Hello to all. I am hoping to find more information on the above: Brachial radial pruitis. I have been suffering from severe intense itching in the elbow/upper arm area for over 15 years. Nothing to show for it until recent diagnosis by dermatologist of BRP. Appears to be a relatively rare condition that manifests itself in the intense itching, often @ night and in warmer weather, however mine is year round.

Little is known apparently about BRP, however the opinions are that it is a neurological condition due to nerve damage caused either by sun exposure or problems in the C-4 to C-6 region of the spine.

I have found only one other thread thru an unlikely blog so am searching. I'm interested to find others with this condition and what their Dr. is doing about it. Some sufferers are on Prednisone (me) and/or Neurontin or Lyrica. Some people find relief by acupuncture, some chiropractic. Some, only icing the area does it. Some also take amitriptylene or doxepin.

Anyway, if this sounds at all familiar to anyone, I would like to hear what avenues are being taken and if they work!

I'm Nancy, from Florida, and I've also been plaged for over 10 years with severe pruitus ( itching) of my arms (both) which increases at night. This keeps me awake, suffering now from many years of insomnia.....constantly trying to find relief. I've visited allergist, dermatologist and my PCP looking for answers and help. This started after surgical menapause.I've had my Hormones monitored carefully, through saliva testing.
I take HRT, a compounded formula cream , but doesn't help. I sleep with ice wrapped around my arms, and my husband calls me a hockey player.
If anyone has any suggestions, please contact me. I live in Florida. The sun intensifies the itching during the day, so, I've been keeping out of the sun.
Looking for some advise and answers......

Nancy

I also have brachial radial pruitus and have discovered that not only is this a rare disease, but most doctors haven't even heard of it. I bounced around for five years from family doctor to dermatologist to neurologist before I finally found some information on the internet and was able to diagnose myself. I took several articles I had found to my family doctor whoe read them and agreed that was what I had. I now take 100 MG Lyrica twice a day and that has helped tremendously, but I still need ice packs on some evenings. Here's what I know:

Symptoms: Severe itching on arms, shoulders, lower neck, upper back. Itching changes from year to year and always occurs in certain spots. This year, it's my upper arms. Last year, it was my lower arms. Itching cannot be satisfied by scratching and if you try it that way, you'll simply scratch until you bleed. My arms are covered with healed scratch marks. This disease is seasonal--itching begins mid-summer and lasts until January/February with decreasing intensity. The symptoms are also strongest in the evening and night time. Rarely bothers me during the day unless I have tight sleeves or am sweating (like during a workout).

Treatment: This is a nerve disease so trips to dermatologists are useless. The only thing that may work from their perspective is to numb your skin and that's just not practical on a nightly basis. I take Lyrica which is often prescribed for fibermyalgia patients. The nerves in my arms are damaged, most likely from some combination of too much sun and a genetic predisposal to this disease. But the damage is not severe enough to be felt as pain--my brain thinks my arms itch and it also feels like a burning just below the surface. That's not so bad--much better than the itching. I take 100 mg around 6:00 in the evening, just when the itching may start. I take another 100 mg at bedtime, around 10:30. This drug makes my life bearable again but does not completely fix the problem. I also take a bag of ice to bed with me because when I turn on my side, my arm often starts to itch. I'm guessing from both the warmth and the tightness. SOmetimes if I just get my arms out from under the covers, the itching subsides.

I wrote this blurb here in hopes that some day some one will see it who will know of a better way to treat this or maybe even a way to cure it. I tried hard to stay out of the sun this year but it made no difference. But I live in Arkansas, so it is very difficult to avoid sun. And maybe someone else who suffers from this will see it and finally be able to go to her doctor and say this may be what I need to do. I had one doctor tell me to wear mittens to bed because I was performing phantom scratching--I only THOUGHT my arms were itching. I had another doctor prescribe some useless cream and when I reported it didn't help, he said that was too bad. Hope you find a way to figure it out. Apparently, a lot of doctors don't think itching is much of a problem. Wish they could go 7 months every year, not being able to go to sleep for hours and then being woken up in the middle of the night and having no alternative but to get into a cold shower for relief. Or having to tell your lover you just can't touch my arms at all--try hugging that way. I tried to find a doctor in this state who had even heard of the disease, and so far, no luck. I'm just glad I have a family doctor who was willing to listen and try something else every time one treatment didn't work. It was his idea to try the Lrica and it has been wonderful. Hope the rest of you find some relief as well.

i would wonder if lidoderm patches might help?

I have never heard of brachial radial pruitus until now. I have suffered from severe itching on my arms for 30 years. At first it only lasted a short time and only a few times a year. The older I get the more often it occurs. Lately it seems like a constant battle to stop the itching. Lately I have been to the ER twice in a couple of weeks. I scratch so much that my arm is dripping in blood. It switches from one arm to the other. Sometimes both at the same time but mostly one side or the other. No Dr. has been able to give me an answer. I've had two biopsys that came back as inflamation. How is brachial radial pruitus diagnosed? I never know what will bring it on or what will stop it. The only thing that seems to help is lots of massage oil 5x's a day on my arm.

Thanks. I will try Lyrica. Is brachial radial pruitius diagnosed by the symptoms? Or is there a blood test?

Thanks LBurley -- your account of your symptoms is exactly what i have had for the last four years. Countless doctors couldn't tell me what it was and worse made me feel awful -- that i was making it up, it was psychosomatic or attributed it to stress. One doctor told me to give up and stop trying to figure out what it was.

I have been to acupuncture for this over the last week -- she worked on the C5 and C6 vertebrae and i'm so pleased that for the last two nights since the session, all has been quiet on the itchy arms front.

Try acupuncture. it works!

Recently I have found relief from the itching by using Lidoderm which is a lidocaine Patch 5%. They are prescription only so you need to ask your Dr.
So far this has been the greatest relief I have gotten. I hope it may help some of you.

I suffered with this for 8 years. Got some relief from prescription cortoid cream, and sleeping with ice packs. Had no neuro problems, it was all Florida sun and heat related. Many living in tropics get it. My new neurologist recommended trying Capsacin,,, its burnt and hurt, took 2 applications but got rid of it for good!!!
It was really great, I am so happy , and strongly rec anyone with this try it. It worked for me.

Have you tried Llysine...just over the counter, the first 3 days triple the dose, also take extral Vitamin B. I also dust myself with common corn starch for the itching...