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…”
Just bought the Omega 3-6-9. Can someone tell me how I am supposed to take it for the itch? I think it was different than the regular instructions on the bottle. I would like to start it asap. Thanks
I took nine a day 3×3 safe to take up to ten. I took it for a month and I think that it, coupled with the acupuncture and the slow arm rotations if Ithe prickle began, worked wonders. I haven’t had acupuncture now for several weeks and can feel a little tingle occasionaly (especially after eating wheat and sugar) but the slow arm rotations (about five each way) stop it.
Nice to know I’m not the only one itching!
Has anyone besides Judith tried the arm rotations and do they find that it works for them? Seems too simple…. I’ve tried it but it doesn’t seem to help. I am absolutely finding that white wine brings it on (and sometimes other alcohol) but I’m just not willing to give up all alcohol or white wine. I find on the nights that I do have a drink, then taking the neurontin before I sleep can help. Does anyone notice tomato sauce causes the same thing? Also, I’m finding now that it’s summer and the itch is bad, even my hair on my shoulders is feeling too “prickly”. Isn’t there any way to find some doctor or medical institution to figure this out?
Wow, I can’t believe so many people have brachial radial pruritis – I didn’t know anyone with it and no doctors here have any answers. I live in New Zealand with lots of sun but i do not lie around in it! However I do have neck damage at C6,7. I am trying osetopathy at present, amitrip at night and , wonderful ice when the itch gets too bad.The seasonal pattern happens in the Southern Hemisphere too and, yes the itch is worse in the evening and at night.Like many of you I can’t believe the dermatologists have no answers, especially now I know there are so many with the problem.Thanks for making me feel less odd!
Hi…
OMG!!!! This is awful!!! I’ve been itching for two months now, and while I am glad I found this site I am so SCARED there really is little to be done. I went to my doctor yesterday, and he said, “hmmmm…I’m puzzled.” Bummer. I’m going to a dermatologist, and am grateful that if he, too, is puzzled that I could at least ask for Neurontin, as I have heard some of you suggest.
I have dark skin (I’m half black and half Irish), brown hair and brown eyes. Normally, I get darker in the sun, am not allergic to anything but dust, and have never had any health problems or sensitivities. Benadryl doesn’t help making me think it isn’t an allergy.
What’s going on with us?
and, yes…I have muscle pains too – back pain for years, neck, shoulders, and plantar fasciitis (bottom of feet)….my doctor called it spondyloarthropathy and hesitated to diagnose me with fibromyalgia because I couldn’t really tell if I had unexplainable fatigue, as I have young children. maybe there is a fibromyalgia link….hmmmm….
I only have itching on the backs of my hands. Ice and Naproxen is the only thing I’ve tried so far. Ice gives immediate relief.
Did everyone’s start with their hands and move up to their arms? No spinal trauma that I’m aware of???
Yet another who has had the wacky driving-me-crazy itching on my arms & neck for about 13 years now. I too have seen the dermatologist, (no skin problems) allergist, (no allergies) tried all the creams (don’t work) , ointments (make it worse), antihistimines,(does help me sleep, but can hardly get up in the morning). I use unscented soaps, try not to overdo it in the sunshine, overall am very healthy except for this DAMN itching, which is driving me to the brink. I am 48, wonder if it’s hormonal, except as I said, i’ve had it for 13 years. I do have blonde hair/blue eyes. Mine is mostly on my upper arms, but sometimes goes to my wrists & neck. Worse at night, but sometimes it’s horrible during the day too. My doctor calls it Pruritus also, which is basically saying he doesn’t know what to do. I’ve given up on doctors at this point, just a waste of money. I do have a TENS unit, i will try that. Hopefully that will bring some relief. I’m about at my wits end, sometimes think it might be best if i just didn’t wake up so I don’t have to itch anymore!
My arms have driven me crazzyy!!!! All summer long , itch, itch. scratch, scratch, bleed,bleed.I went to an allergist and told him I thought for sure I was allergic to tomatoes. We take pride in those down here in tha dirty “south”. Well he tested for those and 50 other things with the pins in the back routine. His conclusion; SUNLIGHT.That’s right it’s only my right arm and he said to use a high (30 and above) sunscreen.I have not been faithful everytime @the pool, but it sems to have helped when i followed hios instructions. It is late June and here I sit CLAWING away. I will have to be more stringent in my application and report back. BTW, I am quite sure it is hereditary. I remember my poor mother wearing cream and a roll f plastic around her arms to help her itchy, bloody arms.
eucerin put out a product 3 yrs ago for people who broke ouy in the sun, but it has been discontinued and i can not remember the name .It was wonderful you put it on and NO ugly red itchy bumps.It stopped it before they ocurred. It is no fun when you can’t go to the beach or wear a sundress or anything cool knowing you will just become one big mess of itchy hives. My jusband and I went on vacation to Mexico and by the next day I was covered. Talk about sexy. I wish I could just get that product back.
OK–LIGHT RADIATION—DIDN’T WORK—THAT WAS PRESCRIBED BY A TOP DERMATOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PA.!!! I FOUND A SPRAT CALLED ITCH-X AT THE DRUG STORE—IT CAN GIVE SOME RELIEF. BEEN GOING TO THE CHIROPRACTOR—AM GOING TO TRY SOMETHING NEW—HAD BLOOD WORK DONE AND MY TRIGLYCERIDES WERE OFF THE CHARTS–99 IS HIGH NORMAL AND MINE WAS 383!!! MY CHIROPRACTOR HEARD THIS AND SAID CLEARLY MY BODY ISN’T TAKING IN FATS AND BREAKING THEM DOWN PROPERLY. THE NERVE ENDINGS AND THE ITCHING COULD BE FROM THE FAT NOT GETTING TO THE NERVE ENDINGS??– HE SAID TO TAKE COTTAGE CHEESE (3 TO 1 RATIO) AND FLAX OIL AND BLEND TO BREAK THE OIL DOWN–BLEND TIL’ IT’S SMOOTH—COTTAGE CHESE BEING THE LARGER PORTION—THINKS THIS MIGHT HELP–I’LL TRY ANYTHING!!!! GOING TO A NUEROLOGIST TOMORROW–ANYTHING NOT TOO ITCH AND BLEED…IT’S AWFUL. WE LIVE ON THE WATER IN NJ — I LOVE TO GARDEN BUT THE SUN ACTUALLY “HURTS” MY ARMS–ALTHOUGH I’M NOT CONVINCED IT’S SUN DAMAGE, ETC.—MY BACK WAS BURNED MORE —AND MY FACE HAD A LOT MORE EXPOSURE..THAN JUST MY ARMS!! WILL KEEP POSTED.
PLEASE READ!!!!… I’ve read some of the more recent postings, and wanted to throw out to you what alot of people have found from this website in the past year… my cousin suffers from this as of last year, i researched and found it to be BRP (bronchial radial pruidus, dont quote on spelling im going off memory). It is seasonal (which i still dont know why, but its acurrate)… it is a nerve damage condition. Read up on BRP. A chiropractor can relieve or repair some nerve damage. Also, I know ice helps, but long term it causes more nerve damage and will worsen the condition. Neurotin is used for seizures and shuts off part of the brain, i would be very careful if you decide to go that route. My cousin hoped it was a one time thing, but its back again this summer. Sunlight does bother it, but isnt the cause. Most people with BRP have one of the several causes, neck or back injuries, or a disease that causes nerve damage (lupus, diabetes, etc). Please research BRP. Dont waste your time on allergists, neurologists, etc… research this and try to find a doctor that knows about it or is willing to check into it!!! Best wishes, i feel for all you who suffer!!!
Just wanted to say that I’m from Canada and I spent some time in April visiting Georgia, South and North Carolina (it was awesome). This April the locals said that it was above normal temperatures (it was very hot). I did not scratch once. I’m back home working in my garden and some days it is humid, but not all the time. My arms are starting to bother me again even though it isn’t as hot here as in the South (and never will be). I’ve used some ice already and I cringe to think what August, Sept, Oct, is going to bring. I think it is time the professionals do some research, but then, we are a minority. Thanks for listening.
Hi itchy arm people
My arms have calmed down quite a bit since not being in the sun. It is winter here in Western Australia. But I also am going to the chiro, so that might have helped. Last posting I did was in April and it was really bad. Sometimes alcohol or coffee makes it worse. I am suffering from fatigue on and off and also am hypothyroid and going through menopause. I had blood test done the other day and have way too much vitamin B12 and my cholesterol has suddenly gone up as well. I am interested in hearing more about the fibromyalgia connection. The lady that was suffering from the restless legs syndrome – that is a magnesium deficiency and most people will be low on that especially if they have a lot of stress.
Great information here ~ any one familiar with web sites that direct you to reputable Chiropracters?
Thanks to all…
Fibromyalgia connection. I have had fibromyalgia for about the same length of time I’ve had the itch we all share. Around 20 years. I think the fibromyalgia came first by a few years. I have also had 5 fairly significant back & neck injuries. (3 horse falls, 2 motor vehicle whiplashs, and 1 fall on the ice) I have been shocked that this is the first year that I have not had “the itch”. It was so bad for so long. I do not know why I don’t have it this year. It would always be bad in the summer and go away completely or mostly in the winter. I haven’t been in the sun as much this year, but maybe that is or is not the reason. It’s a strange malady!
I found that acupuncture was more effective than chiropractic – 30 visits to the chiropractor over six months and while, I had no itch, I was quite sore. Acupuncture and being gentle with myself was lovely and now pretty well nothing hurts and I itch very rarely. I haven’t had acupuncture now for about six weeks and am starting to get an occasional tingle.
It is good to stay away from very sweet stuff too.
Without a doubt, I believe it’s sun exposure … whether direct or indirect — and sun exposure that is cumulative. Apply 45SPF+ religiously from the moment you get up and reapply through the day when the itching is present. Maintain the applications for four to five days. To treat the itch itself, use any very strong brand of muscular lotion that is used for pulled muscles and the like (such as Dencorub or Bengay) … get the strongest you can. Before applying the cream (and this is CRITICAL!), wet the skin. While the skin is still wet, apply the cream liberally and massage into the arm. You will have a strong sense of burning for a few seconds, but then relief from the itching … that lasts 3 to 4 hours.
Just wanted to say that any reputable chiropractor will give you adjustments for BRP after taking xrays and checking your spine. My itch is not seasonal, I have it all the time. I started seeing a chiropractor about 5 weeks ago and this is the first relief I’ve had in years, now it comes and goes and I’ve actually had itch free days, so I am very pleased, I may also try acupuncture in conjunction with the chiro.Also the chiro had something called BioFreeze it;s a really cold solution and works almost as well as ice. I would try the omega fatty acids but want to do things individually so I know what works. Heat and sun as well as white wine sometimes aggrivate the itch but are not the cause, I have been tested for allergies, no firbromyalgia or lupus no link to anythingelse except this awful itch. Before the chiro I was taking valium occasionally to break the cycle and it did work for those who want to try it. Try it all until you find something that works for you, what works for one may not work for another. Good luck
I have an itch in both upper arms, it’s just started recently. It isn’t as bad as for many of the people here, I can generally ignore it. When I’m working or busy it isn’t a problem, only when I think about it. So I am lucky from that point of view.
It’s a problem trying to figure out why we get it from reading all the messages here. We may all have similar symptoms but from different causes. Logically for me it could be a number of things. I’ve developed rsi so it may be nerve related. But we’ve had some sunny days in the uk, I’ve been using a new suncream, so that might be the problem, perhaps an allergy. Or is it my new job, I don’t feel really really stressed but it could contribute.
Thank you all for sharing your ideas – I’ve just googled ‘itchy upper arm’ in desperation as I’ve suffered for about 3 years now but recently the itching has been waking me up. It’s a relief to hear I’m not going crazy.
I wondered if it was sun-related since my itching seems to have got worse since we moved from London to the Middle East. Saying that, I had it in the UK and thought it was bed-bugs – an anti-allergy mattress protector helped a bit, though my husband has never suffered.
Since living here, I’ve blamed it on the aircon drying my skin out, chlorine from swimming regularly, the sun (though I wear factor 30 minimum, as I’m blonde and blue-eyed) or hormones (I’m currently pregnant and it’s definitely got worse during pregnancy, so that if the baby isn’t waking me, the itching is!) It’s driving me insane, as it really only affects me at night. Being in the sun doesn’t seem to aggravate it.
I was planning to see a dermatologist to try and find a solution but after reading so many comments and suggestions, I might try a chiropractor first, though it’s disturbing that no one has been given a straightforward solution from a medical professional.
I have had eczema the whole of my life, itching tends to get worse during the summer and at night. If itching is unbearable, have a shower and turn the water onto really hot until the itching goes away. I have done this for years and when the water gets to a certain temperature its as though water is itching it for you. It does no harm to the skin except that it gets red for about ten minutes because the water is hot. The feeling is such a relief. Try it and see what you think
I was relieved to finally know that I’m not crazy!! I have suffered for 12 years. I was involved in a car wreck the day before I was to leave for the beach. I injured my neck and lower back and when I got to the beach I got a bad sunburn on both my shoulders and upper arms. The burn/itch happened and I had always associated it with sun damaged nerve endings, but now I think it is more related to the nerve damage in my neck. I have been to every doctor there is with no one able to tell me anything. I have tried everything on the market and have recently come up with something that is helping me finally get some sleep. Before bedtime I use a Shiatsu Massager on my neck for about 15 minutes( $20.00 ), then I rub Psorisin Gel (coal tar) on both my upper arms. I also purchased one of those cervical pillows that keep your neck in alignment while you sleep. The combination of all of these has finally given me a month of sleep. I really think the pillow does work because if I lay on the sofa using a regular pillow the itch starts back. I have this itch year round and sometimes the sun bothers it and sometimes it does’nt.Hope this is of some use to someone.
I’m having a really bad day; the Allegra 12 isn’t working; creams aggravate my skin and the only thing that’s helping is the ice. For me, a hot shower would drive me over the edge; I have to try to keep the blood vessels (or whatever) from heating up, hence, the ice. The itching has definitely started earlier, this summer, but there’s no point in seeing a doctor. What are we going to do? The only reason I’m not about to panic is that I know I’m not alone. Thanking everyone for the support.
My arm itching, which I’ve had for the past few years, was absolutely miserable all winter..then it stopped in April and now it is back. I can’t imagine what would be triggering it off and on throughout the year. I am NOT and have never been a sun-worshipper, even though I live in the hot south (Georgia). I’ve been using Gold Bond lotion on my arms every day after my shower, and ice packs at night. Also, it is much worse at night than during the day. Such a mystery……..
I still think that, when we lie down, it creates pressure on the nerves in the upper spine which triggers the itch. Most people with the itch seem to have upper spine damage of some sort or other and perhaps that is why acupuncture or chiropractic or deep massage seems to help.
During the day, sweet food seems to set it off sometimes but getting someone to press on the upper spine or slowly rotating the affected arm certainly does the trick for me.
I have been searching for the answers to this itching arm problem on and off for about 2 years now. This is the most current website I have been on so far. The other websites I have found are very dated. My itching arm problems come and go and thank God I do sleep at night but if I am awaken for any reason I start to itch. I have bruised myself terribly in the past from constant scratching and rubbing. I have always used ice to calm the itching. I have had blood work to rule out cancer,(test was negative) and alergy testing. I do have alergies but the alergy med did not help me with the itching arms. I would love to come up with a health questionare that would hopefully identify some simularities between all of us and try to figure this crazy itch thing out. Presently my upper right arm is itching and a pinching sensation comes and goes. Between my shoulder blades on my back I have a tingling sensation. I will be having surgery next week (Complete Hysterectomy/endometriosis) If this is a hormone thing that makes me itch maybe it will go away after the surgery. Anyway I am going to try the biofreeze now and see if it brings some relief. Oh yea, one doctor that I went to a neurologist thinks that my weight gain from 135 to 179 over 1 1/2 yrs. is what is causing my arms to itch??????
Tammy, I surely don’t think that the “itch” we all share has anything to do with hormones, but I wish you a speedy recovery with your surgery. I have had the itch for over 20 years, and have been so glad to find others who share this very frustrating condition. It really does help to find others and know that your not imagining it as the doctors would make you believe. I would bet you could line up 25 dermatologists and maybe one would even have a clue that this condition exists. All they know to do is prescribe creams.
The last couple of years mine has lessened though for years I thought I would go mad with the itching at night. I am making a real effort to stay out of the sun as much as possible (difficult in Texas). I don’t know if that has made the difference, but I am having little trouble now.
I am wondering if the back injuries isn’t the key….I have had 6 events that have been significant for causing neck/back pain. Two whip-lash from auto accidents, 3 falls from horses w/each landing somewhat on my back, and a really hard fall on the ice about 1979 where I my feet came out from under me and I fell on my back and whacked my right elbow. I felt a sharp electrical like jolt up my entire arm. From that injury, I was in constant pain for over 3 years. Do these kinds of injuries ring a bell with others? Also, I was in outside sales and was in and out of my car (again, in Texas sun) and having the sun beat on me thru the glass for 24 years. I always thought that was a factor too. Love to hear your thoughts.
I itch ALL OVER but mostly legs. Worse at night when trying to sleep and after coffee, tea. Came during first pregnance and each consecutive pregnance. Now here to stay. After years of misery I found Vitamin B works!!! For 4-8 hours at a time. I now take spirilina every night and when I need to during the day. It works for me! I carry spirilina everywhere with me.
wow! finally people with with i have. this is the second year that i’ve experienced the horridly painful itch on my , surprise, surprise, upper left arm, and it’s driving me up a wall. i’m terribiliy irritable from the lack of sleep i get at night, and now seem to have my days and nights backwards due to the fact that i can only sleep at night. I’m only 17 years old, contrary to most sufferers who seem to be in their 40’s or 50’s. i’m praying to god that this doesn’t last that long. but anyway, i have minimum sun exposure, being less than an hour a day usually, and this starts. it seems to be triggered last year when i was eating any type of bread products, and found relief after being put on allergy medication and a few rounds of predisone, and the itching went away about mid october and din’t return until about a week ago. i hope that doctors will realize that this isn’t all of us being crazy and that it is an actual problem that they need to get to the bottom of. i’m going to look into the brachial radial pruritus, due to the fact that i’ve had some nasty falls to the head/neck region when i was younger from gymnastics and the such. thank you all for making me feel like i’m not alone out there
Hello again,
just a quick update from me. I went to my GP (with an interest in dermatology), she looked at it and immediately said it was eczema. I hadn’t expected that as my arms have no marks on them really, just a little dry skin (I have not scratched them). She’s given me a very thick emollient called epaderm (described here http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000931.html). I think there are lots of other makes, that’s just one you can get on perscription in the UK.
I have to use it instead of soap and then I put it on again after a shower as a moisturiser. It’s working well (noticeable difference after one day) and although still some itch occasionally it is only slight and not maddening. So there is a simple solution to my very common problem. She said that the eczema can be triggered by a number of things, like something rubbing against the skin, stress, etc. I wish eveyone as much luck.
Ann, with all due respect, I would really be surprised if what most of us experience here is eczema. I am an RN and I’ve had this for about 20 years and I honestly don’t think it is eczema, but if the emollient works, that is something very helpful that others could try for relief. I went to probably 3 derms when I first had symptoms, and I don’t think most of them know what it is. The ones I’ve talked to don’t even know the name for it, or possible causes. In my experience (which of course is only one person) a dermatologist for the most part either puts a cream on anything that itches and if it doesn’t work, they try another cream. Hope my experience isn’t typical, but I finally gave up and found this site and try anything suggested here that sounds reasonable. I’ve been very lucky and havn’t had as much itching for the past couple of years. The only thing I can attritube it to is not being in the sun so much, but I do think there is a link with neck/upper back injury. Just my two cents worth…and thats all. 🙂
My Mom has had just terrible itchy arms (at night) for the last month. It started up out of no where. It was getting so bad that she couldn’t sleep but just a couple of hours at a time. Nothing was working, she tried the OTC hydracortizone, tea tree oil, coconut oil, even an anti fungal cream. Here is what she did that has worked wonderfully for the past four nights no itching and lots of restful sleep; She started a Master Cleanse (juice fast), had a chiropractor adjustment and iced her neck every night before bed. Her chiropractor told her that all the nerves that run in the arm originate in the C3,4 & 5 area. I hope this helps anyone else that is having the same problems. My Grandma also had the same arm itch that troubled her for many years before her death. I wish we would have known what to do then, she suffered so.
Dear Nancy:
Thank you for your comment. I sincerely think the upper arm itching that I have had is due to the nerves that run down the upper arms. That is why this “itch” seems to come from within, and also only effects the upper arm and shoulder area. I couldn’t understand why no where else itched and I felt sure it had to be something besides allergies, even though I have been told that many times. The treatment very similar to acupuncture that I have found, and the ONLY thing that has truly helped, is when the chiropractor does the therapy in my ear with either needles or something like BBs. I cannot remember the name of this treatment, but I sincerely feel this is the answer we are looking for.
Thank you to all who contribute to this site.
Lynn Brown/East Texas
OK guys. Auriculotherapy is what I want to share with you. Just look up the word and find a chiropractor who does this type of treatment.
Some probably do not know it helps these nerves, but I advised my chiropractor about this “brachial radial pruritis” and he treated me with this auriculotherapy and believe me, it works!!
Praise God.!! His address is: DrCharlesDixon@gmail.com
(amazingearstaple.com)
God Bless all of you.
Lynn Brown
pnut136@earthlink.net
Try Absorbine Jr. immediately after shower or bath…even before towel drying body, apply Absorbine Jr. to itchy areas of skin.
After reading everyone comments, I also suffer fron lower arm itch, another common factor I see is many of us live in FL! I’m not blone but am fair skined w/ freckles and in my late 40’s I’ve had arm itch off and on for about 5 years. Long sleeves help but that is tough in FL.
I’m still itchy, however, I’ve noticed it seems worse late in the day, in the evening; unless I get really hot and perspiring when I’m outside gardening. I guess the blood vessels heat up at that time. I haven’t found a cure, only the ice packs and I have bought that menthol pain gel called, ‘Ice’, it”s used for arthritis and the like. I know it’s only temporary relief but I refuse to go to doctors and spend a lot of money for nothing. What puzzles me still is if it is seasonal, how can it be coming from the neck or upper back? Thanks for sharing.
I get it all year round in varying intensity. However, for me, it is often triggered by having something sweet. I find it is very much now in control with occasional accupuncture and doing the shoulder exercises if it starts to tingle.
I found too that, if it is bad and if I am away for a few weeks and it starts up badly, putting a topical lotion like Tiger Balm or an Ibruprofen gel on my upper spine keeps it at bay.
Most of seem to have upper spine damage. I have a lot and, in a way, I think I am fortunate that the only price I am paying for all that damage is an itch I can now pretty well control.
Hello fellow suffers, I just found a websit that was kind of cool it shows that it is the c5,c6 and c7 part of the spine that effects the nerves going down the arm. I can totally understand that it originates in the back but why, why, why does it only effect us anywhere from June to December. That is very baffling. What changes in those months to make our arms start to itch? Even our Aussie people who’s summers are opposite to North America’s summers. How incredibly mysterious!!
http://www.chiromatrix.com/Chiropractic_Website_Spine_Simulator/nerve_chart/
signed
itching in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Interestingly enough, my spinal damage is not even in the cervical area at all. I broke my back about 12 years ago, and it was in the thoracic area. I never had any itch until after my last surgery in 2001, and I am not sure if it is related to that. To Doreen, even if it IS a neck or upper back problem, that does not exclude the possiblity that certain things may trigger it. I know the sun is a big one for me. I just returned from the Middle East, and I found that the neurontin did the trick, and I was able to ease off of it within a week of returning home. Sometimes when I am doing well it is hard to remember the complete and utter frustration of dealing with the severity of this problem when it is bad.
Hello again, I just can’t go through all these posts again, so, can anyone tell me if neurontin didn’t help them. Otherwise, I will ask my doctor to prescribe it for me if it seemed to work for most people. My arms are really bad now and sad to say I did get quite a bit of sun this summer while gardening. Wish I would have paid more attention now! Take care.
I have read most of the above postings and seem to think that we all have something in common, besides the uncontrollable itch, some kind of nerve condition or damage. Whether it be in our necks or spine there is something to this nerve problem. I have had the itching now for over 5 years and it seems to be worse in the summer months. I do have it all year long just not as bad in the winter months. I too have tried everything there is otc and several different prescriptions (oral and topical) but nothing actually stops it totally. Other than the use of ice, which is only an immediate relief….not long term. I am scheduled to go to a Neurologist to see if and what nerve damage I do have. I am currently taking Lodrane, 25mg, 2 each night, as they cause drowsiness and they seem to help keep the severe itch at bay, along with the topical creams. I have found out over the years that alcohol and certain foods can make the itch worse. Seems like anything that will affect your nerves can trigger these episodes. I am really curious about the “auriculotherapy” treatment performed by a chiropractor and if it really works. Is it a treatment for the nerves? Can anyone give more specifics on this treatment? Or if it has really helped others?
Thanks for everyone’s input on this condition.
Hi, have tried many ideas on the site…i am going on vacation to the beach on friday and am really afraid it will be a disaster with the itching in the sun…
would you say an acupuncturist or chiropractor work best? i want to try to see one or the other before friday….seems the needles have the edge on here….
thanks…
ITS DUE TO NERVE DAMAGE FROM ALL THESE STRONG SUNBEDS> STOP USING THEM>
I suffer with BRP Brachioradial Pruritis. I’ve tried everything, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, exercise, liver clense, traditional chinese medicine, an assortment of medications including neurontin, ointments, lotions, potions from all over the world, ice packs etc. etc. etc. The only thing that gives me any lasting relief and literally saves my sanity is a relatively new drug on the market called “Lyrica”. It is quite expensive. For those without a drug plan possibly your GP’s office can get you a supply of samples. It is most commonly used for neuropathic pain (e.g. shingles, diabetic neuropathy), but works just as well with neuropathic itch, which is what this seems to be all about. I have confirmed degenerative change in C5-6-7 however massage etc. has not helped the itch which travels down both of my arms, is also active now in my shoulder balls and also the tops of my wrists. It is also seasonal and is now just beginning to return, I will suffer this wretched condition until March whereby I get an annual reprieve from March until August/Septeember. However, as mentioned I am armed with a huge bottle of Lyrica, and although really hate taking meds, will not think TWICE about taking these – they are my only hope for relief and sanity.
P.S. Forgot to mention that I have had nerve conduction studies also however these were all reported to be normal. My neurologist is quite baffled by this condition and infact had never heard of it until I walked in armed with loads of research info!! Anyway bottom line seems to be that there is very little out there in the form of treatment.
Wow,
I was truly unaware that so many people had this problem. I have had itchy upper arms only at night when I am trying to go to sleep for about 3 years. I am at my wits end. To me it is a very deep itch almost like from the inside, nothing helps. It feels like there are millions of bugs biting me from the inside. If anyone finds out anything please let me know. I am at the point now where I am afraid to get in bed and try to go to sleep becasue I do not want my arms to itch. Good luck all
Dori
Disturbing to recall, when reading messages like the above, just how bad it was. I do seem to have control now – accupuncture (only occasionally now), gently exercising the shoulder joints, limiting sweet things. I do think the Omega 3-6-9 helps. I have also tried to eliminate additives and cook most things from scratch (unfortunate choice of words) and I think that helps too. All I get now is a very occasional prickle which stops if I move my shoulder a bit. I had it for eight or nine years and it was absolutely wretched. I have a lot of spine damage from several accidents and am grateful to be where I am today.