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Neurology (Expert Forum)
insect bite sensations
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insect bite sensations
by leila, Sep 12, 2003 12:00AM
I am 45years old. My background consists of multiple chronic health problems - IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies and trigeminal neuralgia (mild, fortunately, but affects my left eye, causing gritty sensations and blurring). I recently discovered that cutting gluten out of my diet practically resolved the IBS problem and I have felt better than in a long time. However, I still remain very tired most of the time. Another irritating symptom seems to have developed now, though when I think about it, it may have started up a while ago. I have had itching skin, especially one particular point to the left of and under my right shoulder blade at the back. Also numerous other skin irritations. Sometimes there are small urticarial-type lumps in the itching area (which suggests allergy), but often there is nothing. Now this skin itching seems to be turning into something else - a mixture of itching and also insect-bite type sensations that make me flinch slightly and I find I need to rub the area or move about to relieve it. This sounds very like what is called 'restless leg syndrome', but it is all over my body. It is very apparent in the evenings when I'm tired, but doesn't stop me sleeping. On occasions recently, it has been so bad I have taken ibuprofen to relieve it and gone to sleep to 'get away from it'. I'm wondering if it is a form of neuropathy. Have you come across this before? Do I have cause to be concerned about these symptoms and report them to my doctor? I'd be grateful for your opinion. Thanks, Jule
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Sep 12, 2003 12:00AM
The fact that you occasionally have urticarial type reaction would suggest that this may be an allergic or dermatologic disorder. The sensory symptoms in restless leg syndrome typically only involve the distal legs. And a peripheral neuropathy involving the thoracic nerves first would be very unusual. If these symptoms are occasionally painful and similar to the trigeminal neuralgia, then perhaps this could be do to a pinched nerve in your thoracic spine (although from your description this is unlikely). I think it is reasonable for your to discuss this with your primary care doctor, as a starting point. Good luck.
