Sunburn sensation

[sil41]

About 2 weeks ago my husband started complaining about having a burning sensation all over his body like a sunburn. A day or two later he then started having pains in his back. He has gone to our family doctor and she ran blood tests, but everything came back normal. Now he is starting to have sharp shooting pains in his head. These three things may not even be related, but I'm just looking for answers. He has been on steroids which has lessened the pain, but the symptoms are still there.

[Belf63]

I just had my 2nd experience with this sunburn sensation on my skin, all over my body.  Both times it has occurred while am sleeping and wakes me up. It only lasts for 20 or so minutes and I experience no discoloring, but do experience extra sensitivity in my skin; my skin does not feel warmer.  I am a 50 year old male with no other symptoms, that I can tell.  I do take non-flushing Nacin and Simvistatin for cholesterol. We recently moved from the AZ desert, to the southern CA coast, where this started (probably unrelated).

Thank you in advance for any info.

Bill

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The symptoms that your husband is having looks like a spinal or neurological problem. The other possibility for this sunburn sensation can be neurodermatitis skin. In such type of sensations, cooling lotions like those containing camphor or menthol, capsacain or local anesthetic creams, amitriptyline and gabapentin tablets and electrical cutaneous nerve field stimulation prove effective.

Also get a MRI spine done for your husband.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.