Skin Burning sensation

[hypomess]

good morning,

For quite some time now, I have had skin burning sensations in my upper back, neck, and now left forearm. When it first began I was going through a pretty stressful moment, so I thought it had to do with stress or anxiety. this feeling came and went during the day or weeks, but it felt like a really bad sunburn.

I thought that after that period of time, which by the way, has been my most stressful time, got even depressed, it was going to go away. But I still get it once in a while, not as bad as before, but still get it. Nowadays, it is mostly on my upper back, upper arm, and forearm.

What can this be? it has me really worried now and past worries have come back. Can this be a sign of something really terrible? My skin feels hot, but I haven´t had a sunburn.

In case this info helps, I am also since several months on Benicar, meds for hypertension.

Any suggestion or opinion is very thankful.

Regards,

[Nick_N]

Dr. Sharma mentioned both age and trauma leading to disc degeneration as being a potential cause of burning skin sensation. I started out with intermittent burning skin over my upper back and arms about 1.5 years ago. Now I have frequent neck pain and tingling in the same area of my neck. I was in a car accident 3 years ago and had slight neck pain for a couple weeks after that. I am also nearing sixty years old. I also suffer dry sinusitis which I control with daily antibiotic laced nasal irrigation which I began 2 years ago. I suspect bacterial infection beginning in my sinuses as causing the cervical degeneration, though it may well be age and/or trauma related. The sinus problem started 2 years before the burning skin began. Doctors want me to use pain medications and muscle relaxants instead of designing a surgical fix that will remove any toxin or infection damaged tissue from my sinuses along with whatever bony spurs are impinging my spinal cord. I don't want to live on pain killers and muscle relaxants. The only test doctors have done for my neck is to give me regular X-rays. If anybody has any ideas to help me many thanks for offering them.

[juzzie123]

Hi tiffswthart,
This can't be gallbladder. I have had my gallbladder removed, have a Hiatus Hernia and diverticulitis as well as a lot of stress. I am on mild meds to control my digestion and hernia but I feel burning on my left upper arm and across my shoulders and neck as well as sharp intemittent pains which last only half a second shooting across my left pectoral muscle. I find this is mostly early morning and is related to my eating patterns and points of high stress. accompanied by this is moments of extreme dizziness.  Gallbladder pain is a sharp stabbing pain under your right rib cage and also gives you extreme throbbing pains in your mid back. It feels uncontrolable and you will feel like your right rib cage is about to climb out of your body. It is really really painful and you can feel it is inside your body and not so much on the surface / skin. Gallbladder pains are evident shortly after you eat or drink and prone also to late night when your digestive juices are flowing into an empty tummy. So I don't see it being gallbladder.  I would have my colon checked for Diverticulitis or be honest if you need help with extreme stress and get onto some meds. Hope this helps you and best of luck.

[tiffswthart]

Did they find out what is causing yours?  Can it be gallbladder?  I have the same symptoms of burning skin and I am convinced it's a food or digestive issue.

[MelissaHayley]

I know it's been a couple of years since you posted but I am just reading this and I have the same exact symptoms. It started 2 weeks ago- burning sensation started in my left forearm and spread to my back, neck and sometimes chest. I have been to my internist and dermatologist. I also saw a Gastroenterologist because 4 days after the burning started I began having esophageal irritation and Idiagnosed with esophagitis but he doesn't think the burning is related. I am seeing a cardiologist today but I am so frustrated because no doctor has any clue as to what is causing the burning sensation. Did you ever find the answer and have you had any repeated episodes since you last posted or are you 100% fine now? Thanks for your help.

Best,
Melissa

[sap555]

hi my mother 53 years old and she has burning sensation on her back bellow right arm and it occurs on a particular spot and irritation lasts for 3 to 5 mins.. with pain...she is getting too worried about this...any suggestion please

[don989]

I have the same symptoms. Mainly on the undeside of both arms (not arm-pits) and my upper back. It feel like a sunburn especailly when I have clothes on. Went to Dr. and he prescripbed a cream. It really isn't helping. It's very uncomfortable and concerning. I am stressed and take medication for that. This just started about 3 weeks ago and won't go away. Help?

[Schmeez007]

Hi. I have crowns disease , osteopenia and ra. Revently I get a burning sensation on neck arms and fce when I am exposed to sun. I have never ha this before but inliterally feel as if I am a vampire burning in the sun. My skin on my neck peels in the same spot describe on other web sites, lower left side of neck about one inch long like a curling iron burn. Every one it happens the burn is in the same place. What going on? Could it be hunira?

[miab]

Hi,some times i feel burning in my upper back and arms,this burning feeling last for 30-40 seconds.is this is normal?plz help me

[ilovetoski]

Found the problem. Well at least for me. It all started the same as others I have read about. Terrible burning sensations, thought it was shingles, looked into Lime disease had a MRI and finally found it was a food allergy. I still don’t know exactly what food but it is centered around Chocolate. When all this started I was on a health kick and started eating 10% of a dark chocolate bar a day (80% coco). After a few months of living with the symptoms I went out of the country for 2 weeks and got a lot better. When I came back and it started up again I started looking at food. Dark Chocolate is the biggest problem for me, but Ice cream and candy bars also bring the symptoms back although not as sever. Carefully watching my diet I have little to no problem an can even sneak in a bite of cake every now and then. Don’t know if this will help anybody, but if it helps even one it’s worth the post. Good luck.

[kiir]

In the last year I have been diagnosed with SCDS (Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome), Cervical Stenosis and Crohns ... tough year!!  In the last 6 weeks I have started to have this horrible ice cold feeling in my body (this originally started in my arms) and it turns to an awful burning sensation, which has now covered my arms, face and legs.  It is maddening!  I quit taking all of my vitamins a couple of days ago, thinking maybe that I am getting too much of something that is triggering this.  I have also been taking Ativan (only a 1/4 of a pill at a time, because my system is so sensitive) which seems to really help calm the cold and burning sensations - and to help me to sleep.  I am waiting to get scheduled to see a neurosurgeon at U of M ... but in the mean time what can I do to keep from losing my mind???   Thank you, in advance, for your response!!  kiir

[hypomess]

Thank you very much for the information given, it really helps me. These past few daysi haven´t felt that sensation again, so it is  getting better. About FM, well, the only pain I´ve felt is the one I have mentioned here, no other place.  I tought also it could Peripheral Neuropathy, but according to waht I´ve read it usually begins in the feet or hands, none of those areas have been affected, so I think I can discard that. Today I went to the lab to have some tests taken, will pick them up later today.
Thank you so much for all your help, it calmed my nerves.
God bless you

[hypomess]

Thank you very much Dr. Sharma, I am 33 years old and have not had any accident or similars. At first I thought it could be anxiety related, cause when it first happened I was under a lot of stress, after a period of time it went away. These new epiodes of skin burning sensation are not as intense as the first ones, but still ahve them, and I think is spreading a bit more, cause now I feel it in my arms, and lately on my face and neck again. Two days ago I played racketball, the day after I felt my face and neck a little like the sunburn feeling, so I do not know if this is muscle realted or what could it be, I am pretty scared that it could be something serious like Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, PN, or similar. Please any advise or opinion from you. If I think about it, it feels more severe.

[hypomess]

Thank you very much for the detailed information you just sent me. One question though, I am 33 yrs. old, can this happen to me at this age?

[Dr Sharma]

Dear Hypomess, welcome to the medhelp forum. This burning sensation over upper back, upper arm and forearm could be anxiety related. Benicar or olmesartan can cause muscle spasms and cramps as side effects. You should consult a neurologist for assessing the spine for evidence of cervical degenerative disc disease causing nerve compression. Age and post trauma related disc degeneration is common with loss of water and protein content in the cartilages, discs, and facet joints are affected, being composed of this. Gradual wear and tear leads to disc degeneration and consequent symptoms of neck pain and radiation of pain and numbness, tingling and weakness in the dermatome supplied by nerves in the neck, which may get pinched due to disc changes. This makes you more prone to cervical spine stenosis and disc herniation. Consult your neurologist for any specific advice and intervention if he deems necessary. This could be a photosensitivity causing the burning sensation if associated with sun exposure.  You are welcome with any queries further. Take care.