Ms phantom itching

[Snugglepie]

Ive been diagnosed wiht MS definitely around 28 years ago and have been very fortunate in that ive only ever had fleeting symptoms.
Recently however, ive suffered from a 'dead arm and basically a dead leg' for a week or so and have now almost regained all feeling back, but an left with this chronic phantom itching as i call it.
Its itching basically in my left arm between wrist and elbow but when i go to scratch there is no relief as i never really find the exact spot that is itchy.
Does that make sense? That's why i call it phantom itching, as the itch is real but the site that its actually coming from is like its not real at all so theres no relief received from scratching as the right spot is never found.
Does anyone else out here have similar problems or can remember feeling this strange feeling?
I have ongoing numbness in my left hand and weakness on both arms which seem to all be tied in together as before this ive been cruising along fairly stable.
All info will be greatly appreciated.

[Snugglepie]

I got an email this afternoon asking me to choose an answer out of the ones received and make it as the best answer.
I cant possibly do that as all answers were good and they all meant a lot to me in their content and friendliness as a newcomer to this site.
Thank you all very much from me sincerely for taking the time to reply to my post with your posts full of understanding, information and friendliness.
Take care all of you
Cathie.

[Snugglepie]

Thanks for that info immisceo. I finally got around to checking it out and its very interesting.
Im waiting to hear from my neuro so will bring up those med wiht him.
Im already on one of those mentioned so he might not want to change or add to that.
Who knows?
Fingers crossed, it goes away on its own soon.

[Snugglepie]

I'll look at that later, but im going to a sleep now. :) Thank you oh and my name is Cathie

[Skinnyninja77]

Diagnosed april this year.

I also get the Phantom itch i went numb around my torso a year ago and i did regain most of the feeling back but now i have two places were i get the phantom Itch..

Around the lower back just above my kidney and the other is just below my rib cage both on the left hand side..

Sometimes find it so frustrating as when you go to scratch it doesn't go away i thought it was me a first, but now reading your post i'm glad to say i'm not loosing my marbles..

Kerry x

[Snugglepie]

Thank you to everyone that posted in response to my question and for the welcome.
I feel as though i really am amongst others who have had and/or understand what Im talking about. Sometimes i wonder if Im losing the plot with some of the symptoms that i get, but now realize that Im not the only one.
Its a WONDERFUL feeling as my own husband even raises his eyebrows at me sometimes.
Thanks all again and keep staying well :)
Cathie

[ghost39]

I get this quite frequently and it drives me insane. I try not to scratch, knowing it will give no relief. I have no answers, only that I know how you feel :)

[immisceo]

I've also found this article from the MS society that also mentions other possible drug treatments for itches that are neurologic in origin and won't respond to topical treatment (apparently called dysesthetic itching).

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/symptoms/itching/index.aspx

Thanks for bringing this up, Snugglepie (love that name). I've learned a lot from this thread myself.

[sllowe]

Welcome to our forum.
Snugglepie - you are among the top veterans here with 28 years of MS under your belt.  It's reassuring to hear you are doing well. We get many newly dx'd MSers on our forum, and you can attest that MS is not a death sentence.

UUUUUugh, the itching. I don't even want to mention it - thinking I'll jinx myself and it will rear it's ugly head. Add me to the list w/the random nightmare when it shows. Mine is on the inner part of each arm, typically on both and it leaves just as random as it comes. Mine is a pinch, burn like itch. I could rip my skin off, hahah  I take nothing for it.

For no good reason, just for my own sanity I suppose, I put antibiotic ointment on it with pain reliever.  Mentally, I think it will get rid of it. The placebo effect I guess. Makes me feel like I can control it, even though we know nothing really does. But, it does at least sooth the area topically. Which helps me not dig it.

Thanks for joining us, and hope you will stay along with us to share your experiences :)
-shell

[HVAC]

There are medications that can help like Lyrica. I have it between to fingers.

Alex

[Snugglepie]

Thank you so much for you input. I feel a little less crazy now. I haven't been in touch with my neurologist as yet, well i have phoned but he hasn't phoned back as yet.(admittedly the weekend has been and now almost gone)
I feel the need for another call tomorrow (Monday).
I steered clear of medical intervention as i thought as ive read from others on the site that they thought at first it may have been caused by an allergy of washing detergent, soap etc.
Ive come to the conclusion however, hence the post on here, that its got to be the MS with the rest of the symptoms.
Thank you for the web address as well, it certainly gives some interesting thoughts to overcome different pain. I'll give them a go.
Hope you are keeping well at the moment.
The weather is warming up over here in Australia so apart from the heat that seems to come with it unfortunately, theres all the positives of nicer mornings and lighter nights and lovely spring flowers etc, to give a boost to the mind as well.

[immisceo]

Apologies. I'm unsure why the web address was not rendered completely. I assure you, it's reputable and not something offensive. Putting it as-in (even with asterisks) into google will have it come up first in the search results.

[immisceo]

I can assure you I've had this too, and oddly it's one of my most detested symptoms. There's something so diabolical about an itch that does not respond to scratching. It goes against everything we've learned since childhood about our own body's cause and effect. It's like something Stephen King could write about!

I've actually coped by modifying mindfulness exercises aimed at people with chronic pain that I use to stay sane when this comes up. http://************.com/lib/using-mindfulness-to-approach-chronic-pain/00016290

As far as the other issues you're dealing with as you come out of this relapse, have you contacted your neurologist about these events? I just wonder if they might offer you methylprednisolone (IV steroids). Of course, these are the big guns. You may have personal reasons for preferring not to go that route, or they may not think they're warranted in this instance. But definitely keep your medical team in the loop about this, if you've not already done so.

And again, I feel you! The itch-that-can-not-be-scratched is my most challenging (though thankfully shortest-lasting) invisible monster.