Neuropathy Itch, ever hear of it?

IrishEyes

IrishEyes

Sharon
Location
Midwest
I thought I had a case of dry skin on my back from my shoulder blades to my waist.
But nothing helped, changes in soaps, shower brush types, clothing. Tried them all and
the itch became more persistent and annoying. I realized that the itch felt deeper than
skin level, so I did a search on it.

If you have constant itching that seems deeper to you, you may want to read this.

Neurological Itches and Why Scratching Doesn't Help
 

IrishEyes said:
I thought I had a case of dry skin on my back from my shoulder blades to my waist.
But nothing helped, changes in soaps, shower brush types, clothing. Tried them all and
the itch became more persistent and annoying. I realized that the itch felt deeper than
skin level, so I did a search on it.

If you have constant itching that seems deeper to you, you may want to read this.

Neurological Itches and Why Scratching Doesn't Help
Click to expand...
l think it could be eczema, Or possibly psychological. Stop reaching out and it might get better
 

That is a bad place to have a chronic itch! Sorry.... I would see a doctor about it. They can examine it up closely. I have chronic neuropathic pain not itching. I belong to a support group for this problem. About 30 people meet by Zoom. Itching is a very common ailment that many people are dealing with.

Neuropathy is becoming a much more common modern disease. Talk to your doctor to start managing this asap. :)
 
Paco Dennis said:
That is a bad place to have a chronic itch! Sorry.... I would see a doctor about it. They can examine it up closely. I have chronic neuropathic pain not itching. I belong to a support group for this problem. About 30 people meet by Zoom. Itching is a very common ailment that many people are dealing with.

Neuropathy is becoming a much more common modern disease. Talk to your doctor to start managing this asap. :)
Click to expand...
One main cause is diabetes (although there can be other causes). and 'modern' approaches to diabetes make it worse.
A few years ago, one of my neighbors was in such bad shape he was told he'd need surgery on his feet.
 
I suffer from what I call "nerve itch"....hands and feet. The itch is intense and no amount of scratching or anything else will provide any relief. It just has to run its course, although I did get quick relief with something they shot me with at the ER...probably Industrial Strength Benedryl.

It accompanies whatever-the-heck I had that won me an exciting ride to the hospital in July, lights flashing, siren wailing and horn honking because the paramedics said I was having a heart attack. I wasn't, thank goodness, but what I WAS having is still To-Be-Determined. A night in the hospital, every test known to mankind and visits to several specialists haven't solved the mystery. There were some strange blood and urine levels.

So, I had another bout of it tonight just as I was walking out the door to pick up my granddaughters. I knew what was happening so I decided to ride it out. After about 45 minutes, I was sorta OK, but felt like I had been run over by a truck, pretty shaky. Hands itched for quite a while.

A relative of sorts who is our Family Hypochondriac says it might be Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. I looked it up, I have a LOT of the symptoms. As I said, she's a hypochondriac but I have to say she knows everything there is about every obscure condition....a real expert.

I have been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy several years ago, but I'm not Diabetic.

I'm going to talk to my doctor on Monday. I cringe at the thought of being a hypochondriac, because we had a couple in the family and it made me doubly determined not to be one. BUT, I've got to find out what is causing this.
 
One might try using while showering, as hot a level of hot water as one can stand briefly on itchy zones that will for a few hours reduce the amount of cytokines deeper inside skin that may then influence the spinal nerve areas enough to mask the deep source of the itching. Note my polycythemia vera thick blood condition caused itching before I began hydroxyurea treatment.

Google AI:

Cytokines, particularly IL-31, IL-4, IL-13, and IL-33, are key immune signaling molecules that directly activate sensory neurons in the skin to cause itching, especially in chronic conditions like atopic dermatitis. These "pruritogenic" cytokines are often released by immune cells (T cells, mast cells) and keratinocytes, stimulating nerve fibers to send itch signals to the brain. Chronic itch often involves these cytokines increasing the sensitivity of nerve fibers (sensitization) to other, normally non-itchy stimuli.

Key insights on cytokine-driven itching:
  • The "Itch Cytokine" (IL-31): Known for its direct role in promoting itch, IL-31 is released by immune cells and acts on nerve fibers to induce scratching.
  • Type 2 Cytokines (IL-4 & IL-13): These cytokines not only promote inflammation but also directly activate sensory neurons and sensitize them to future stimuli.
  • Other Key Cytokines: TSLP, IL-33, and TNF-alpha are also involved in initiating itching.
  • Therapeutic Targets: Blocking these pathways (e.g., anti-IL-4, anti-IL-31) has proven effective in reducing itching in chronic conditions.
  • Neuroimmune Interaction: Cytokines act as a bridge, allowing the immune system and nervous system to interact, leading to the itch-scratch cycle.
 
This sounds like what I have on my ankles from time to time. I can go months (even years) without it, but it eventually returns. It is always only one ankle, never both at the same time. If I use Calamine lotion on it as soon as it starts, it will sometimes stop it in 2-3 days. If it hasn't gotten better by that time, it's not going to, and no OTC medication (external nor internal) will bring relief, so I have to go to my prescription (paragraph 3 below)

It's an insane itch that seems to go to the bone and makes sleep impossible. I have scratched it until pruritis (wet / weeping of the skin) sets in, and that is very risky because if it's left untreated it can can become cellulitis, requiring extended antibiotic treatment.

With my first occurence, some 30 years ago, the dermatologist prescribed Desonide Cream, a potent coticosteroid that can only be used for relatively short periods of time since it can thin the skin, but it usually cleared the condition in less than a week. Desonide rose dramatically in cost, so my current doctor prescribed Betaethasone Valerate ointment. It's a medium-strength topical steroid that works by calming the immune system's white blood cells from releasing inflammation-causing substances. It usually clears my condition in 3 days or less. Most conditions of such persistence can generally be knocked out with potent corticosteroids, but do not respond well to OTC hydrocortisone cream 1%.
 
I have lost 1/2 inch of my height and fight myself to sit up straight instead of slowly slouching.
I am wondering if it is nerves compressed in my spine and instead of pain my brain is taking it
as an itch, as the readings I have found says can be a possibility.
I will bring it up to my Dr when I see him and let him decide what to try 1st. I read my body pretty
well and I think that could be the cause.
There are exercises to relieve it and align the spine but I want to make sure I go the right route and
not make it worse.
Morning it still has the itch sensation but mild then by bedtime I just want to lay on a bed of nails
and rub it. So it gets stronger as the day rolls on and the slouching is more apt to happen.
No rash, no bumps just that deep inner itch.
 
jujube said:
I suffer from what I call "nerve itch"....hands and feet. The itch is intense and no amount of scratching or anything else will provide any relief. It just has to run its course, although I did get quick relief with something they shot me with at the ER...probably Industrial Strength Benedryl.

It accompanies whatever-the-heck I had that won me an exciting ride to the hospital in July, lights flashing, siren wailing and horn honking because the paramedics said I was having a heart attack. I wasn't, thank goodness, but what I WAS having is still To-Be-Determined. A night in the hospital, every test known to mankind and visits to several specialists haven't solved the mystery. There were some strange blood and urine levels.

So, I had another bout of it tonight just as I was walking out the door to pick up my granddaughters. I knew what was happening so I decided to ride it out. After about 45 minutes, I was sorta OK, but felt like I had been run over by a truck, pretty shaky. Hands itched for quite a while.

A relative of sorts who is our Family Hypochondriac says it might be Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. I looked it up, I have a LOT of the symptoms. As I said, she's a hypochondriac but I have to say she knows everything there is about every obscure condition....a real expert.

I have been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy several years ago, but I'm not Diabetic.

I'm going to talk to my doctor on Monday. I cringe at the thought of being a hypochondriac, because we had a couple in the family and it made me doubly determined not to be one. BUT, I've got to find out what is causing this.
Click to expand...
Wow. Sorry to hear of your condition. Are you taking any RX drugs? I am taking 1800mg per day of Gabapentin. I am weaning off Tramadol, and Citolopram. For about 3 years I have chased a cure through different meds...nothing. So I just do the best I can each hour with managing the pain.

Now I am only having pain when I sleep. I get up 3 times a night to take some meds and cool my burning mouth with frozen strawberries, and cool my calves.ankles with a wet cloth. I never imagined I would be dealing with this, but I do not feel too bad because so many other people are having a very difficult time.
 
Last edited:
MACKTEXAS said:
This sounds like what I have on my ankles from time to time. I can go months (even years) without it, but it eventually returns. It is always only one ankle, never both at the same time. If I use Calamine lotion on it as soon as it starts, it will sometimes stop it in 2-3 days. If it hasn't gotten better by that time, it's not going to, and no OTC medication (external nor internal) will bring relief, so I have to go to my prescription (paragraph 3 below)

It's an insane itch that seems to go to the bone and makes sleep impossible. I have scratched it until pruritis (wet / weeping of the skin) sets in, and that is very risky because if it's left untreated it can can become cellulitis, requiring extended antibiotic treatment.

With my first occurence, some 30 years ago, the dermatologist prescribed Desonide Cream, a potent coticosteroid that can only be used for relatively short periods of time since it can thin the skin, but it usually cleared the condition in less than a week. Desonide rose dramatically in cost, so my current doctor prescribed Betaethasone Valerate ointment. It's a medium-strength topical steroid that works by calming the immune system's white blood cells from releasing inflammation-causing substances. It usually clears my condition in 3 days or less. Most conditions of such persistence can generally be knocked out with potent corticosteroids, but do not respond well to OTC hydrocortisone cream 1%.
Click to expand...

I wonder if you might have exercise-induced vasculitis, sometimes called "Disney rash." Does it tend to flare up in hot weather, especially when youā€™re walking?
 

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