itchy aarms

[tammynn]

I hope someone finds an answer soon. It's almost December and I'm still wearing short sleeves. Some days are better than others. i think I'm getting imune to the polar ice I've been using. i go back to my doctor this week to ask her for an MRI of my neck. I've printed out some info on bracjioradial pruitus so I can show the doctor what it is.I think it is heat related. I have a portable heater by my desk and I can't have it blowing on my arms. I also can't go to sleep with my arms folded because it then itches in the crease.


This discussion is related to Severe Itching on arms.

[steamboattracey]

I too have this same exact itch. 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. 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. 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 pregnant with first child 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 35, 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 3 weeks 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. It’s now 5:51 AM…I have been up for hours with ice on my arms, reading these posts, and wanting to cry. I am going to try to get back to sleep.

[mybabybubbas]

i also suffer from itchy arms i cop many weird stares from passers by when im standing in street on a hot day tearing my arms to pieces from itchyness  i have been to many doctors and dermatologists all have no idea what it is caused from but all prescrfibe creams that just dont help i have two young kids and in my despiration 1 day to stop my itching found that paw paw cream relived it temporarly ....

[birdwood]

I have had a neck injury for about 28 years ,it has caused me many problems but I never considered it could be the cause of my weird itching arms as I have only had the itch for 8 years, but my arthritis did start getting worse around the same time,food for thought .
I will be watching for your posts to see how you get on.Good Luck.

[tammynn]

I just went to my dermotologist yesterday. He said that it is definitely caused by problems in your neck. In my case it is degenerative disk disease, which is just arthrtis. I went to physical therapy for 2 weeks. He taught me excersises for my neck. He also prescribed a neck traction unit for at home. My neck is always needing to be cracked, or it feels stiff. For 3 nights in a row I didn't need any icy hot or ice packs. I still take the medication though. I think I finally have it under control.

[birdwood]

I can't believe it , I'm not alone and I'm not insane  ,even though that's where the itch sends you, no one ever seemed to understand you just can't help ripping your arms to pieces,the bleeding, the sores, the scabs, the stares from people ,mine seems to get worse with exposure to the sun but as with some others I also have respitory problems ,I also have the opposite problem that cold makes me  itch as well as extreme heat, I live in an area of Australia that is dry in winter and humid in summer and it doesn't seem to make any difference except I can wear long sleeves in winter so less exposure to the sun . the only relief I have found is a clay that come in stick form, you wet the clay and rub it on the itchy area ,the relief is wonderful , it doesn't look great but who cares? I carry it every where with me, but that is short term and I live in hope of some body finding the cause and then a cure.I will be joining  your community and hopefully getting and giving support to all the other itchy arm sufferers.