Itching that will not stop

[nonstopitch]

I have had a problem with itching on my left shoulder and upper arm for almost a year. It is an intense itch that nothing relieves not scratching, not lotion, not otc medicines or prescriptions. I have been to the dermatologists but what he gave me does not help. The itch wakes me up from a deep sleep, keeps me from sleeping, and disrupts my whole life. I have little bumps that come up and that is what seems to itch the most but it itches everywhere and I scratch to the point that I have sores. I wake up with blood spot on my pillow and sheets from scratching at night. When I scratch my whole shoulder catches this burning itch that feels like it come from way down deep in my shoulder and the more I scratch the worse it gets. Has anyone ever had this or knows what it is or how to make the itching stop? Thanks for any help I can get.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Your symptoms are suggestive of brachioradial pruritis.It is an intense itching sensation of the arm usually between the shoulder and elbow of either or both arms. The itch can be so intense that sufferers will scratch their own skin to a bleeding condition.

The cause is not known, although there are a few lines of thought on what causes it.The only thing that seems to help most sufferers is the application of ice to the area until the itch is diminished.Other treatments include cooling lotions like those containing camphor or menthol,capsacain or local anesthetic creams,amitriptyline and gabapentin tablets and
electrical cutaneous nerve field stimulation.

Pls discuss this possibility and these options of treatment with your dermatologist.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional queries.