itchy arms

For the second time now i have been experiancing a horrible itch. The first time was around the beginning of this past year. and now for about 2 weeks it has started back. I have no idea what the cause could be, but it waskes me up in the nite and will suddenly start at random times during the day. It only takes place in my upper arm and shoulder area. but is super intense.Almost like someone is taking a small needle to my skin in hundreds of spots. It lasts anywhere from 5mins to an hour then goes away. My arm is starting to raw in spots and cause disscomfort. I've tried to use lanocain and some burn/itch spray but really they dont help a whole lot. Do you have any suggestions on what could be causeing this to happen and in just these spots???
                                                                             sincerely,

                                                                               Stacy Jesse

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Well your symptoms are typically suggestive of brachioradial pruritis. Brachioradial pruritis 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.

No cure has been found. 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.

Please discuss this possibility and these options of treatment with your dermatologist
Hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries. Warm regards.