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?!!!!

[LUCYJ14]

I have suffered from BRP for about 20 yrs. For the longest time there wasn't a doctor that could tell me what the problem was. I'm not sure if it is the sun that affects me as I am a sun worshipper, or if it comes from my cervical and lumbar spine neuropathy. It started when I lived in Fla. It starts around the end of August and goes on until March or April every year. It drives me insane especially at night. There are nights where I don't sleep at all. I scratch the blood out of my arms. The only relief I have found it freezing my arms with ice, I have also used Capsaicin cream that makes my arms burn which is a welcome relief from itching.

[THinOmaha]

I have also suffered with this condition for decades, though only on rare occasions.  I have a clicking in my back when in certain positions, so I know that something is askew in my spine.  Nothing worked to satiate the tingling in my arms for those aggravating 20-minute episodes - until now.  Having visited Colorado recently and returned home with a vape pen and some sativa cannabis cartridges, taking a few tokes from the pen, enough to get mildly high, made my forearm "itch" vanish within a few minutes.  I presume the THC (or other compounds) work to quiet the errant nerve activity in the brain and effectively cut off the signals before they can travel to the arms.  Say what you will about pot, but nature put it there for a reason, and it works for me.

[Thea_P]

Cervical traction with a home device (used in a horizontal body position) seems to relieve some of the pressure on cervical nerves. In addition, Lidocaine 5% patches (manufactured by Watson/Actavis Pharmaceuticals) placed each evening on shoulders and arms provide significant, beneficial, and effective relief. Patches are worn for 12 hours and help the BRP sufferer to sleep at night. The benefits seem to carry over into the following day. Lastly, Aspercream with 4% Lidocaine provides on-the-spot short term relief. Effective hygiene includes cool or cold showers with only Cetaphil used on arms and shoulders.

[Thea_P]

Sorry for the duplicate post but the second one contains more valuable and detailed information.

[gala588]

Thanks to all for the many comments here and the remedies tried.  I too have done many of these, having suffered this intermittently for the past 4 months, and now understand how some remedies work and others do not.  This article describes much of what I've read here and is the most informative one I've read on this ailment we share:  http://www.brachioradialpruritus.com/brp~what-is-the-cause-.html

Impingement of the nerves that come from the spine, particularly C-3-4, seem to be what causes the itching so chiropractic manipulation might be effective.  From what I've also read, the reason cold icepacks work is because the "cold" overrides the itch sensation that the brain processes.  I've found heat is what can prompt the itch cycle, so sun can be a factor and I've noticed if I'm sleeping on my side and my arm gets too warm, the ensuing itch will wake me up.

If ice is not an option to use if you're on the go, a product called Biofreeze which was mentioned in a previous post is excellent and stops the itch almost immediately.  It is menthol based which gives a cooling effect similar to ice and comes in a roll-on which is easily applied or gel tube.  Amazon sells it for about $10.  Hope this information helps.

[ebnursey]

Aqueous with menthol cream prescribed by my dermatologist offers some relief especially at night. For some reason I dont know why an antihistamine also gives me some relief. I also had immediate relief with physio after a car accident causing whiplash.

[54935]

Hello fellow BP sufferers.  Stumbled across this forum a week or so ago when my flare up was at its worst.  I'm happy to report I think I'm getting close to the end, again. I live in Wisconsin and have had these flare ups for many years but was first diagnosed 12/14.  When it returned this October I spent more time trying to figure out how this came about and what I can do to prevent future flare ups.  This is what I tried:  chiropractor for Atlas work, Advil 4 times a day, (I know this is too much), gold bond anti itch with menthol cream several times day, extreme posture (if this is due to a small pinched nerve I wanted to not hang my head forward as we all do when on iPad or our phones), neck exercises and ice, lots and lots of ice.  Seemed my problem was the absolute worst at night and I finally perfected leaving my ice bag right by my chair, as I knew I would wake up itching and need to go sit in my chair.  I have cut back on most everything except the cream

[jonihula]

how do you infuse coconutoil with canabis?

[THinOmaha]

I have also suffered with this condition for decades, though only on rare occasions.  I have a clicking in my back when in certain positions, so I know that something is askew in my spine.  Nothing worked to satiate the tingling in my arms for those aggravating 20-minute episodes - until now.  Having visited Colorado recently and returned home with a vape pen and some sativa cannabis cartridges, taking a few tokes from the pen, enough to get mildly high, made my forearm itch vanish within a few minutes.  I presume the THC (or other compounds) work to quiet the errant nerve activity in the brain and effectively cut off the signals before they can travel to the arms.  Say what you will about pot, but nature put it there for a reason, and it works for me.

I suspect it is the cannabis - not the coconut oil/butter - that is making the difference.  Take a trip, get some weed, inhale it to get it into your bloodstream instantly, and experience the sweet relief that I have.   Don't waste it smearing it on your arms, because you only THINK they are itching - it's the brain firing off signals, and it's those signals that need to be tamped down (I've had it in the back of my neck, too).  I've tried it all, from creams to ice water, with none of it working, so I know the gig.  Look at it this way: now you have a legitimate reason to get stoned.