Any CURE for brachioradial pruritus? (besides ice as relief)

[steamboattracey]

Thousands of people are suffering with Brachioradial Pruritus, including myself, in my tenth year. It is the most maddening disease and I have learned of no cure. Ice is the ONLY thing to provide relief, and acupuncture has not been effective for me. I have tried all the expensive prescription and steroid creams to no avail. I am losing sleep, and my sanity, b/c it keeps me up all night. I am staying out of the sun, but every year, this persists until December or January. I have read countless articles and blogs about BRP, am sure that is what I have, but have yet to find a cure, and therefore some hope that I don't have to suffer with this every year for the rest of my life. Any new ideas/solutions/cures??? PLEASE?!!!!

[BRPinSouthernCA]

Hi, Just like so many people here I have suffered with BRP for about 6 years now. It is the most horrific problem. Although there are many that have it much worse than I, this is still a disorder that continues to  cause stress and physical problems for me. My skin is scarred and thickened from years of scratching.Having said that, I like so many, have been to countless Derms, Chiro's, GP's etc to address this problem. I have taken enumerable medications both topical and internal. I have used Diprosone, the strongest steroid creams and visited an allergist all to no avail. Over the counter icy hot works mostly but the kick back once it has worn off is almost painful. The itching is so intense I have chosen not to use it. Ice is my best friend. Now, to the point of this post.  Some time ago I purchased an over the counter Icy Hot tens unit. I placed it on my arm and turned it on. The itching got so bad I ripped it off and put it away. 2 days ago I awakened with that crazy itch and I almost could not get it under control with even ice. I found the tens unit. I decided to place it on my neck just to see what happened. I placed it along my spine (I have the big one for back) and although it says not to use it on the neck I turned it on. Within 5 minutes the itching started to subside. Since that night I wear it almost constantly. When I begin to feel the itch I turn it on. It does not go away completely folks but it is manageable. I hate the jittery feeling I get when using it. I find I don't seem to think quite as clearly when it is on. My hand does not work quite as well when it is on either but I can only assume it is because it is stimulating the nerves along the top of my hand. But the fact is that it has helped this terrible affliction. I am so incredibly grateful. I assume it must interrupt the itch signal just as it would a pain signal. I get relief for up to 2 hours after using it.  I do one side at a time as I have BRP on both arms from just above the elbow to the tops of my hands. I have it all year as I live in Southern CA. I am not giving medical advice but for me it has literally saved my sanity. I hope it helps others.
God bless all of you.

[AllyJA]

I take Lyrica capsules for my BRP - works really well!

[Jesse3332]

Xanthan gum! I've found this to be the culprit. Certainly the main one anyhow.  From Starbucks coconut drinks, cool whip, pop tarts, salad dressings..... There are a few other emulsifiers that may also trigger it.

[sarahelyse1281]

I'm a 36 y/o woman living in Florida. My BRP started about 5 years ago, but went away and I didn't have any symptoms really until about a year ago. It would come and go, but lately, within the last few months, it's been maddening!!! I don't know what triggers it. Like, why have there been times I feel no itching at all - but then all of a sudden I do? Why were my symptoms spaced out before, but now occur every day? I've been to two different dermatologists - both of them just give me topical creams that do nothing. One is tacrolimus ointment which I think made it worse.

Right now, the best relief I'm getting is from COCONUT OIL and LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL. I'm very much into holistic healing and really hate taking any chemical creams or medication. I still feel slight tingling and prickling in my arms after putting on the lavender oil, but nothing as severe as when I have my "itching outbreak".

My next steps are to try CARESS bar soap (cheap enough option) and Acupuncture. I haven't had any x-rays or MRIs of my cervical spine yet, so if nothing else helps - that will be my next step.

I completely sympathize with you all! It's maddening and I want to rip my arms off! I love being outside, but living in Florida will be so challenging. No beach, no pool days...  Something out there has to work!!! Good luck to you all!

[NoMosuffering]

Caress bar soap, itching gone in 5 days. Monolaurin 2 pills a day, after 3 months stop the soap and continue taking the supplement. Will be gone for good as long as you take the supplement. 100% satisfaction guarantee.

[AJB2323]

I have been suffering with this for years and  I have tried so many creams; lotions; medications .... nothing worked. FINALLY I came across a website for radiobrachial creame from NZ DERM NET website. And together with using NUMMIT CREME FROM EGO it totally disappears. It’s amazing. And I feel sane... again.