Re: Notalgia paresthetica?

[Guest guest]

>

> I have this insane itching on/between my shoulder blades ...>

> and if it is a chiari thing; how can I make the madness stop???

>

Hey Java,

My crazy itching is a nerve thing. I *really* hate it when my ears

do it...like I've got a bug crawling around in my ear. I also get it

in my back, shoulders, and bottoms of feet. When it's bad I take 100

mg of Neurontin/gabapentin (very lose dose that I take as needed),

and I go find a doorway or a 90* corner where 2 walls meet and use

that to apply as much pressure as I need to alleviate the itching.

Another trick I use I call " masking " . The nervous system is not very

good at handling 2 different sensations at once, so I'll warm up a

flaxpack or get one of those oxygen activated heat packs that has a

sticky back and apply the heat to the itchy spot. Ice works as well

sometimes. I also have some cayenne-pepper based cream, which may

burn for about 10 or 15 minutes, but works great for the rest of the

day.

It can really help the skin not to develop those rough spots or

discoloration by using a very mild soap, like Cetaphil, that

moisturizes the skin and helps it heal instead of drying it out and

contributing to itchiness. It's more expensive than regular soap but

it's worth it.

Rozanne

[Guest guest]

I occasionally have paresthetic itch. It is very intense, painful

itching that is related to the central nervous system. If I scratch

it, it can then evolve into lancinating pains which are horrible!

They seem to have immediate access to the brain (tho that is really

an incorrect sense of it since pain originates in the brain)...

ICING the area does the trick! Get some ice gel paks and keep them

handy in the freezer. When the itching starts, ice the area. I've

learned that the brain cannot register two sensations at the exact

same time. Thus with pain or freezing, the freezing will win over.

And this seems to interrupt the pattern (at least for me) and the

itch will stop.

I have also taken the blue caplet called BEnadryl Severe Allergy and

Sinus Headache and this worked well, too. But now, I just do the ice.

I get the itch on my deltoids and lower arms...it definitely is a

central nerve thing.

hope this helps.

Virginia

>

> I have this insane itching on/between my shoulder blades and ran

across

> this today when researching how to deal with it. I am wondering if

it

> could be a chiari thing? winging scapula thing? epideral thing?

>

> and if it is a chiari thing; how can I make the madness stop???

>

>

>

> http://dermnetnz.org/systemic/notalgia-paraesthetica.html

>

> ... Notalgia paresthetica is a condition where the skin of the

upper

> back becomes itchy, and there is often a darker patch of skin on

the

> itchy area. Notalgia paresthetica may be caused by a problem with

the

> nerve cells that provide feeling to the skin of the upper back

(sensory

> neuropathy). Skin changes, if present, are due to chronic rubbing

and

> scratching of the affected area.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I think itching could be a nerve symptom for some people. I had a friend who

itched a lot all over before having surgery, she had SM in addition to Chiari.

Since surgery the itching has resolved. Not saying that surgery is the cure for

itching b/c not everyone's itching is nerve related. It can also be allergy

related for others. I itch sometimes, b/c I have Eckzema, or atophic

dermatitits. I learned in nursing school that Eckzema is a form of allergies.

Both are very closely related, and cause a pink/light red rash to form on the

body which itchs. Sometimes I dont have a rash in some places I itch. Or it is

gone when I go to show someone, lol!

Also if you don't put lotion on your body it can cause it to dry out and itch.

Just washing with moisturing body wash really isn't enough for the winter or

cold weather (I am bad to do this). Lotion helps that. For eckzema or

dermatitis; I have had both, hydrocortizone cream helps until it gets bad. And

then going to the dermatologist helps when it gets bad. They can prescribe a

stronger steriod cream. I tried Topicort which helped.

Well, that is my 2 cents on itching. Hope it helps someone!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

My itching got worse with cold but the Blue Benydryl does work wonders. I

have to take Loratidine (generic for allerest) in the am as soon as I get up

and notice it and then the Benydryl . I have also found relief with using

oatmeal soap and lotions and have had to go dye free with detergents etc.

I have rubbed and itched my skin raw in more than one spot..but the kicker

was my asst manager telling me it was all in my head mind over matter...

I explained it might be to her but for me I have a neurological issue and to

my mind it didn't matter if I itched to death!

Belinda

-- Re: Notalgia paresthetica?

I occasionally have paresthetic itch.ICING the area does the trick! Get

some ice gel paks and keep them

handy in the freezer.

I have also taken the blue caplet called BEnadryl Severe Allergy and

Sinus Headache and this worked well, too. But now, I just do the ice.

I get the itch on my deltoids and lower arms...it definitely is a

central nerve thing.

hope this helps.

Virginia

>

> I have this insane itching on/between my shoulder blades and ran

across

> this today when researching how to deal with it. I

[Guest guest]

To me it feels like someone is standing there poking me with a pin and

then the intense itching kicks in. I dont think that is in the same

location as the pin poking feeling though. I feel it mostly on my

spine and between the shoulder blades. I have winging scapulas - do

you as well?

I tried to find the door way tonight but couldnt really find one to try

it well. I am in pt and they use heat on me after I excercise

everytime and I am actually wondering if the heat is creating it.

ThI take zyrtec during the day and that reduces it but as soon as it

wears off it starts in again. i take tylenol pm or benydryl every

night and worry that I take too much of that kind of thing. the doctor

gave me some steroids and that helps but i understand that it thins the

skin and that worries me too. One time I almost thought of going into

ER for it; except that I just got out of there for hemorraging earlier

that day. I am going to take in the article to my pt and ask them to

research it to see what they can come up with. I am wondering if it is

the heat they let me lay on when I am done with pt

I tried the ice tonight; it worked fairly well for tonight. i can see

that I am going to need to get something flat as I used those lumpy

ones and they are hard to lay on top. but it worked enough to see how

this is going to be really helpful.

I am still unclear - is this from the chiari or is it from something

else? brain?

also do you have EDS?

On Saturday, November 3, 2007, at 02:22 AM,

wrote:

> Re: Notalgia paresthetica?

> Posted by: " Typhainne dAlixandre " phyrehawke@... phyrehawke

> Date: Fri Nov 2, 2007 7:50 am ((PDT))

>

>

>>

>> I have this insane itching on/between my shoulder blades ...>

>> and if it is a chiari thing; how can I make the madness stop???

>>

>

> Hey Java,

> My crazy itching is a nerve thing. I *really* hate it when my ears

> do it...like I've got a bug crawling around in my ear. I also get it

> in my back, shoulders, and bottoms of feet. When it's bad I take 100

> mg of Neurontin/gabapentin (very lose dose that I take as needed),

> and I go find a doorway or a 90* corner where 2 walls meet and use

> that to apply as much pressure as I need to alleviate the itching.

>

> Another trick I use I call " masking " . The nervous system is not very

> good at handling 2 different sensations at once, so I'll warm up a

> flaxpack or get one of those oxygen activated heat packs that has a

> sticky back and apply the heat to the itchy spot. Ice works as well

> sometimes. I also have some cayenne-pepper based cream, which may

> burn for about 10 or 15 minutes, but works great for the rest of the

> day.

>

> It can really help the skin not to develop those rough spots or

> discoloration by using a very mild soap, like Cetaphil, that

> moisturizes the skin and helps it heal instead of drying it out and

> contributing to itchiness. It's more expensive than regular soap but

> it's worth it.

> Rozanne

>

[Guest guest]

are the lancinating pains the ones that feel like being poked with a

pen?

I am still unclear - is this from the chiari or is it from something

else? central nervous system via the brain?

also do you have EDS?

On Saturday, November 3, 2007, at 02:22 AM,

wrote:

> Re: Notalgia paresthetica?

> Posted by: " horseshadowrider " virginiabennett@...

> horseshadowrider

> Date: Fri Nov 2, 2007 3:31 pm ((PDT))

>

> I occasionally have paresthetic itch. It is very intense, painful

> itching that is related to the central nervous system. If I scratch

> it, it can then evolve into lancinating pains which are horrible!

> They seem to have immediate access to the brain (tho that is really

> an incorrect sense of it since pain originates in the brain)...

>

> ICING the area does the trick! Get some ice gel paks and keep them

> handy in the freezer. When the itching starts, ice the area. I've

> learned that the brain cannot register two sensations at the exact

> same time. Thus with pain or freezing, the freezing will win over.

> And this seems to interrupt the pattern (at least for me) and the

> itch will stop.

>

> I have also taken the blue caplet called BEnadryl Severe Allergy and

> Sinus Headache and this worked well, too. But now, I just do the ice.

> I get the itch on my deltoids and lower arms...it definitely is a

> central nerve thing.

>

> hope this helps.

> Virginia

[Guest guest]

>

> I am still unclear - is this from the chiari or is it from

something

> else? central nervous system via the brain?

They did an extensive EMG study on me to see where the pains were

actually coming from. It turned out that my peripheral nerves and

muscles are all in fantastic shape...couldn't ask for it to be any

better. This meant that the pain I'm feeling is " referred " . The

Neurologist that did the EMG was guessing that ALL the odd

sensations/pain/weakness were from my syringomyelia (C4-T1) putting

pressure on my spinal cord in my neck. Mild Chiari and the

brainstem/cerebellum shearing injury were also possibilities but

unlikely in her opinion.

I have to admit that it was a little bit of a challenge to remember

that the incredible nerve pain that I've had off and on in my

shoulder for years can be alleviated by changing my head/neck

position. I cut my time in pain/irritation/itching by half (and meds

too) just being careful not to do things that inflame my syrinx, or

doing them differently...like walking on an impact absorbing

treadmill instead of walking on the asphalt outdoor path near my

house. They were only little changes but they made a huge difference

in my quality of life.

Rozanne