Anyone suffer with neurological itching? (long)

[nscrbug]

Yeah, it's kind of an odd issue...but I'm pretty certain that I have some form of neurological itching - actually, brachioradial pruritis (itching of the arms) to be exact. My right forearm is a splotchy, leathery, bloody mess right now. This all started several months ago, when I started to have these horrific itch/scratch cycles on my right forearm only. Initially, I thought it was basic contact dermatitis...figuring that it must be a result from something that I was touching, or some soap/lotion product that I was using. After several weeks of trying to figure out what could be causing this itch, I came up empty. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I had a particularly bad flare-up. We're talking non-stop itching for nearly 24 hours straight. I could not sleep, I could not workout, and if it were not for ice packs, I would not have been able to function at my job. Ice packs were my ONLY relief. I would literally keep the ice pack on my arm until it was numb and I could no longer feel the itch. I actually thought at one point, that I would give myself a freeze burn. There even came a point, where the ice packs no longer provided relief. That is when I started to think "irrational" thoughts...like wanting to amputate my arm...seriously, it was THAT bad. I really thought that I was going insane. I went to see my GP doctor and he concluded that it must be some sort of allergic reaction. So he put me on a course of oral steroids (prednisone)...which I despise taking, but did so because I felt I had no other recourse. He also suggested that I take Benadryl pills as needed. The first day on the prednisone, I felt a marked improvement. But things went downhill after that. I had 2 solid days of flare-ups, in which neither the steroids or Benadryl seemed to work at all. I was getting desperate and started to try anything and everything I could think of to stop the itch. I tried witch hazel, hydrocortisone creams, Aveeno oatmeal lotion, Benadryl spray, I even tried Preparation H cream...nothing worked, except for the ice.

So I made an appointment to see a dermatologist. I saw her earlier this week. She looked at my arm, asked a few questions, and wrote out a script for Ultravate cream (a topical steroid), Allegra (non-sedating antihistamine), and Atarax (night-time antihistamine). After day 1, I had one of the worst flare-ups ever...slept about 2 hours that night, up sobbing and icing my arm the rest of the night. I came "this close" to going to the ER, but all I could think of, was how they would probably laugh at me for coming to the ER for an itchy arm. But something that the dermatologist asked me, struck a chord. She asked if I had been experiencing any neck pain. She said that compression of the nerves at C5/C6 can cause misfired pain signals to be sent to that appendage (the forearm) in the form of severe itching. It's a neurological issue and the cure and cause is unknown. My neck does bother me from time to time...especially after long rides (could be a fit issue). And I also have a lot of hand numbness and pain..especially my right hand which is the same side that I have the itching forearm. Now I am beginning to wonder if this all points back to my neck. It often feels stiff and sore and kinked...and lots of times, just tilting my head a certain way will make it "crack". I'm contemplating about going to a chiro for an evaluation.

I'm just curious if anybody else here has dealt with any form of neurological itching?

Thanks!

Linda

[jessmarimba]

I don't - BUT - what you are thinking does make sense. Itching was one of the symptoms they asked me about repeatedly to make sure I didn't have nerve problems from my back surgery.

[Aggie_Ama]

I haven't had what you are talking about but if your doctor is right can you see a neurologist? I have a neurological tremor, it effects my fine motor skills when it is active. My primary care doctor knew what it was but was not up on the latest research. I went to a neurologist and when it was active was able to take anti-seizure drugs because they somehow work on it. It is also one they don't know the cause (believe it is a gene I have possibly) but do have some relief. Good luck, neurological issues are one of medicines obnoxious guessing games but I bet relief can be found. (((HUGS)))

[snapdragen]

I never had the itching, but the hand and neck pain are very familiar. I'll second the suggestion to see a neurologist, it may be your cervical spine.

[alexis_the_tiny]

It'd make sense to go to a chiro, a whacked out spine can cause all sorts of strange things to happen to people. I used to work in a clinic before and patients would come in with problems like feeling perpetually cold in hot weather which would go away after a few adjustments. And seeing a neuro would be a good idea, the chiro would help get you some relief now but you'd definitely want to know if there was a neuro problem causing the itching. I hope you fet some relief somewhere soon, it sounds horrid.

[KnottedYet]

As I was reading, I was thinking "it's her neck." And then you mentioned all the other nerve compression symptoms you have and the doc who mentioned cervical spine levels and symptoms.

Generally the culprit in nerve compression is the disc between the vertebrae getting smooshed out of shape from bad posture or repeated trauma. The outer wall of the disc that usually has enough elastic oomph to pull the disc back into its nice shape gets overstretched, and pretty soon instead of a nice round disc you've got a blobby-sloppy disc.

You can move the vertebrae to either side of the blobby disc and kind of shove the disc back into shape yourself. You can have a chiro do it (but be extremely careful in your choice of chiro), you can have a D.O. do it. But if you learn how to do it yourself, you can really control the thing. (Until the elastic rebuilds, it will keep squishing into its blobby shape every so often. Would you rather fix it yourself right then, or would you rather make an appointment to have someone else do it a day or two later? Both will work, it's just a matter of preference.)

I have neurogenic itching along a rib, and went to my dermatologist nearly in tears because I couldn't see anything there but I was itching like mad. Now I can fix it when it happens (it stops immediately) and use it to remind myself of good posture. It has not gone away completely, but now I only get it for a few minutes maybe every couple months. I can live with that.

[nscrbug]

Well I wanted to give an update on my itchy forearm, since I see a few more recent responses to this thread.

It basically cleared up completely around the 2nd week of December, and hasn't bothered me since then. Weird, I know. But this seems to be on par with many of the other stories I've read on brachioradial pruritis (itching of the forearm). Lots of other folks describe their symptoms as starting in late September and dissipating by early December...which is exactly how mine went. I've also read that it is a "seasonal" condition, so it may return next year at the same time. So, armed with that information, I will surely be more conscious about using sunblock (the condition is said to be brought on by excessive sun exposure) when I'm outdoors on the bike or at the pool.

For now, I have no itching forearm...and for that I am truly grateful, as I have an extremely low tolerance for itching of any kind. I actually would welcome PAIN over itching, ANY DAY!