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itchy arms = BRACHIORADIAL 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.  
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Avatar universal
I m so glad I found this community! Every Sept - Nov for past  4 yrs I have intense itching along a perfect nerve-root / meridian line down both arms from 10pm - 4am. Such a maddening itch and tried every cream/lotion etc
Am sitting here now with ice packs on, having drunk some baking soda in water, applied aloe propolis cream and feel at peace for first time since August! Thank you so much everyone for sharing, felt like I was going bonkers! X
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Avatar universal
I have been suffering with this for about 9 years now. Until now I haven't found anybody else who has this seasonally. The doctors are no help. Anytime I go to one they try to diagnose me with scabies, but I know that's not it because it always disappears almost overnight come the end of November. It starts in September and lasts for about 3 months every year. Every year it seems to be getting worse. when I was a child I had a lot of allergies and had to get injections every week. Those allergies are gone now, all I have is this arm itching. But I would gladly take the old allergies back over this.I am at the point now where I can't even sleep. I am going on two weeks now with zero sleep.The itching is the most insanely insidious thing I have ever experienced. It's not just itching but also feels like pin pricks, almost like I am being jabbed by a thousand tiny needles all over my upper arms and shoulders. Most nights I am awake all night scrubbing at my arms with a natural bristle hairbrush just to keep from going insane. The second I stop, the prickling starts again. The only thing that ever seems to help is ice packs but I can't stand freezing my arms every single night. It's not so bad in the daytime but at night it is unimaginable torture. Allergy medication does absolutely nothing for me. My husband can't even sleep in the same bed with me anymore because I keep him awake all night.I am just hoping the next few weeks go by quickly so I can have my life back again.
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Avatar universal
About the time that you have had enough, and seek and undergo treatment, the season is over.  My first year, I finally went to the dermatologist, who gave me some Rx ointment, around November.  "Miraculously", it went away! Next August, it started all over.  It comes back every August-September, and stays until November.
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Avatar universal
I've just discovered this discussion after thinking I was the only one in the world.  Everyone says - just the left arm, really????  Even the allergist I saw the other day was baffled.
   Here's my question - how many of you are also allergic to ragweed or any other fall allergy, or have had allergy injections for the same??
I ask because the timing of my symptoms EXACTLY matches ragweed season, which I already know that I am highly allergic to.  26 years ago I had allergy shots, mostly for ragweed, and I even thought that I usually got the shots in my left arm, so I thought I was having an auto-immune reaction to some sort of residue in my arm.  OK, I'm not a Dr., and they assure me that does not make sense.  But apparently they also did not know that there exists a condition with a name, and that there are many other people who suffer from it.
   I have been treating it with Chlor-Trimeton - the max dose or occasionally double doses.  As long as I take it every 3 hours without fail, I can keep it mostly under control.  I recently discovered that ice helps, but I'm still taking the drugs!  The allergy Dr. says Claritin twice a day, 2 pills each dose, will build up in my system and control it better, but I have to take it like that several days to get the effect.  3 days gone, and I'm still using Chlor-T in addition to Claritin, as well as ice and creams.
    I could believe the theory about neck problems contributing, except for the seasonal aspect of this.  So many people talk about the time of year.  August thru October (and counting) is when mine hits, for the past 5 years now.  No rash until I've scratched the H out of it.
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Avatar universal
I've just discovered this discussion after thinking I was the only one in the world.  Everyone says - just the left arm, really????  Even the allergist I saw the other day was baffled.
   Here's my question - how many of you are also allergic to ragweed or any other fall allergy, or have had allergy injections for the same??
I ask because the timing of my symptoms EXACTLY matches ragweed season, which I already know that I am highly allergic to.  26 years ago I had allergy shots, mostly for ragweed, and I even thought that I usually got the shots in my left arm, so I thought I was having an auto-immune reaction to some sort of residue in my arm.  OK, I'm not a Dr., and they assure me that does not make sense.  But apparently they also did not know that there exists a condition with a name, and that there are many other people who suffer from it.
   I have been treating it with Chlor-Trimeton - the max dose or occasionally double doses.  As long as I take it every 3 hours without fail, I can keep it mostly under control.  I recently discovered that ice helps, but I'm still taking the drugs!  The allergy Dr. says Claritin twice a day, 2 pills each dose, will build up in my system and control it better, but I have to take it like that several days to get the effect.  3 days gone, and I'm still using Chlor-T in addition to Claritin, as well as ice and creams.
    I could believe the theory about neck problems contributing, except for the seasonal aspect of this.  So many people talk about the time of year.  August thru October (and counting) is when mine hits, for the past 5 years now.  No rash until I've scratched the H out of it.
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Avatar universal
I'm glad I found the diagnosis of BRP...though it's not a good prognosis! Seems like something I will have to learn to maintain throughout life...I can't continue with this itching! I broke my neck C4 & 5 about 30 yrs. ago and have never had a problem. About 6 mos ago my upper arms started itching....I thoought I was having an allergic reaction to some food, and practically eliminated everything. Stress, fungus, shingles? Finally I googled insane itching that makes you crazy, keeps you up at night, and makes you want to light your hair on fire..as opposed to cutting your arms off!  Well, it is making me crazy. Ice packs do seem to be the only thing that works for relief. I haven't taken any steps to get help...as many of you have already shared your stores.  I can't afford acupuncture, so I'll try to find a chiropractor who knows about the condition and see it that helps. There's no way I'm going to start taking any kind of prescription or medecine that isnt't natural. Doesn't sound like any of it works well enough to put in your body for the rest of your life! Anyway, it's nice to know I'm not alone or crazy...and I appreciate all the people hwo have shared here. Good luck!
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