dr. Phil about our desperate search for a cure or help with this condition. I can’t imagine we’ll hear anything but here’s hoping.
Susan 🙂
Oral antifungal drugs, would be for a yeast infection, AKA Thrush. I know you believe its candida, but from what we have read its not. Thats yeast infections, and would be like thrush or vaginal itching. Also, the Dr’s say most of you would be dead…. Im glad your trying to help, am maybe for some people or someone thats what it is. However, the majority I think are not. People please read Edells comments on #117… regarding the ice too. I also agree about bombarding Dr Phil with emails, letters… get some recognition and maybe they will find an answer!!!
hi, its 4;35 am my left arm is itching, i am trying not to scratch, just gently rub it.. It always starts on my left arm.. I am wondering just how many people out there have this forearm itch, and do not even know about this web-site.. These sleepless nights are hard to take!!! Here’s hoping more of you wtrite in. iam going to try to get more sleep.. God bless you all….JoAnn
If this itching could be from stress, why does it wake me in the middle of the night? If we are ever going to be stress-free it should be when we’re sleeping. I’m going with allergies and or neck/back problems. I get a very sore neck sometimes but I chalked it up as the way I sleep. Thanks again for your support. Doreen
Doreen, I don’t know if it’s from stress or not but our stress continues to affect us as we sleep. Sometimes during sleep is the only time we let our stress out because we can’t control it and it comes out subconsciously through dreams. But who knows if it has anything to do with all of this! Marie
I’m 51 white female.My mother has suffered from her arms itching for years,since she’s a nervous person,I just thought it was her nerves.Low & behold now I’m experiencing this nightmare! Mom tells me to use ice & learn to live with it,because no luck with Doctors! She’ll be excited I found you all,misery loves company! We’ll keep checking in with you. Janie in KY
I just wanted to touch on the neck problems. It seems that as my itch progresses up my arms on my shoulders my neck is very sore. If I put the ice pack on the back of my neck while I sleep my arms stop itching. It would seem like something with the nerves. I guess that I will hopefully get some answers tomorrow after I visit with the allergist. I also take tylenol and that seems to help.
I intended to send an email 3 days ago but it hasn’t posted so I must not have sent it.
I have really been feeling guilty reading all of the recent posts. My itching is nearly gone (just a tiny bit in the evening) and I sleep like a baby every night. I am still taking Neurontin – 200 mg 1 hr before bedtime. Has anyone else tried this? The main side effect is drowsiness but since I only take it at night it has not been a problem. Initially I also put Lanacain on my arms at night but I don’t need that anymore. Part of the reduction in itch is probably due to the cooling fall weather.
I know Neurontin is not a cure but it makes my life bearable and I can be awake for work during the day.
If you haven’t tried Neurontin yet, please do and in the mean time we will all try to figure this out.
I found the icepack on the neck interesting. I am going to try that too.
Kathy in Northern California
Hi everyone,please read comment 117 about the ice. I have used it for years, but i am going to stop using it!!!! All of you please get on line and e-mail Dr. Phil!!!!! We need answers and help, let him know what we are all going thru, were talking months at a time, and years also. This is making my life, miserable!!!!!!! Do you all agree? Come on girls, start typing!!!!!!God bless you all JoAnn
Dear Kathy and All,
I have found my itching to be worse during the warmer months and disappears in the cooler months. Does anyone else? Unfortunately, I am in Australia, so it’s just warming up here…!
Love, Emma
Hello!!!Today I tried my most current RX for itching, it did not help. I’m totally convinced that the Vick’s Vapor Rub Lotion is hleping me.
The ice is only making the problem worse for everyone. I am feeling so much better that I have quit using the ice, I truly never thought I would say that, because the ice was my only relief. I had three different episodes of itching today(though the day isn’t over yet) and the Vick’s Lotion took care of it. I get really red in the area that is itching, after I get the lotion on it goes away. Try it, I hope it will give you all relief as it has for me. I will write to Dr. Phil. Take Care of everyone!!!
Just one more thought and then I’ll try to be quiet. If it’s stress, or neck and back related how come this itching is more intense in late summer and fall? The only thing that seems to add up is allergies. Comment please. Doreen
Thank goodness, I thought I was nuts! I thought I was the only person to ever suffer from this itchy arm thing. I am hopefully going to the dermatologist sometime this week but don’t have alot of confidence that they will be able to help me after reading all these posts? My arms have itched on and off for the past 15 years, it’s my forearm but mostly my right forearm. I did in fact have some kind of nerve damage when I was born and can’t help think that maybe this might have something to do with it? It’s just nice to know there are other people out there who understand just how badly this condition (whatever it is) effects you!
Sorry to be ignorant, but who is D. Phil? Is he American or British? does anyone have an address for him so that I can tell my story too!
To Edell and All – I have used Clobetasol, and wanted to warn you to be very careful with it. You probably already know it is a steroid and can be addictive to your skin. I didn’t know, and wasn’t told by my doctor at the time, that I should use it for no more than 2 weeks. Well, I used it for several months but the itch didn’t go away (used it in conjunction with Doxepin). In the beginning, it seemed to help with the itch. But the longer I used it, the more my skin became addicted to it and the less effective it was. I learned this from a new dermatologist I went to at the time. I still go to her now but not often since she hasn’t been able to cure me!! I think I will make an appointment to see if she’ll give me a prescription for Neurontin. I don’t believe I’ve been on that, although I’ve tried so much it’s certainly possible I’ve tried that too!! Good luck to you all. Reading everyone’s responses certainly make me feel better about this awful condition. I will most definitely figure out how to email Dr. Phil – Thanks to all of you.
Hi everyone, please read comment 117, do not use the ice, even though it works, sounds like it is really bad for your skin!!! My itching is better, but today i feeling stinging, i am just hoping it goes away, so i can catch up on my sleep!!! Someone said . who is Dr. Phil, on your computer type in, Dr. Phil.com, you will get his web site..just tell him all about your itching problem!!!!! God bless… JoAnn
Hi Everyone! Hope all is getting better your way of the world. Wow, am I feeling better, not 100% but I have some other issues on top of all this insanity.
Tonight I justed started to get the twitiches, stinging,burning, like their are flipping bugs crawling under your damn skin, the itch is so intense, I just barely touch my left upper arm and one streak of scratches, I immediatley turn red, my chest and neck turn red too. This all started on my right upper arm a year ago in September, lasted for a couple of days, took Benadryl and put on Cortisone Cream, it helped, but the Benadryl nocked me for a loop. Then through out the months, it happened, but wowww the end of June this year I was itching like crazy. I used Hotel/Motel Cards to scratch so I wouldn’t bring the blood to the surface, but it happened anyway. the end of July I thought I was losing my head, the itching was horrific. I then started doctoring. Tonight I started to itch, I put on the Vicks’s Vapor Rub Lotion and it took care of it. I have no desire to itch my arm. The lotion makes it cool and itch free. I use the regular vapor rub on my sores, it helps to dry them up. Please give this a try, but absolutely no ice!!!! Good Luck, and Praying this is a relief for you all.
Kathy, Thanx for the info, I appreciate it. 🙂
I tried it and it did not work, and sounds as if a good thing too. Have a Great Day!!
o.k. I am confused. Regarding post #117. The doctor told Edell that ice makes the vessels swell. It is my understanding that heat dialates the vessels and the ice should restrict them. That is why a hot shower or bath will intensify the itching.
I do not undertand how the ice would intensify the itching.
As for the allergy question. I live in one of the most allergy laden areas of Northern California but I never have any allergies and have been tested in the past with all results being negative. So for me I don’t think it has anything to do with allergies.
The mystery definitely if why it is seasonal, so I have a question for Emma. Since Australia has reversed seasons from California, what months are you most bothered with the itching? Would it also be your late summer and fall?
Kathy in NoCal
PS I do know I was told by a doctor years ago that cortisone creams thin the skin. I used them for years but quit after I was told about the negative effect.
Doreen- about the time of year… stress, weather, etc does effect the nerves. This is why under stress, and in heat it intensifies.
Anne- interesting you had nerve problems… do you have any treatment for that?
Meash- Dr Phil is a American psychologist, who has a talk show.
Kathy- not positive about the ice/heat issue with the nerves, but i would think that restricting the nerves would cause problems as well… which may be why the ice is bad?
Just an FYI, about the Neuronotin, it is mainly used to prevent seizures, it blocks the brain, so I am sure its effective, as most say.. However they say it isnt a cure, not sure what the side effects are or would be long term?
Edell has gotten alot better since she stopped the ice… and the Vicks Vapor rub (lotion) helps when she does have an episode.
Good Luck!
Hey Kathy, I’m with you. Heat dialates the vessels, I think that might be the opinion of one Doctor. I cannot see why ice would be detrimental, especially when it is so often used by Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Doctors, in healing sprains, and other inflammations. Not sure how Ice can damage your skin.
Susan
Here’s a clip of a medical statement I found online from an MD about heat vs. ice for nerve damage:
“On the other hand repetitive application of ice freezes and coagulates the myelin (fatty tissue insulating large nerve fibers) exactly like ice freezes and solidifies melted butter. As the ice freezes the large nerve fibers, causing freeze damage to the myelinated nerves, the patient develops sensory loss and pain due to permanent damage to the large sensory nerve fibers. This aggravates the RSD by adding sensory nerve pain of non-sympathetic origin to the initial thermal sensory pain of sympathetic origin.
As a result, Ice provides total anesthesia and relief of pain for several minute the same way as the hand becomes numb being exposed to snowballs in the winter. However, a few hours after the cessation of ice exposure, the pain recurs with vengeance due to reactive enlargement of blood vessels after the constriction of blood vessels due to exposure to ice.
This phenomenon causes excellent relief of pain with ice treatment followed by not only aggravation of pain, but damage to the nerve fibers adding sympathetic independent pain (SIP) to the original sympathetic mediated pain (SMP).
In most RSD patients ice makes the condition worse and can cause denial of diagnosis and treatment for the patient.
It becomes obvious that heat-cold challenge physical therapy is nonsensical because it end result is one temperature extreme neutralizing the other and ice challenge further damaging nerve fibers.
Please stay away from any ice exposure, even if you can not tolerate heat.”
Edell is going to post what her Dr told her too.