itchy arms = BRACHIORADIAL PRURITUS

[pruritus]

all itchy arm sufferers....please look into brachioradial pruritus.  My arms, and only my arms, have itched for 10 years.  no rashes, no psiorias, excema etc.  The creams, allergery pills..my list is extensive as to what I have tried but nothing worked. ---------------The only thing that helps are ice packs. -----------------------
Recently,I had an x-ray to check if I had any nerve impingement in my cervical spine - one of the possible causes but nothing showed so I continue to search for answers.  I did get confirmation of the brachioradial pruritus from a great dermatologist who has only seen 3 cases in his 15 years on the job.  He did a biopsy that he sent to UC Davis for confirmation.  The diagnosis was actually a relief as I have been told that it is so many other things.  
I hope this helps.  I will keep posting if I find anything helpful solutions.  

[itchyscratchysneezywheezy]

Hi. I too have had intense itching on my left upper arm for about 2 years now. I have recently done some reading and have a few things to add to the possible causes.

I had put the sun connection together before I even read about it. Having been burnt quite a few times this summer (it's summer here in Australia) I have had the worst itching of all time. Also I am curious about the cervical spine connection as I used to regularly see a chiropractor as my neck and back get out of line if I don't have adjustments, and I stopped going to my chiropractor ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO - when the itch started. I stopped because I could no longer afford it and thought I'd just brave it out.

My personal theory is that the nerve damage is cause by one of or both sun damage and/or cervical spine issues but that the itching itself only commences after irritation (like a regular type itch) which gets the itch/scratch process going. I have noticed that I get regular type itches more often in summer when i'm hot and sweaty. Its like the outter layer of skin experiences the regular itch, and once ive scratched it the deeper itch starts up.

Also, have people found that scratching doesnt actually 'get' the itch? Like you can't find the exact spot? It's so frustrating!

[Desrtdove]

Hello and welcome, Perry6.....glad sleeping without a pillow has helped you. I will keep this brief and suggest you start with a PCP or Chiropractor to get neck xrays first.....hopefully they will then suggest a cervical MRI focusing on the C4-C6 region....if not, I would HIGHLY suggest it to them. Good luck!

[Parry6]

Last night I slept with no pillow, WOW, I am impressed !  I actually got thru thenight without ice.  Time will tell if this helps.  I wonder who do I see for my neck.

[moondapple]

I  haven't been on this forum for about 8 months. I was busy working on getting the itch to stop.   I have read all the comments, and I have done any of the suggestions.  The think that has worked for me has been hypnotherapy. It was like a miracle. I still itch from time to time and for those times I take hydroxyzine, an antihistamine that doesn't make me as groggy as benadryl, so I can take it during the day. Before hypnotherapy, I was itching minimum of 5 hrs up to a horrifying 23hrs a day. I could not keep the ice frozen long enough.... it was making me so, so miserable.  And after hypnotherapy, probably 4 to 6 sessions I was needing ice once a week. the length of an attack is about 15 minutes to 1 hr and I bet that happens a couple times a week.  W/ seasonal allergies, and the famous cedar fever in Austin, TX, my symptoms come out as itchy skin now, so I take the hydroxyzine for those occasions.   If suffered from this for 8 years and I feel like I have my life back. I highly recommend hypnotherapy and if you have questions about it, please contact me at ***@****.   Good luck and may you find relief.

[Parry6]

My painful itch started 4/2/09, it will be 3 years this April.  I too have been to many doctors and have had many tests.  Ice is my friend and sun is not. I plan to try all the things you have mentioned, that worked.  I will try to post what works for me.  Like one of you said , we have to do all the work, the doctors don't seem to care enough to fix our problem.

[itchyone167]

Hi, stoptheitch49.  I'm back also.  Started the gabapentin in Oct. and have been pretty much itch-free since then.  Until last night, that is.  I don't take the gabapentin every single night, but I absolutely did last night before bed.  4 in the morning, lo and behold, I awoke to that old familiar feeling again.  We seem to be on similar itch cycles.  Here we go again...