itchy arms = BRACHIORADIAL PRURITUS

[pruritus]

all itchy arm sufferers....please look into brachioradial pruritus.  My arms, and only my arms, have itched for 10 years.  no rashes, no psiorias, excema etc.  The creams, allergery pills..my list is extensive as to what I have tried but nothing worked. ---------------The only thing that helps are ice packs. -----------------------
Recently,I had an x-ray to check if I had any nerve impingement in my cervical spine - one of the possible causes but nothing showed so I continue to search for answers.  I did get confirmation of the brachioradial pruritus from a great dermatologist who has only seen 3 cases in his 15 years on the job.  He did a biopsy that he sent to UC Davis for confirmation.  The diagnosis was actually a relief as I have been told that it is so many other things.  
I hope this helps.  I will keep posting if I find anything helpful solutions.  

[steamboattracey]

I have the same exact thing, and have also had it for 10 years. It seems to spread more each year, starting as only my left arm, then moving to my right, and now extends to my wrists and shoulders. :( I too have been diagnosed with BRP, and the only relief is from ice--but that feels so hopeless to me. Are there any other cures/solutions? I can not bear the thought of having to endure this torture the rest of my life. Makes me want to cry!

steamboattracey

[pruritus]

Prudoxin (Doxepin Hydrochloride) 5 % lotion.  This seems to be working.  I have been using it for about 6 months.  My list of things I have tried is incredibly long including eliminating a particular food to anithistamines to acupuncture to steroid lotions.  Until this Prudoxin, only ice packs worked.  
My heart goes out to you.  I so totally understand the frustration and exhaustion this causes you.  My dermatologist diagnoised it but my general physician worked with me on a variety of prescriptions until we landed on this one cream.  I did try it in pill form but it made me too sleepy.  
Best wishes and keep posting your progress.  One note: I am also in the midst of menopause.  Not sure if there is any connection ....

[steamboattracey]

Thank you so much for your personal response and empathy. I have had it for TEN years and feel hopeless that it will ever go away. Been to countless dermatologists and tried all kinds of expensive prescription creams, steroid creams, and regular OTC itch remedies--NOTHING has worked. I also tried acupuncture, chiropractic work, and diet changes. My only diagnosis, which is what I think it is, is brachioradial pruritis, but the only prescription for relief was more creams—no root of cause or lasting cure or solution. Only relief is ice. It started 10 years ago (was living in mountains of Colorado--sunny, but little humidity) in the summer. It comes back every year around July/August and lasts thru December, disappearing just as suddenly as it returned. Does your itch do this as well? I am awake every single night with this, although it also occurs in the daytime now. It started on my left upper arm, but seems to expand each year. It went to entire left arm, then right upper, and entire right arm, and this year it extends to my shoulders. It is the worst torture, and makes an otherwise happy and laid back person very irritable, frustrated and tired! I do not know what to do. I am not menopausal, but I am 36 years old, and am pregnant with my first child (less than a week to go!) so can not take meds or get an MRI, but am going to a neurologist asap and will ask for MRI after baby is born. I am athletic (tho no known neck/back problems), and have also spent a lot of time outside and in the sun. I now live in Austin, Texas, also a sunny climate (but more humid than Colorado), and the dreaded itch came back about a month ago. I can not bear the thought of living with this for the rest of my life. Also, no rash or any other visible sign of itch, aside from the scars I create by scratching until bleeding. :(  I have been up many nights over 10 years reading blogs like this, see that thousands of people suffer with it, men and women of all ages, living in all parts of the world...I have not been able to distinguish a common thread for the cause besides the symptoms and the temporary relief from ice. I hope there is a doctor out there, or a team of doctors, that is aware of this and will take the time to find the cause and cure of brachioradial pruritus. I've read that it is caused by one of two (or both) things: prolonged exposure to sun, and /or something with a nerve in the cervical spine. I for sure have been in the sun a lot  (I am very outdoorsy and also, as a kid, had sunburn too many times) but am not sure about my spine...  Thank you for the reco on the prudoxin...I will definitely try it. I am willing to try ANYTHING at this point.

[Nagnal]

You said it all. Im not even going into detail about mine because its exactly as you described it. I want answers/solution to stop this insane itch. My Dermatologist has done nothing for me! I wish i could find some relief somewhere besides ice packs. I have it on both my arms and on my shoulders. I have read about Brachioradial pruritis and that seems to best explain what we all could potentially suffer from. [emedicine.medscape.com] is a website that explains it well. While i was doing some research i came across this -----> [brachioradialpruritus.com] It's apparently an ebook written by a lady named Adele Michaels who wrote all about the symptoms we suffer from (if you check out the website you will see what i mean) she seemed to have it down word for word what we suffer from. I was about to buy the book when i saw the price. $49.95 which wouldn't be a lot to cure this problem we have, but i decided to do some more research on her. I googled Adele Michaels and found this web page -----> [www.stopshakyhands.com] which has the exact same set up! If you notice on both website under "How do I know this will work for me? " you see testimonials from THE SAME EXACT PEOPLE FROM BOTH WEBSITES!!! The testimonials were only changed slightly as well! In seeing this i will not be purchasing the book but am curious if anyone has or see any other similar things that are actually legit. Goodluck to everyone during this time i hope everyone finds relief soon :-(

[steamboattracey]

OMG....I did the same exact thing with the Adele Michaels thing...my husband and I were looking at it a few nights ago, and he was like, BUY IT! I don't care if it's $50...etc, but I was suspect and looked further only to find the same exact people in the testimonials. I hope she is found out--we are all so desperate to find a cure that we could be vulnerable to such a scam. PLUS, if ANYONE found a cure for this, who has also suffered from it, I'd hope they'd give up all the solutions/relief/cure/info for free, just b/c they'd know how awful it is.  When she didn't even provide one tip or sample page, I thought it had to be too good to be true. :( What a bummer. In my 10th year, this is the worst I've had it so far, b/c it has spread to my shoulders and wrists and seems to itch CONSTANTLY at night. I have been taking sleeping pills every night, but when I wake up, they are itching and I have to resort to ice. Anyway, let's keep searching...there must be a doctor out there who can help. How long have you been suffering?

[Nagnal]

About 3 years. Its from my elbows up, and on my shoulder. I dont have it on my forearms or wrist. Its the same as you, very bad at night. The strange thing is that my sister who is only a couple years younger then me has started experiencing it as well. She has all the same things and i can tell she is suffering from what myself and everyone else is suffering from. The fact that she has it has me wondering if now it could be genetics. There are so many questions that i would like answered like why only certain areas of the arm are itchy, why is it seasonal, and so on and so on. I was prescribed some sort of sleeping pill by my regular doctor but it did nothing but make me groggy so i stopped taking them because i felt so awful in the morning. I think that it def is Brachioradial pruritis it just seems to make sense. From what i have read it had to do with vertebra and your spine so i think im going to get acupuncture and maybe adjustments from a chiropractor. I am at my wits end with this as im sure you are too. Have you looked into acupuncture and adjustments by a chiropractor, or heard of any other solutions. I also recall reading something about electro stimulation or something to that affect.

[steamboattracey]

I have tried acupuncture once, but to no avail...that doesn't mean it won't work though. At that time (4 years ago) we thought it might be something systemic, like an allergy or an internal infection....so maybe we weren't going after it the right way. I do have a few questions about the Brachioradial Pruritus (BRP) thing though...IF it is a neurological thing, and due to cervical spine/nerve damage, then why is the itch seasonal? And IF it is caused by sun exposure, then why does it wait until July/August to show up (I am outside almost every day--I now live in Austin, TX, and I used to live in Colorado where I was outside all spring/summer/fall April-October, in short sleeves, but the itch would continue thru December/January in winter when I was skiing, etc...)...so why wouldn't it itch on days you are exposed to the sun, etc, and go away sooner? I have not been outside much this summer, but am still suffering, even worse--it kills me to stay inside all the time, and it hasn't seemed to help anyway. :(  What kind of climate do you live in? Interesting your sister has it too--my mom thought she had it last year, but hers went away so it was not the same thing. My cousin experienced severe itching too, but his was due to yoga mats in a hot yoga studio and is now gone.  

[Nagnal]

I live in central New Jersey. I absolutely think its Brachioradial Pruritus, thats the only thing that makes sense. I personally believe its neck/spinal problem causing the itching not sun exposure. I know that i had a problem with my neck when i was younger and maybe that is what has started causing this now. I also have a slight case of scoliosis. Many people are debating the cause and reasons for this its been written about in journals but there is nothing concrete. A few of your questions are criticisms for the Brachioradial Pruritus diagnosis because the itching is seasonal which doesn't make sense if its a nerve problem. Im 23, how are you if you dont mind me asking?

[pruritus]

hi ladies.  Notice that its mainly ladies that seem to have this problem.  Streamboattracey - I mentioned the prudoxin but I failed to mention that I now wear a sun shirt whenever I am going to be outside for an extended amount of time.  I found that the hotter the weather, the worst the itching became.  Mine was year round until this prudoxin and sun shirt combo.  Now its very, very occasional.  My husband's theory is that there is a connection between epidurals received while giving birth to my kids. The itch started after my second child.   Now I am in the menopausal stage of life so do hormones play a part?  Its about 12 years now since it started.  It was gradual - just an occasional itch somewhat seasonal moving onto both arms, from shoulder to wrist, and all year round.  I have had some issues with neck aches but nothing consistent.  Also, have religiously tracked my diet eliminating gluten for example but to no avail.  I see that someone posted using the flucinonide .5%  - that worked for about 4 months and gradually stopped plus it thinned my skin tremendously.  Keeping my fingers crossed that whether its the prudoxin, sun shirts or menopause,  I am just hopefully that this is ended.  My heart goes out to you all.  I am amazed how many dermatologists are oblivious to this, making you jump through so many hoops over and over again starting with anithistamines then a battalion of creams.  I started sending printouts to any dermatologists I had visited about this Brachialradial pruritus just so less people would suffer.  Keep posting.  Best wishes with the baby Tracey!  

[steamboattracey]

Thanks for the wishes and thoughts! I will try prudoxin (after Baby gets here). On the hormone thing, I have read many posts from younger people over the years, and mine started when I was 25 (10 years ago), and on the epidural thing, well, I haven't gone through that yet, and hoping not to have to use one.  So, I'm not sure there's a connection there. Perhaps hormones do have something to do with it, but again, mine started long before menopausal age, and also, there are many posts from males as well, with the same symptoms. But we need to keep making these connections and drawing common threads...thanks again.


ANY OTHER MALES ON THIS POST?

[steamboattracey]

Has anyone tried eliminating sugar from their diet for at least 3 weeks?

Any other dietary attempts that have worked or not worked? Anyone met with a nutritionist? Even if a dietary change did work, I still don't understand why the itch would be seasonal (July thru December every year)??

[steamboattracey]

Has anyone tried eliminating sugar from their diet for at least 3 weeks?

Any other dietary attempts that have worked or not worked? Anyone met with a nutritionist? Even if a dietary change did work, I still don't understand why the itch would be seasonal (July thru December every year)??

[steamboattracey]

Has anyone tried eliminating sugar from their diet for at least 3 weeks?

Any other dietary attempts that have worked or not worked? Anyone met with a nutritionist? Even if a dietary change did work, I still don't understand why the itch would be seasonal (July thru December every year)??

[steamboattracey]

Has anyone tried eliminating sugar from their diet for at least 3 weeks?

Any other dietary attempts that have worked or not worked? Anyone met with a nutritionist? Even if a dietary change did work, I still don't understand why the itch would be seasonal (July thru December every year)??

[steamboattracey]

Has anyone tried eliminating sugar from their diet for at least 3 weeks?

Any other dietary attempts that have worked or not worked? Anyone met with a nutritionist? Even if a dietary change did work, I still don't understand why the itch would be seasonal (July thru December every year)??

[Tylersmammaw]

I have been dealing with this since 2003 with increasing agony as time has went by. I am in the middle of all the tests now along with alot of medical bills. I am at the point of doing anything to get answers. Tonight I decided to search on-line and found this forum and could not believe what I was reading. It was as though I had written it all. I then proceeded to research brachioradial pruritis and am still in awe of what I have found. I have printed quite a bit of reading for my doctor on the next visit. I did rupture the C5 AND C6 in my neck and had to have surgery, this definitely has shined some light on my misery. Thank You all so much for taking the time to tell your stories because this has probably not only saved me more unnecessary expense but has brought me hope in a diagnosis.
Tylersmam

[tracitb]

Hi! Wow, ladies, I'm glad to have found this thread, too. I'm 37 and have dealt with this itchy arm thing for at least 7-8 years. Of note---my oldest son is about to turn 8 this November.  Not sure if there's a correlation.  Also, I initially thought mine was seasonal, too, but I'm not sure it is. I used to live in Virginia and now live in San Diego...and it's bothered me year-round in both locations.  A few months ago I began to think it was wheat/gluten-related, but I can't seem to make sense of that, either. I think I'm going to check into chiropractic care to see if some neck/back manipulation will help.  I've found occasional relief w/ hydrocortizone, then vagisil, of all things, but neither of those works consistently. AAHHHH!  We've got to get this figured out! My husband and friends think I'm crazy!

[zcb491]

I was also diagnosed with Brachioradial Pruritius.  My doctor prescribed Gabapentin 100 mg 3xdaily along with a twice daily application of Fluocinonide Cream 0.05% and the horrible itching went from a scale of 10 to around 1 or 2 within a few days.  It still itches a bit but it's nothing like the nightmare itching before I began the Gabapentin and Fluocinonide.  Please give it a try folks.  It has made a miracle difference in my life.  The low dosage of Gabapentin does not make me sleepy or dopy and once I am used to it I can increase the dosage if necessary.  This is one goofy ailment and hardly anyone has heard of it much less experienced it.  You have to be proactive with your doctor and say you want to try the Gabapentin and Fluocinonide.  Good luck.

[kye58]

Fantastic to find this forum!  My problem started in July on a particularly hot day - I remember my arms got burnt and my right upper arm hasn't stopped itching since!  It's been driving me insane just like you all describe - have tried at least six different creams to no avail.  It's worse in the evenings and often wakes me up during the night.  BP sounds like exactly what it is.  I have cervical root compression and arthritis and that may be the underlying cause, but it was probably triggered by the sunlight damaging the nerves.  If Gabapentin helps, then I guess it's almost certainly nerve-related.
I put an ice pack on tonight after reading these posts and it's the only thing that's helped so far.  I'm loathe to go to a dermatologist as it doesn't sound as if they can suggest much........I spoke to my neurologist about it last week and even she didn't believe me!

[steamboattracey]

So it looks like these are some of the creams/remedies that have at least helped other sufferers a little bit:

Gabapentin and Fluocinonide
Prudoxin
Elidel
White Flower Oil

ice of course, to numb the nerves
chiropracric work

[pruritus]

add to your list:
   avoiding direct sunlight on the arms.  (That seems to be a trigger for me at least! )

would still love to find out the cause of this malady!

[mduck]

So I have read and read and researched and researched, as have all of you.  So what now?  Has anyone ever had a doctor that knew exactly what was going on?  With so many sufferers why is there not someone, anyone, to help us?  My story mimics all of yours combined.  I can't continue to sit here without answers!  I live in the Los Angeles area and will go see any doctor that lives within walking, running, driving or flying distance; if you get my drift!  Does anyone have a recommendation? I am going to start with a neurologist, as I do believe if this is the brachioradial prutitis, I should start with my cervical spine area.  Anyway, I so feel for all of you.  Feel free to write, call, Fed.Ex. (!!!)anytime.  Need some humor here...   my name is Kathy.  Email is:  ***@****   or cell is:  661-714-2787    no Fed.Ex. #  Thoughts are with all of you!

[mduck]

And I meant to say also, it's just not normal to go to a restaurant and have to ask for ice bags from the host, because my itching started and I knew the only thing to stop it was ice!  Nice restaurant, daughter's birthday, all the family there; I looked nuts!  I'm going to start saying I injured my arms and have to ice them at times because that sounds better than saying my arms itch!!!  Anyone relate to that?  ;)

[steamboattracey]

Yes, also add to the list: avoid direct sunlight (and often, even just heat sets mine off)

To Mduck--so sorry to have to welcome you to this forum. It seems all of us have been through going to all kinds of doctors, dermatologists, AND neurologists and spent hundreds of dollars on all kinds of steroid creams, and still no "cure", just maybe some ideas for temporary relief. This is why I am wide awake and typing at 4:39 AM!  :( It's truly miserable. Hang in there, and keep communicating...maybe with all of our resources and a heck of a lot of hope, we'll find a cure someday?! I think we are all willing, at least I would be willing to go to GREAT lengths and expense to find a cure, b/c this is a QUALITY OF LIFE issue. :(  steamboattracey

[pruritus]

Might I suggest that we all print out these postings and send them to your current dermatologist and/or doctor in an attempt to educate them.  Any thoughts on mailing stuff to  Dr. Oz....sure he must be looking for topics for his new show!!!  Educate Educate Educate.  That the only way to get an answer.  

[tracitb]

Great idea about Dr. Oz...and I definitely plan to take these posts into the doc when I go to see him.  

Another possible cream for relief (sorry, can't remember if I read this in an earlier post or from another website)-----ICY HOT (or the even the generic equivalent).  It's been working for me lately, but I still want the doc in on this mess, so I'll be going soon.  

tracitb

[steamboattracey]

Yes, I have brought a number of these posts into 2 different doctors plus a nutritionist, but not to amny avail. But there WILL be someone who cares enough to read into it. I think the Dr. Oz idea is a great one, and anyone who might have a willing ear and/or audience/resources to help us.

I think I also mentioned Icy Hot in a post somewhere on this site (btw, threads appear for Brachioradial Pruritus in both dermatology AND in neurology, at least, maybe elsewhere on this site too, so read on....)  I am also currently using White Flower oil, which has menthol in it...basically anything with menthol in it (like Icy Hot)  can provide some relief.

Keep at it guys...it at least feels good to have a dialogue with you, and gives me some hope that we may be able to find help somewhere if we band together.....? THANKS!

[jrw27]

Thanks for this site.  I'm a 65 year old male and this thing has been driving me nuts!  I still work full time and staying up half the night or more with ice packs on my arms until I drop from exhaustion is getting very old (like me).  I too have tried cortizone creams and ointments and antihistamines and calamine lotion.  I have tried washing my arms. I spend virtually every day at my desk in support of technology at a large prosecutors office.  I work from home all the time and many days do not get out at all.  I have very high filtration filters in my A/C.  I am grateful for the information and experiences expressed on this site. I have printed it out and will take it to my doctor with me this week.

[steamboattracey]

Glad you have some supportive insight to take with you...good luck to you. Keep us posted!

[jameslabar]

I wanted to tell you all about another blog site that I came across in my research of BPR.

http://thedermblog.com/2008/02/24/brachioradial-pruritis-scratching-makes-the-itching-worse/comment-page-3/#comments

I have this also, I suffered trauma from a fall 5 years ago and am quite certain nerve damage to the C5-6 area plays a role!

[pruritus]

james - thanks for that link!  
the prudoxin and sun shirts are still working for me.  Keeping my fingers crossed that it continues!

[itchyarmwoman]

Wow!  This is pretty enlightening to read all of your comments.  I've only had the symptoms you're all describing for one month on one arm, but its driving me insane and keeping me up at night.  At first this started with insatiable itching and teeny bumps so I thought they were flea bites, but its like you said, the scratching only makes the itching more severe... so I tried the ice packs and did get back to sleep last night.  Its really rather torturous to itch so much and resist the temptation to scratch!  Thanks for the recommendations of Gabapten and fluocinonide.  My husband thinks I should go to the doctor this week, but I will be printing out some info from this website...  Have any of you experienced side effects from the prescriptions?  I have no history of cervical spine injuries, but did have 3 epidurals.  I believe that without a doubt it gets worse with sun exposure.  I am an RN and determined to seek out answers to this weird thing!  

itchyarmwoman

[steamboattracey]

Sorry to also have to welcome you to this site, as that mean you are suffering :(   Some of the steroid creams, such as those with fluocinide, will make your skin atrophy after a while b/c it sort of desensitizes it. At least that's what happened to e, and the dermatologist said that would happen, but it at least helped to relieve the itching some. What I found that worked best for me this summer (my 10th summer with this! and also had my first epidural 5 weeks ago when my first baby was born) was white flower oil (natural; bought at natural foods store, Whole Foods) and also tried Elidel prescription cream (active ingredient: 1% pimecrolimus). Good luck to you! Ask all those doctors you work with--maybe someone will take up our case and cause, or at least have some new insight or other helpful advice!

[landintc]

I too suffer from this nagging painful condition.  I have just started trying to find some help.  I spoke to the Nurse Practioner where I work today at length about this.  A question arose that I have not seen any posts to and wondered about.  Have any of you sufferers had surgery prior to the start of this condition?  I had surgery on one shoulder for a deformed socket and the other for a rotator cuff injury, my symptoms started after the surgeries.  I get this several times a year and it goes from one arm to the other.  I have no history of neck problems and I am definately not in the sun much.  Also, mine flares up more in the fall and spring, very little in the summer.  I am glad that I found this forum and that I am not alone.  I have had this going on for about 3 years (after the last surgery on my rotator cuff) and when I have spoken to my PCP she acted like I was making it up.  I also spoke to another doctor who stated that it was probably just a rash triggered by stress and that I shouldn't worry about it.  (I wish she had to spend half her night in agony and no sleep).  Any feed back you can give about the surgery question would be helpful.

[pruritus]

I am going on year 12.  Re; Your theory about surgeries...About year 6, I broke my arm (the ulna bone in two places).  The itching subsided until the bone was completely fused back.  Have to admit, I was so hopeful that I had "severed" the connection of whatever nerve was causing this terrible itching but to no avail.  I too wondered if having epidurals played a part in this mystery.  
One comment on  fluocinide - it thinned my skin and eventually stopped working.  Will definitely look at the white flower oil.
Keep posting.    

[landintc]

Thanks for the response. I don't know about an epidural playing a part as I only had one child and had him natural.  My Nurse practioner at work has read everyone's posts and info that I printed out for her.  She has prescribed a low dose of Neurontin for a week and we are trying that.  I have been on it since Thursday (100 mg 2x daily).  I started it right in the middle of a flare up and within 30 minutes it had subsided, I have not had one since.  As I told her, I am skeptical but time will tell as these flare ups come and go.  Has anyone else tried Neurontin and did it work long term?

[steamboattracey]

I heard about Neurontin, but I've also heard of people having bad experiences with it from side effects, so be careful! A good friend, in his 50s, healthy and strong as an ox, tried neurontin for a back injury (I think it was back?) and he had a seizure while driving due to the drug, so NOT to scare you, but do be careful. I opted not to try it after hearing that, but please keep us updated. Thanks!

[Max51]

I've been using gabapentin for a few years now and have found it's the only thing that has worked for me.  I've had no side effects other than maybe (and I say maybe) a little drowsiness.  Other than that, I can go itch free for the night.  I can take up to 2400 mgs a day, but haven't  reached that dosage yet.  During the bad times I take about 1800 mgs a day.  Also, during real intense times, I gob mineral ice on my arms before going to bed.  I also carry it around with me in the event I have an "itch attack" while I'm out.  It's messy but it does the trick for me.

[alltogether]

I too have just the same symptoms. About 6 years in. 48 year old woman. Very seasonal for me, roughly August to February. Active, fit, eat well, not perfect! Love the sun. Live in the north (west coast of Canada). It seems I've tried everything, including several accupucture  treatments and a years-worth of chiropractic and spinal decompression. My back is feeling much better after a lifetime of suffering but the itch, no different! Three years ago I resorted to drugs, Lyrica the first year but that made me way too groggy and out-of-it. Over time it didn't work anyway. Now I take gabapentin (Neurontin) like those above. My doctor prescribed up to 300mg three times a day but what I do is take 400mg all at night (the pharmasist says this is fine). It knocks me out for the whole night so I feel well rested every day which I believe is key. When I don't sleep the itch is worse and very difficult mentally, to put up with. I may have the odd tingle during the day or evening but nothing I can't ignore with a little effort. Perhaps taking the prescribed way would alleviate this? No side effects for me.

[Lesley54]

I am sitting here totally amazed ! A couple of years ago both upper arms had the same itching, it went on for ages. I put it down to the menopause, as nobody could give me another reason. Then it just stopped. For the last couple of months it has started again, I am sitting here with an ice pack on my left arm, I couldn't sleep and picked up the laptop. Like everybody else I am amazed that I am not on my own ! My doctor sent me for an ultrasound because a lump has appeared on my elbow, but they said nothing was there.Has anybody else had a lump appear ? They have tried me on various creams but to no avail. I don't think it is sun related as I live in England and we haven't seen that much ,this year ! The itch is about 6 inches above to about 6 inches below my elbow joint and the lump seems to be on the muscle. I can't wait to show these comments to my doctor as I thought I was going crazy. Any feedback over the lump would be appreciated.

[itchgitchie]

I too am amazed at how many people like myself share this condition!   I have suffered from this condition for 30+ years.  My grandmother and father suffered from it and I have 3 sisters currently with the condition.  I was the first of the siblings and I was in my 20s when it began.   Over the years my problem sites have changed.  When I was younger it was more from my elbow to my wrists.  The worst is when it is located near a boney area but I seem to be past that.    Now it is shoulders and back of my neck area.   I live in RI and I get it in late summer through January.  I refuse to see anymore doctors or use any more creams/pills ICE Packs are the only relief.    I'm convinced scented candles/oils aggravate the condition (have you ever been in a boutique with lots of scents and found yourself with your hand down your shirt scratching your shoulder like a monkey??) I have also come to believe that the seasonal nature of the itch may be somehow contributed to dead mold spores given off by dying flowers/leaves in the fall, so if you are doing any fall yard work, take a cool shower as soon as you go in the house - it can't hurt.  Lesley54, regarding your lump, I  often get  several pea size lumps beneath the skin of the affected area.  They come after the initial onset of the ITCH and when I get them I know I'm in for a bad bout.    Nobody who doesn't suffer from this can possibly understand what we are going through!   I have actually called out of work once or twice after going several nights without sleep (felt terrible guilt all day), one day I left work and went to the Dr.'s for a cortisone shot.  Steroids in shot/pill form do help me alot, but obviously it is not the best thing to do.    I have so many blood stained sheets/pillow cases, etc. however I have stopped wrecking my mattress covers by putting a towel under my sheets!  Good luck everyone and stock up on dry ice packs!   By chance, do any of you get cluster headaches?

[landintc]

Well, the neurontin worked during the outbreak and I and on Friday, my nurse practioner said to cut it to once a night for a couple days and see how it went.  She said we would re-evaluate this week.  She only gave me a 7 day supply.   It is not working at once a day but does seem to work at 2 times a day.  Unfortunately she had to have emergency surgery on Sunday and will be out of work for awhile, so I have an appointment next week with my PCP.  We'll see what he has to say or if he thinks I am crazy!!  I will speak to him about the seizures, that's scary!

[tracitb]

No cluster headaches for me. Here's another question to the masses: Does anyone think they could be (or have you been) a candidate for carpal tunnel diagnosis?  I've thought for years that I might have that (though not a severe case), and recently had an "aha moment", since BP is thought to be related to nerve issues. Seems like it would make sense, but I've got nothing other than a hunch.

[alltogether]

Just to answer a few questions ... Never had any children never mind an epidural, no carpal tunnel, no headaches, no lumps and no side effects on Neurontin.
I've never had allergies before but I'm pretty convinced this is brought on by something in the environment. It is VERY seasonal for me (August/September to February/March). A long time. I live in a moderate climate where it's never really hot and it rarely goes below freezing (Victoria, BC, think Seattle). It's kinda like two seasons, spring and autumn. So the entire "autumn" I itch. Those of you who have a shorter autumn due to the onset of winter seem to start itching around the same time but stop itching earlier. There's another woman in my region that I communicate with and the two of us start itching within days of each other.
If anyone plans to see a neurologist soon can you ask them if anything in the natural environment is know to affect our nervous systems? Like "itchgitchie" above I suspect it's something that becomes active in the late summer or early fall. More than a doctor we need a biologist!!

[zcb491]

I've been taking Gabapentin/Neurontin for over a month now and the itching is totally gone.  I started on 100 mg 4 times a day and I've reduced it to 100 mg 3 times a day and no itching at all.  My husband has been taking 1,800 mg Gabapentin (for a different condition) for several years now with no side effects.  When I discussed the good results with my doctor she said it sounds as if it has absolutely nothing to do with the skin so any ointments, salves etc. would be of no use.  She said it sounds 100% like a condition affecting the nerve endings, probably due to sun damage therefore drugs such as Gabapentin are indicated.  That's also why the application of ice helps, because it temporarily "numbs" the nerve endings.    

[steamboattracey]

If it is solely a nerve issue, IS THERE ANY WAY TO REPAIR THE NERVE ENDINGS so one is not resigned to take such a strong drug for the "itchy season" for the rest of their lives? Although it may help relieve the itch for some, I would rather not HAVE to take it IF there may be a way to repair nerve damage??? Can someone ask their neurologist? I have  moved to Austin since my condition began 10 years ago, and do not yet have a neurologist here. Thanks! Keep talking......

[skrina]

So after 4 years of this I FINALLY decide to actually Google my symptoms and I find this forum!  SO thankful! I honestly thought I just had an allergy to something. I think deep down I suspected sun as well, but was never really sure.

I am (almost) 34 and live in Alberta, Canada. My itching seems to effect me during the same times as everyone else here, Aug - Feb. I am very fair skinned and I am bad about sun screen. Usually it is only my arms that get the sun too as I work out in the yard a lot or I'm outside with my kids a lot so my arms see a lot of sun all summer.

A few thoughts, responses, questions:
I have 2 kids but have never had an epidural so although that can't be a cause for me specifically, reading some of the posts I don't think you should discount it either. It could be just one form of spinal trauma that could be a cause. I am a former competitive diver and I have always suffered from really bad cervical back pain and sciatica as a result of some of the training I did.  A lot of posters here seem to have some sort of back issues and an epidural may just be another form of that.

Also, if it IS a nerve issue then why is it seasonal?  I just find that so odd! If nerves are damaged they're damaged, why would they only flare up at certain times? I do believe it's a nerve thing, just find that weird is all!

I also suffer from an odd sensation that runs from the middle of my back and across my shoulder blades where it almost feels like my skin is crawling. If I itch any area between my shoulder blades it actually feels like the skin is a bit numb.  Has anyone else had this?

So glad you all mentioned the ice! I hadn't tried that!

I have not gone to my family doc about this yet even though it's been 4 years because I always think it will go away or I'll figure it out. Plus with 2 little kids I feel like I'm there all the time and I'm always afraid to be one of those people who's at the doctor for every little thing!! After reading all this I'm almost scared to go though as it sounds like it's hard to get the doc's to believe it?

Anyway, I'm glad I found this and I'll keep checking back to hear how others are doing.

[tracitb]

Itchers---check out this link!  After reading Tracey's last post, I Googled "neurology brachioradial pruritus" and found this----GREAT INFO----a case study with LOTS of supporting info for much of what we've been posting here!  I think it can only help our case when we present to our doctors!  Here's an excerpt (maybe someone has seen it before--?---it was published May 08):

BRP is a rare disease, usually restricted to the forearms, that was first identified in 1968.2 It is most prevalent in individuals between the ages of 39 and 72 years, and it preferentially affects women.3 BRP usually develops bilaterally and involves the area overlying the brachioradial muscle, although it can spread to the back or chest.3 Patients with BRP report having an itching sensation, usually combined with a burning or painful sensation.2, 3 Owing to ongoing scratching, secondary skin changes such as prurigo or lichenification can develop.

Here's the link:
http://www.nature.com/nrneurol/journal/v4/n6/full/ncpneuro0807.html

[pruritus]

thank you for that link.  I too think that its nerve related. Mine started out seasonally but became continuous.  I do battle back aches and migraines although the migraines only started after a car accident.  The continuous itching started prior to the accident.  I am not a sun lover at all even though I am in California.  I too am searching for commonalities among all of us posting on this forum in hopes of tracking down the cause having done diet changes and lotions to no avail, I truly thinks its neurological.  Keep posting please!

[chattykathy2]

Finding this website was both good AND bad for me.  I was hoping to find some answers here for my recently diagnosed bronchial radial pruritus, but not feel even more depressed.  It doesn't look like there are any cures for it and no treatment that really works!  I'm so tired of not sleeping at night and sometimes the extreme itching & tingling burning sensations make me cry!  Nothing seems to work.  My dermatologist gave me a steroid cream to use and Hydroxyzine pills to help me sleep.  They worked the first night, but for some reason since then have not worked at all.  I'm exhausted and frustrated with this horrible ailment!  I can see from reading all of these comments on this website that I'm not alone in this, but I just want some answers as to how to get some relief and sleep!!
  Come on you doctors out there!!   More research please for all of us suffering from this!!
  Thanks for listening everyone!

    Frustrated in Ohio

[Max51]

Get yourself a prescription for gabapentin.  It works.  Everyone is so concerned about a cure.  I don't think there's one out there and as far as I'm concerned, I can live with it if I can take something to help me with the symptoms.  It's sad, I know, but most of us have been dealing with this for years and still we know nothing more than we did 10 years ago.  This is an anomaly with out bodies and lets face it....there's not a cure for every single ailment that human beings have and there never will be.  Just treat the symptoms and you'll feel a hundred times better.  

[pruritus]

Doxepin is helping me.  I have the same diagnosis as you can tell by reading all the previous posts.  I truly think it neurological.  Having jumped through way too many "doctor hoops", I really hope that you can find a doctor that will work with you.  Keep going.  You're not crazy.  In the meantime,  ICE!  My theory is that it confuses the nerves.  Keep posting especially if you find something that seems to be working for you even if only temporarily.  A

[skrina]

I find that for short term something with menthol in it like Vicks vapor rub or Deep Cold muscle rub will work. I put it on my arms right at  bed time and it last long enough for me to fall asleep. I do have to get up in the night and repeat if the itching wakes me though. But it's a quick fix when nothing else works.

I just read a bunch of stuff about Hazelwood and Amber necklaces. I bought one to try. What wil it hurt, right? I'm crossing my fingers anyway!  Here's the site for anyone interested in the info:
http://www.hazelaid.com/Home.html

I'm still waiting for my necklace but I'll let you all know if I notice anything!

[tracitb]

Hi folks. Just checking in to see if anyone else has seen a significant reduction in their itching in the past few weeks. I haven't itched much since about the first week of October; I'm in Southern CA.  I haven't been in the sun nearly as much, but I do still end up outside at baseball games for 2-3 hours at a time.  

[Lesley54]

My itching stopped for about six weeks, it was heaven ! It came back the other day once again with no apparent reason. I see a homeopathic doctor and I explained the symptoms to her. She has given me "Graphites ". I swear by Lachesis for the menopause so I am praying the Graphites will sort the problem.
I will keep everyone posted with the results.

[WetWoolSweater]

   I am 61years old and this started in maybe July of this year. We had very few sunny days this summer---I used my pool 3 times--so did not have a lot of sun exposure.
    A thought just popped into my head---tanning beds?? I use them occasionally in late spring to tan my legs and arms mostly. Hm-m-m.
    It started with a lesion above the wrist on my right arm--nothing startling-thought it was a bug bite, but never any rash, etc.  Then I began to have ceaseless itching followed by waves of horrible burning pain---and all the other symptoms all of you mentioned. Nothing much helped.  Then 90% of it eased up--and I thanked God.
   Then it started on my left upper arm and included a rash, bumps which turned black and blue when scratched, and red bleeding dots.
There are also dark pigmented spots, like tiny beauty marks or flat moles.  The pain feels like slivers of glass under my skin---or a wet wool sweater.  The waves of burning pain are not present, but the itching is awful.
  I went first to a dermatologist--went through the steroid creams, antibiotics, etc.  Waste of time.
I have my 2nd app't with my family doctor today, but I can tell he's clueless. He thought it was possibly scabies (!) or a mild case of shingles---sorry, wrong.  I don't know why I'm going back there, but
but maybe it will make him aware of brachioradial pruritus.
  The following worked a little---poison ivy natural colloidal oatmeal scrub, which I used even in the middle of the night, and a couple other creams with the oatmeal in them, foille [probably misspelled]-which was the least expensive cream in the store, and Burn Jel Plus, a WaterJel product for emergency burn care , that has 2.5% Lidocaine in it.  The antihistamines, hydrocortisones, menthols, camphors. etc. did not work.  I am going to try other numbing items, maybe the stuff for toothaches, next. I wonder if there is a Novacaine salve??
  I have been under extreme stress also, but I don't know if that is a contributor.
   I am glad not to be alone.  Thank you.  

[WetWoolSweater]

I thought we could try a survey of suffers of BCP:
1. back problems ? (I had back surgery in 1981--seems too long ago to be a contributor)

2. medication for depression?  (I take Zoloft and Trazidone and have for 15 years)

3.  tanning beds?  

4. stress?

[skrina]

Yes to three out of the four. I've never taken a med for depression.

[skrina]

Here is something a little odd though. Or perhaps completely coincidental! I got the H1N1 flu shot yesterday and my arms have not itched even once since. It was the first night in ages that I didn't need to ice them or put something on the before I went to bed and they're fine today too!  

Just thought it was weird! Anyone else get the shot notice anything?

[pruritus]

only one answer to your survey -  an occasional achy back and "computer neck".

[Lesley54]

Hi,
1. Yes, had back problems for years, worn disc they say, never had operation.

2. No

3. I haven't used tanning beds for about 2 years and when I did only for short periods and
    no more than once a week.

4. Yes, I have often felt that it was a factor.

I hope this helps.

[tracitb]

None apply to me except for occasional stress---and my stress doesn't seem to coincide with my itching episodes at all.

[ullika]

upper arm itch since moving to florida seven years ago, same symptoms, glad to find this page, no skin lesions just itch for weeks on end, don't know if seasonal as had not paid attention to that, only thing helping is ice.
very fit and healthy, age 53, only other symptoms are migraines, go to a chiropractor now which found a loss of neck curve which is probably causing the migarines, i wonder if it's worse at night because of the neck position when lying down.
i guess i'll find out if it goes away as my neck curve improves

[Spazin]

I've had this problem for about 3yrs now. I only have attacks about 2 times a year. It drives me crazy. I have it in about a 3-4 inch spot by my elbow(left arm).I've tried all the anti-itch creams with no luck.  The only thing I've found that relieves the itch is a high spf sunscreen. I'm using coppertone kids 50 spf. It has always worked for me from the beginning since my wife figured it was sun related. I deliver a newspaper 7 days a week and that arm is out the window 5 hours a day. I hope this helps someone.

[amburl]

I have had this same problem.For some reason I think it is related somehow to hormones too.  Mine started before I found out I was pregnant with my first.  My right arm was itching to the point I wanted to cut it off.  Few days later I found out I was pregnant.  I had episodes through out this pregnancy, to the point I would just cry. Next time I had a bad episode was when I took the pill for 2 months to help make me ovulate.  Then the third was when I got pregnant with my second and had episodes through that pregnancy too.  But, now I have been having episodes alot and I am not pregnant.  I thought maybe I was going through menopause until I found this thread.  I was a sun worshiper growing up to the point I had 3rd degree burns sometimes (I know, I look back at how stupid I was)  I also have a problem with two vertebrae on my neck and my chiro wanted a second opinion to see if he should even touch it.  This website has helped.  Mine is always on my right arm, it gets warm and red when it itches and the hairs stand up like static during these episodes.  If there is no cure I don't even want to go to lots of doctors to try and figue it out.  It is frustrating.

[skrina]

Ok, I"ve been wearing a hazelwood and amber necklace now for about a week and a half. I have had NO ITCHING AT ALL this entire time! I wasn't sure I believed in all the hype over the wonders of amber and hazelwood, but figured for $17 what does it hurt to try? Coincidence? I don't know. All I know is that I can actually go to bed and fall asleep now and I haven't wanted to cut my arms off!

Give it a try! I'd love to hear if it works for anyone else or if it's all in my head! LOL!
Here's where I got my necklace from:
http://www.hazelaid.com/Home.html
And no, I don't work for them! Don't even live in the same country!

[ErinVA]

Hello fellow itchers, I’m so happy to find you all. I started with this last year and thought I was out of my mind. My husband searchd the Internet and was able to give a name to my disorder - BRP. Of course, that didn’t help much since none of the Dr.s I’ve seen have ever heard of it. My GP went with it though and referred me to a neurologist. He had no knowledge of this disorder but I had a nerve conduction study and had no abnormalities. When I had my MRI, it was noticed that I had a bulging disc between C-4 and C-5 and C-5 and C-6. I am absolutely convinced this is not related to the sun (though I AM a sunworshipper) but is a nerve thing. I was on Lyrica for a while and it helped a little but did not take care of the itching totally. I found out about ice last year and it was a life saver (though it’s not fun to get up in the middle of the night and go sit in one’s family room holding ice packs on one’s arms for 20 minutes!!). I have found that if I lay FLAT ON MY BACK with no pillow, I don’t have the itching at night. It's hard to alawys sleep on your back though!!  I ended up taking a steroid pack last year and the went away and silly me……… I thought it was a fluky thing I was cured of. I thought I had done something to my neck at the gym and would not have the problem anymore. I cut way back on what I do at the gym and life went on perfectly fine until a few weeks ago – almost the same time it started last year!!! What’s up with that seasonal thing???? Then, I thought maybe I did something at the gym again but I no longer think so. I think it’s stress related (very stressful time at work for me) but also, everyone seems to say it’s seasonal. The latest thing my Dr. is trying is myofascial massages concentrated on my back and neck. When the masseuse massages my back on my left side, (it’s only my left side so far this year but last year it was both) my arm itches. I don't  think the massages are working. WHAT IS THE ANSWER FOR US?? A lot of people have mentioned Gabapentin. I will try it but I don’t like take drugs on a regular basis. There is a link to a study in Germany about a woman who had surgery on her neck and was cured. I’m not ready to go there yet but it’s out there if we need it. Here’s the link http://www.nature.com/nrneurol/journal/v4/n6/full/ncpneuro0807.html Read after the MRI part. It says: “The patient recovered completely from the itching and burning sensations within 1 week after surgery.”
Ther was also a man who had BRP and had the following:  "Treatment consisted of 2 cervical epidural steroid applications that resulted in clinical disappearance of the itch and improvement in C-fiber function on quantitative sensory testing."  This, too, sounds liek a possible "cure".  Does anyone else have any ideas???

skrina - keep us posted about your necklace.

[Sharryshoo]

Just found this info on line.  Just more of the same old same old.  

Brachioradial Pruritis: Scratching Makes the Itching Worse
February 24th, 2008
Goto comments
Leave a comment A 45 year old woman presented to my office complaining of a burning itching rash on both her arms.She had seen several doctors and tried various creams and oral antihistamines without relief. Only applying an ice pack seems to alleviate her symptoms. She is frustrated. On exam she had a few subtle excoriations (scratches) on her forearms, but no other signs of rash or disease.

Brachioradial pruritis is a condition characterized by intractable itching on the top of the forearms (overlying the brachioradialis muscle). Patients often report that the itching actually gets worse with scratching instead of better. It affects mostly middle aged women (which all my patients have been) and presents as a burning and itching sensation on the arms. The symptoms can sometimes be described as tingling or even painful. It can involve one or both arms.

Unfortunately the cause is not well understood. Current thinking is that it is associated with sun damage and/or with cervical nerve root impingement. The sun damage theory is that deep penetrating ultraviolet light (UVA) damages fine pain nerve fibers in the skin of the arms. The cervical spine theory is that impingement (pinching) of the C5 to C8 cervical nerve roots leads to nerve damage. The nerves that emerge from these roots provide sensation to the arms, so damage to them might cause the burning and itching symptoms. Although studies have found that cervical spine disease is more common in patients with brachioradial pruritis, no study has demonstrated that cervical spine disease causes the condition.

Treatments for brachioradial pruritis include:

•Avoidance of sun exposure (probably most important)
•Topical capsaicin (hot pepper oil)
•Gabapentin
•Cervical spine manipulation
•Anti-inflammatory medications such as naproxen (Alleve®)
•Above all, I think it is helpful just to have a physician who understands that the patient’s symptoms are real and who is willing to try various treatments until a satisfactory remedy is found.