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Brachioradial pruritus questions
Hi, this is really hard to search for, so I'm posting a new topic.
I have all the symptoms of BRP - intensely itchy arms around the elbow/upper forearms with no marking (until I scratch them until it bleeds), so it's not a rash or anything like that. Only helps if I use an ice pack, but then as soon as it warms up, it starts again.
I've lived in Hawaii since March 2014. This just started about six months ago. It started on my right side, went away for about a month or two, then started now on my left arm a few days ago.
As I understand it docs believe there are two main causes for this, and I'll explain to each why I don't think it's the cause for me, which is leaving me unbelievably insane:
1. Sun exposure. Yes, I live in Hawaii and probably see a lot of sun. However, some times I go long stretches with no sun due to work and stuff. Any time I go in the sun I always put SPF50 or greater on. I haven't received a single sun burn incident the entire time I've lived here. My family just visited here. I was in the sun every day for 10 days. Most sun I've gotten since I moved here...ZERO issues (this was after my first bout and before my second bout). I actually thought that maybe UV light was HELPING because of the amount of sun I got while my family was here...and as my tan faded, the problem came back (could be a coincidence).
2. Cervical spine damage. I DO have back problems, but in the L3/4 and L4/5 region. I do have pinched nerves there and other issues. I saw my doc and asked him if it was possible to have the spine damage or cervical issues hence these bouts...so I got xrays and an MRI on my C-spine with absolutely no issues observed in the findings. So nothing on that route.
Medications. I have taken Gabapentin before due to back issues. That drug is freaking horrible. It makes me clumsy, stutter, tired, high, and I gained almost 20 pounds (and I'm a REALLY fit person with 12% body fat - so no I wasn't just gaining random weight then). I tried the lidocaine both in topical form or patches. I've tried combining Icy Hot and Tiger Balm (total of about 5% lidocaine and 10% menthol which I heard might help).
It's not itchy arms. Period. I religiously use lotion without alcohol all over my body. I always have. There is nothing visible in the itchy areas that looks like dry skin, either. No lesions, no rash, no discoloration, no nothing.
I guess it could be sun exposure, but frankly it doesn't make sense then why it didn't flare up when I'm most tan.
Also, yes I live in Hawaii, but before that I lived in the desert sun for about six years in a row (Arizona and West Texas). A much more arid climate...but still, plenty of sun. Never once encountered this. Please help.
I have all the symptoms of BRP - intensely itchy arms around the elbow/upper forearms with no marking (until I scratch them until it bleeds), so it's not a rash or anything like that. Only helps if I use an ice pack, but then as soon as it warms up, it starts again.
I've lived in Hawaii since March 2014. This just started about six months ago. It started on my right side, went away for about a month or two, then started now on my left arm a few days ago.
As I understand it docs believe there are two main causes for this, and I'll explain to each why I don't think it's the cause for me, which is leaving me unbelievably insane:
1. Sun exposure. Yes, I live in Hawaii and probably see a lot of sun. However, some times I go long stretches with no sun due to work and stuff. Any time I go in the sun I always put SPF50 or greater on. I haven't received a single sun burn incident the entire time I've lived here. My family just visited here. I was in the sun every day for 10 days. Most sun I've gotten since I moved here...ZERO issues (this was after my first bout and before my second bout). I actually thought that maybe UV light was HELPING because of the amount of sun I got while my family was here...and as my tan faded, the problem came back (could be a coincidence).
2. Cervical spine damage. I DO have back problems, but in the L3/4 and L4/5 region. I do have pinched nerves there and other issues. I saw my doc and asked him if it was possible to have the spine damage or cervical issues hence these bouts...so I got xrays and an MRI on my C-spine with absolutely no issues observed in the findings. So nothing on that route.
Medications. I have taken Gabapentin before due to back issues. That drug is freaking horrible. It makes me clumsy, stutter, tired, high, and I gained almost 20 pounds (and I'm a REALLY fit person with 12% body fat - so no I wasn't just gaining random weight then). I tried the lidocaine both in topical form or patches. I've tried combining Icy Hot and Tiger Balm (total of about 5% lidocaine and 10% menthol which I heard might help).
It's not itchy arms. Period. I religiously use lotion without alcohol all over my body. I always have. There is nothing visible in the itchy areas that looks like dry skin, either. No lesions, no rash, no discoloration, no nothing.
I guess it could be sun exposure, but frankly it doesn't make sense then why it didn't flare up when I'm most tan.
Also, yes I live in Hawaii, but before that I lived in the desert sun for about six years in a row (Arizona and West Texas). A much more arid climate...but still, plenty of sun. Never once encountered this. Please help.
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