SEVERE ITCH....NERVES?????

[jude5866]

I was so desperate in trying to find out why I have this itch problem. It has been SO VERY SEVERE that I have been to a gynocologist 4 times. Each time hoping they would find SOMETHING!! They never found anything that would cause that severe of an itch. My outer labia sometimes itch so friggin bad it makes me cry. It sometimes feels like a nerve thing though because sometimes it makes me jump. Does anyone else feel like it's a nerve thing?? I wanted to mention, that not too long ago, my husband was getting cortisone shots in his back, and one of the side affects is itching in his genitals and upper thighs. Somehow it does something to the nerves there, and when he described to me exactly what I feel everytime this itching starts, I literally started crying because he decribed what I couldn't. His description was this; "it feels like there are bugs under your skin trying to crawl out." It's kind of a tingling sensation too. I have been tormented so very badly over this itching that I swear sometimes I could go crazy! This itch WAKES me up several times during the night, and gets so bad that I use a hair brush with wire bristles to scratch, leaving myself raw. Problem with that is that when the itching starts again I can barely do anything about it because it hurts to scratch it on raw skin. I have several tubes of cortizone cream, which provide only temporary relief, and I take Benedryl pretty regular, only to feel very drowsy and have a hard time waking up in the morning. Could this be a nerve problem and not just a skin problem???

[mauimama59]

I have the same itch problem...I am diabetic & so is my husband. My husband was in the hospital & just recently had his baby toe on his Left foot amputated, which was several months ago.  I have gone to my PCP (Personal Care Physician) gave us several medication to help with the rash problem. Only thing my husband's rash is caused from some sort of medication when he was in the hospital & it got worse. Then I got some cream ointment to put on my rash but it don't help too much. It gets very uncomfortable & then the ointment feels irritating. So after reading all these idea's, we will seek seeing a Neurologist for our nerve, tingling & itches that both my husband are having.

Just want to say Mahalo (thank you) for all those comment & suggestions.

Just us,
Roseline & Joseph Frye Jr.

[juno795]

my skin is very dry. so, the nerve itc so bad that my skin turns red!

[lms71]

I am 39 years old and have been told that my obsessive itching was all in my HEAD.  I have been to every dermotologist in our area, changed soap and detergent and have done this itching since I was a young girl.  I feel like I too am going crazy.  I know how I feel and when I itch (which is six out of the seven days a week) I feel my nerve endings twitch and I have to get to the itch which usually involves a hard brush and finish up with hairspray or rubbing alcohol or ice packs or scalding hot shower. Mornings after are horrible as I have open wounds, blood and scabs which has caused severe scarring. I have been married to the same man for 20 years and he quielty puts up with my crazy behavior.  I have suggested to all doctors that the feeling I have is real and they only prescribe meds that make me feel loopy or lotions that do nothing.  (Oh yeah I have been to several psychologist) nothing helps.  In the last six months I have been experiencing severe spine/shoulder/chest pain.  After the dozen of doctor appointments including cardio it was discovered through six MRI's  that I have a syrinx in my spine probably caused from birth defect.  I now have an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic and a second opinion at the OSU Hospital who deal with this.  I hope and pray that after 39 years this is all associated and I AM NOT CRAZY.  Anyone else experienced these things???

[pugzmom]

I had that feeling, too.  Like a bug was trying to burrow into my head on only one spot.  It was caused by a disc in my neck that was a little out of place.  I went to my chiropractor a few times and it went away completely.

[annoyed123]

I just recently starting itching myself. I started itching right when i moved into my new apartment. I was thinking maby my apartment has scabbies, fleas, life etc! My legs up to my head are itching. Its been so bad i wake up bc i itch. Ive had 2 take a shower to hopefully stop the itching. Its helping now except for my head. Could be nerves or maby im not getting the soap off my head and body. I am very nervous about living in a new enviroment theres alot of adjustments needing to be made. i didnt try anything yet for the itching bc i was only hoping it last for a few days. If i dont have lice what should i do? talk to my family doc?

[phish12]

I have this wierd feeling in my head, it always feeels like a bug just flew in my hair, only except its in the same spot everytime, i havent been seed yet because before now i always was thinking i was going crazy, I will however check into a neurologist, and for sure get some questions???

[Matclip]

Did anyone ever find out what was going on, or get a working treatment?

[rbf]

i am going through the exact same thing. so is my sister. we started thinking, maybe it's someone doing some voodoo thing on us. coz this is crazy! i went online and found something called neurodermatitis. i've done the aveeno oatmeal bath, and goldbond lotion, and it temorarily relieves, i sleep with socks/ fuzzy gloves on my hands at night..but it still drives me crazy. i'm gonna go to a dermatologist next week, and bring it up. in the meantime, keep doing research, and definitely read about neurodermatitis, it was a relief to know others go through it, and there's a name for it. good luck.

[MCall]

I have similar sensations on my legs every morning for about an hour or two.  The itch and tingling are so bad that I feel like I'm going crazy. I cannot take care of my children or get ready for work because I am sitting on the bed crying and scratching my legs.  I wish I had four hands instead of only two!.  There are no bumps or marks and NOTHING makes it stop.  My doctor gave me allergy meds and prescription cortisone cream.  It didn't help at all.  I thought maybe I was getting shingles.  I am calling the neurologist this morning and getting an appt. because I think my family doctor must think it is all in my head.  Monica

[lmroswell]

There is something you can do if it is a peripheral nerve issue.  My neuro gave me Neurontin, I told you about it before.  I took a very low dose, just to ease the sensations at night, because that was when I noticed it most.  During the day we are distracted by so many sensory things to process, things aren't noticed as much.  If you get relief at night, you will hopefully break the cycle of itching to the point where you could get an infection, and the sensation will diminish some and hopefully go away...far away.  I agree with your dad, that you should go to the neurologist instead of the dermatologist.  I had to pay out of pocket $90, because I was an established patient.  It might be more if you are a new patient, but let them know right off the bat you have no insurance.  Neurontin is not an expensive drug, and is well worth it. Keep us posted.

[AnnJ]

It's called formication (not fornication), when it feels like bugs under your skin, and it's often hormone-related. Try looking up formication on google or yahoo (remember to spell it with an "m", or you might get an eyeful).

[jude5866]

I will check on that.  Also, I was checked for crabs, lice etc. Thats what I thought it was, but it isn't. I'm totally convinced it's a nerve problem.

[oceans3]

sounds as if you are on your way to getting some answers (even if its not what you want to hear) the hard part is sometimes not knowing where its origionating. i hope that you do keep posting with whats happening and keep us updated! here's to no more itching!

[jude5866]

Quick update....I just called and spoke with the Neurologist's nurse, and after a conversation with her, she told me she would talk to the neurologist and call me back today. She said it sounded like it could very well be a nerve problem. So, I'll post again with the outcome.
Thanks all.
Jude

[jude5866]

Ok, this will probably be the last one for a while. I got the call back from the neurologist. He said that he has heard of this before and is caused from perephial nerve damage of some sort. So I'm not going crazy and it isn't in my head. Bad part? He said it isn't easily treatable. So...I'm back to square one. With no insurance there is nothing I can do.
So, again, thank you all for your input.
Jude

[lmroswell]

You also might want to consider lice in that area, also known as crabs.  They will make you itch.  Just a thought...

[jude5866]

Wow...I just read about formication. I don't even use drugs, and I MAY have a couple drinks a week!  SO, that makes me wonder if it is because of the back pain I have. I was tested for a herniated disc pushing into a nerve in my back, and had the MRI done about a month ago but it didn't show nerve problems, only degenerative disc disease. I was so upset that it showed nothing that the next time I went to my Doctor, he said that sometimes when people get an MRI laying down it moves things around and therefore won't show a problem that occurs, say, when your sitting or standing. We discussed my getting an MRI in a sitting position or standing. Anyways, I was talking to my dad about this, he is a very very smart man, and he suggested that if it is as I told him, he thinks I should bypass the dermatologist and go right for a neurologist. Remember, I have been seen by 4 doctors who saw nothing on the skin,(not dermatologists though).  Now, this is really where I need the advice, cuz I only have so much money and I can't afford to spend it where it isn't necessary.
So, after reading my comments, should I go to a dermatologist, or to a neurologist???
Please help.
Jude

[jude5866]

To answer your questions...yes, I am currently using a cortizone cream, have tried all of them in fact, including benedryl. Like I said, they give relief temporarily, but then I have that nervey tingling sensation itch that feels more under the skin, ya know? I didn't think of a soak though, I know that works for like poison ivy, right? Hey, it's worth a shot, desperate means call for desperate measures!!! But just to let you all know  :) I have an appointment with a dermatologist on March 13th!!!!  I had to borrow money to go, but it will be worth it if they can fix me up! I do think however, that I have a nerve problem. I do have a lot of stress in my life, so I guess it's always possible that it has to do with that too. Does anyone know if the dermatologist will perhaps take like a biopsy of the skin? Does that hurt?? (I'm a chicken..;)
Ok, well, you guys are awsome, and thank you so much, not just for responding, but for listening. This isn't something I can exactly go around talking about and it feels good to be able to discuss this and have people feel for me and understand what I'm going through.  My husband, aka my best friend is so upset because he can't do anything to really help me feel better, and he watches the agony I go through everyday and feels completly helpless. I don't know who's more happy about me getting to go to the Doctor, me or him!!
Thanks all....God Bless
Jude

[oceans3]

in the meantime (while you are waiting to go to a specialist) i wonder if you could put some cream on it? like hydrocortizone, or some other type of anti-itch cream? what about benedryl? just be careful putting anything down there. that area is very delicate as you know and dont want to make it worse or cause some other type of infection.
maybe you could try soaking in an "aveeno" bath. you can get that at any drugstore. perhaps an icepack placed on it may help too?
sounds like its a constant itch! i feel for you!

[jude5866]

I just want to thank all of you for your in-put! The only thing stopping me is lack of health insurance, and the free clinic I go to in my city doesn't think this is important enough to do anything about timely.  
I will make an appt ASAP for a dermatologist. Also, to the person who mentioned the neurologist...good advice. I will try that avenue next. I wondered if there was a medication to help with nerve tinglies....and you said there was and it helped you.
I was tested for thyroid problems a couple years ago with nothing wrong, but I could have that checked again.
Thank you all again...I will keep you posted.

Jude

[lorriep]

Have you had your thryoid levels checked?  Sometimes an out-of-whack thryoid can cause itchy skin.  Just a thought.  Also,
you might check with your husband's pharmacist to see if his
medication could be affecting you, too.

[lmroswell]

I had a similar sensation in my foot a few years ago.  Originally, it felt like little worms under the skin just moving ever so slightly.  I also had tingling and a pulsating sensation in the same areas.  I never got an answer to what it was, and it lasted for about 7 months, ever so slightly diminishing as the weeks went by.  I know, it was not stress causing this.  My neurologist prescribed Neurontin to help ease the sensation while I slept.  Like I said, I was never given an answer, but my own instincts tell me it was nerve related.  The sensation also traveled up the back of my leg in spots and to the back of the thigh, and a little in the groin area.  I would recommend a visit to a neurologist, ask about Neurontin.  Hope you feel better soon.

[JoAnnaRF]

Could be anything from Foliculitis (sp)to nerves or stress. Perhaps even something psychological that is manifesting the problem. I totally agree that your first stop should be a Dermatologist. Don't be embarrassed because they see this stuff all the time. Try not to scratch to the point of rawness before you see the doc though. He will most likely know exactly what it is after a quick exam and have you treated in no time, putting an end to all the suffering you are obviously going through. I sure feel for you and hope you RUN to the Dermatologist! Good Luck!
--J

[jbugsmom]

It could be a nerve problem or a skin problem.  See if you can get in with a dermatologist. Those docs can work wonders!