Any CURE for brachioradial pruritus? (besides ice as relief)

[steamboattracey]

Thousands of people are suffering with Brachioradial Pruritus, including myself, in my tenth year. It is the most maddening disease and I have learned of no cure. Ice is the ONLY thing to provide relief, and acupuncture has not been effective for me. I have tried all the expensive prescription and steroid creams to no avail. I am losing sleep, and my sanity, b/c it keeps me up all night. I am staying out of the sun, but every year, this persists until December or January. I have read countless articles and blogs about BRP, am sure that is what I have, but have yet to find a cure, and therefore some hope that I don't have to suffer with this every year for the rest of my life. Any new ideas/solutions/cures??? PLEASE?!!!!

[miamites]

I had brachioradial pruritis a couple of times that lasted a few months each time.   Lost a lot of sleep. I'm female, late 40s (perimenopause).  Well l.5 yrs ago I was finally diagnosed with low thyroid after years of not being able to get out of bed in the am.  Well I don't know why, or if it was coincidence, but when I started the thyroid within a week I noticed my nightly pruritis had stopped!.  It has not come back yet, so wondering if the thyroid had anything to do with it, or the thyroid corrected something else that had something to do with it.  Again might have just been a fluke, and it might come back some day....Also, I did find toward the end of my last case of RBP, before I went on thyroid, that gabapentin was effective for me. So when I couldn't sleep I would resort to that medication. I asked for it from my doctor because I finally realized that it was a nerve thing and not an external skin thing.  the best topicals I found for me were Capzacin (sp) cream and pure tea tree oil.   But they can burn if your skin is too raw from scratching.  Good luck all and maybe check your thyroid for the hell of it, mine was finally diagnosed with a 24 hour urine test.  Blood did NOT pick it up!  

[Tcmc2damaxxx]

After doing alot of research into this...im pretty sure this is what i have as well...i didvthe lotions...no creams or prescriptions due to the fact i cant afford to go the doctor...but i notice that a strong calming lotion as eucerin or cetaphil works...im also a chef by occupation and i was at work breading some green tomatoes for a dinner i was doing...i dont normally eat raw tomato but something told me to try it...i did...and moments later itching subsided...but let me be a little p.c....my itching could be little psychosomatic as well cause with deep concentration it also subsides...but raw green tomato seemed to have subsided the itching...try it...it seemed to work!!!

[Lee8282]

I started itching 6 months ago!  For those who have been suffering longer, I am so sorry!

I have gone to 5 dermatologists. The first 3 were completely clueless! #4 who is a resident actually mentioned the possibility. I saw #5 today after waiting over a month for this appointment. He confirmed what #4 suggested. He suggested over the counter in US Capsaicin Cream (contains  chili peppers) 3 times a day until the burning from the chili peppers is gone. Then use 1x a day for life.

He explained that the nerves are sending messages that I  have been bitten by a insect. The cream is suppose to confuse and clam the nerve until it no longer responds as  if I were bitten.

Warning: the cream burns and itches but compared to the other itching the burning from the chili is welcomed!

[Jman75309]

I to have this condition and have been suffering for about ten years now!!!!!! It always starts around May and will continue through octoberish. I live in Texas and believe it comes about during the warmer, humid months of the year. Ice treatments are the only thing that I have found for relief. I basically plan not to sleep for the summer months. I will also run my forearms under extremely hot water to the point of almost scalding for relief.

[Chickieann]

I too suffered from this horribly for several very long years.  Probably due to some damage suffered during a herniated disc episode in my neck that had to be surgically fixed. All is well with that now but the itching was horrible.

Lyrica worked at first for me but down the road, I read good info that stated that Lyrica and Gabapentin would stop your brain from forming any new synapsis and I sure did not want that.

So I suffered.  until I just happened to decide to go low carb and eat all clean foods as well.  Went to a whopping total of 30-40 carbs a day for a month.  Without expecting it in the least, it stopped my BRP at about day 5-6.  Stopped it cold.  During one of the worst runs of it I had had in a long time. Also stopped my restless leg syndrome.  Now I can eat 70-80 carbs a day and not have a return of the symptoms.  But I still choose to eat my carbs in the most healthy way I can, by mostly veggies and limited fruit.  Never grains, rarely beans or potatoes.  But I won't say never, cause I might be in the situation where that is all I have to eat.

I hope others who have not found relief will at least give this a serious attempt. It is good for your health in so many ways.  A book that helped me along the way is The Grain Brain by Dr David Purlmutter, MD.  A world class, well respected neurologist who knew many of his patients would improve if they only improved their diet.  Plus the man is a genius in explaining exactly how our bodies manage carbs and how it is not the preferred fuel for our bodied

[riseupdhvani]

I've been doing a paleo diet for two years and my itching is worse this year then ever. I'm going on 3 months of not sleeping and loosing my mind. Wish this had worked for me

[CWM1]

I went to Mayo Clinic for this problem just yesterday.  He prescribed a topical steroid called Clobetasol Propionate .05% cream which is to be used once weekly.  He also prescribed a compound lotion which they had to make at the Mayo Pharmacy which consists of AMIT 2%, ketamine 5% and lidocaine 5%.  Fair notice, insurance didn't cover this last one and it was $175.  They said it wasn't covered because it is a compound and so not on any lists of approved meds.  

I have had this for approx. 20 years normally starting in Aug and ending in Dec.  This year it's started up in May.  Like most of you, I have tried everything I can think of.  Sarna really doesn't work well for me...some relief but not much.  Aspercreme with Lidocaine works the best.  Spray Benadryl works somewhat too.  

He also suggested using Blue Lizard sunscreen for sensitive skin (available at Amazon with great reviews) and Olay Quench body wash (also Amazon).

It's too soon to know how well this will work but at 175 for one of them, I sure hope it does.  If it does, I can have it made up and sent by Mayo at Rochester directly to me.  At that price, I sure hope this lasts longer than I suspect it will using it 3 times a day.

[Ccsudderth]

I too have the $175 compound and it does nothing - save your money if you haven't already purchased.  The only thing that ever worked for me (I've had BRP  off and on for 30 years) was lyrica but every year or so i would start itching and my doctor would up  my dosage.  I eventually maxed out the dosage and it no longer worked.  I am currently going out of my mind itching - my arms are all scarred from scratching.  I honestly don't know where to turn from here.

[Loxley12]

Ahhh, Summer in central Ohio!  I am pleased/terrified to see it arrive.  I love Summer.....but I know my BRP will soon be with me as an annual, uninvited guest who stays far too long and is much too disruptive!
Last year I tried to be very aggressive in managing, mitigating, beating back the problem with Chiro adjustments, acupuncture, laser treatments of the area, gabapentin po and topical, bio-freeze, postural supports, sleeping with only a 3 inch diameter neck roll--no pillow--to avoid bad positioning of my neck.
Really, the best thing for me seems to be TENS--transdermal electric stimulation.  You can buy a unit for about $35 that has an ac adapter or battery option.  I position the pads based on where I believe the primary nerve over-activity is occurring.  Usually one on upper arm and one one forearm.  I plug it in at night to allow me to sleep, and just use the battery when up and about during the day.  It is a bit of a hassle, but gives me as much relief as ice it seems without the mess.  Plus the TENS is a great device for other aches and pains, too.
I made my own topical gabapentin as the commercially available one is custom made and horribly expensive.  I do not like taking it po, so will try the DIY topical again this year.
The acupuncture I had was not directly into my arms.  I may give that a try this year.  I am so grateful that I do not suffer with this throughout the year, but am sad to be at a point where I dread Summer......  Oh, the joys of living a long active life.  I will be talking with Dr about some of the other meds reported here to give some relief.  We just have to keep trying, don't we?!?!?