itching in your legs/feet, and hands?? If you do, what can be done about this infuriating situation? Thanks!!
Neuropathy..anyone who suffers from this awful condition, do you have problems with deep?
Question posted by Anonymous on 20 June 2012
Last updated on 5 July 2021 by Rome2346
Added 3 July 2012:
Saw the doc finally, and he is checking my vitamin levels. Also gave me lidocaine cream. Never heard about this for neuropathy, but hey, at this point I'm willing to try almost anything!!
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27 Answers
Rome2346
16 Feb 2020
Yes
damfreez
23 March 2018
Itching can happen in neuropathy, although it is not common. Have just read a couple of articles about it and as I understand . it is uncommon and basically happens for all the reasons we have neuropathy . Some people get it after having shingles resolve. That seems to be the more common event. For the rest of us, aren't we the "lucky" ones!
I have the itching in one hand and see a new neurologist this coming week. I take gabapentin for my neuropathy. I was already taking it for tremors and the dosage was increased by one capsule. It helps some.
Some have mentioned issues with gabapentin (Neurontin). Don't give up as it takes some time for your body to adjust to it. In my case I could not stay awake and when I was felt space and bad balance issues. My neuro warned me and worked up to the full dose over a couple of weeks. I really did improve! I consider it a miracle drug! After ten years of severe tremors that wore out sheets very quickly I began to be able to get sleep. My dosage has been increased a couple of times. Certainly every body reacts differently and different treatments always work for some and not others.
Hopefully research will continue and we will get both answers and relief in the near future.
Joho1210
18 Oct 2017
This is absolutely intolerable. I cannot get any relief from anything I do. Inside my fingers palms bottom of my feet ankles wrists elbows and now expanding to my knee and lower thigh area and sometimes scalp. No sleep and beginning doses of gabapentin which I hope will work with this is absolutely ridiculous. I need help and no one has answers. EGM is scheduled but uncertain if this will assist in any manner. It's like poison oak times ten and rears its ugly self whenever and wherever.
Martha2777
13 Sep 2017
Hi, I wake up in the middle of the night with my hands or feet burning and itching. What do I do? I found if I take an ice pack and lay my feet on them, within 30 minutes pain and burning is gone. Same with my hands. It hurts in the joints of my toes, or any other part of my foot/feet. Ice always works for me, as well as goats milk lotion, that I buy from Scented Gardens Soapworks. Hard to find lotion, I buy it from them. It works. Some members within that group on fb, say it works for their lupus so I tried it. They're correct.
Ttussy
6 Sep 2017
I do have terrible itching. For months I couldnt figure it out. Its what made me realize I had neuropathy and set up the appointment. So strange. I use lavender and melaluka oil. Seems to dull it more than hydrocortisone. Never tried lidocaine though. Let me know if you find any other helpful info. Thanks!
pattyt2363
6 Sep 2017
I have neuropathy as well as restless leg syndrome. I find that Icy Hot Advanced, which contains menthol and camphor helps tremendously. I don't like the tramadol they prescribe, which by the way in addition to being a synthetic narcotic also contains an SSRI (anti depressant) and makes me feel foggy and funny in the head. I tried gabapentin and gained 20 pounds and it did nothing at all for neuropathy or RLS... icy hot also makes a creme which contains menthol and lidocaine. Hope this helps and you get some relief...
Deborah Cooper
20 June 2017
I've just gone through this too & getting great treatment. If you live in southern California I can give you their info, if not in SoCal i can send you the info & you can look for it in your town. Feel free to call or text me on (949) 2857633 , Debbie Cooper
suw
10 May 2017
Try Doxepin it cured the problem for me. We tried everything
gag953
18 Oct 2016
I have had nerve pain for almost 30 years now. My Neuropathy is called Autonomic Toxic Neuropathy. Caused by chemical exposure from firefighting.
At times it feels like ants crawling under your skin. It can be so intense at ties that all you want to do is scratch. I have scratched so much, I have made myself bleed. Then there is the stabbing pain. I feels like a BBQ skewer being pushed into your body, up your fingernail beds and in so deep that you think that you are going to have a heart attach with the pain.
The worst time is between 2am and 5am. I can be sound asleep and at 2 am, the pain is so intense, it wakes me and keeps me awake. I watch the clock and when 5am rolls around, I can feel the pain subside a bit. In most cases, it can be enough that I can get back to sleep for about 2 or 3 hours. Over the 24 hour period, I get about 5 hours of broken sleep.
I have tried it all. From Amitriptyline , Nortriptyline, Lyrica, (gabapentin), Cymbalta, Tegretol, to creams and vitamin supplements. I have even used cannabis, Tens machines, Chiropractic treatment, traction and Acupuncture.
I think the best thing so far is Acupuncture. I go for 3 sessions per week at 20 minute intervals followed up with 30 minutes of tens machine.
I also take 30 mg or MS Contin and 150 mg of Lyrica 4 times per day. I have tried to go without and all I think about is ending the pain at any costs, if you know what I mean.
The costs of this disorder are so severe that it is breaking me financially.
Purple neon52
24 April 2016
beverlyhenry15507
Jasoncar757
19 Aug 2015
I had really bad itching too and I was told to take Benadryl pill 2 pill four times a day and it helped with it. I tried itch cream but it's not good over large areas. I use Lidocaine ointment 5% it helps a little bit. I started out taking Gabapentin 800mg 4 times a day and Tramadol 100mg 4 times a day at the beginning. So now I'm still taking Gabapentin 1200mg 4 times a day, Lyrica 100mg 3 times a day, Amitriptyline 100mg 1 x day, Opana ER 30mg 2 x day, Percocet 10/325mg 4 X day, Tramadol 100 mg 4 x day, Cymbalta 60 mg 1 x day, methocarbamol 1000mg 3 x day, NerveRenew supplement, Alpha Lopoic Acid supplement, and B complex high Potency supplement just to get some relief from the pain and other symptoms from peripheral neuropathy. I take a total of 39 medications not including the supplements I have many other health issues too. The Opana and Percocet I take for other pain I suffer from. I have been living with PN for 12 years and I'm only 37 years old.
Some medicines cause the itching also that treats PN symptoms so it could be a combination of PN and medications that causing the itching but the Benadryl should help the itching.
Deb2357
4 Feb 2019
You should also check for interactions on medications and your conditions you can do that on this website you can make a list of all your medications and your conditions dosage etc and you can keep it on here it's always best to check these things there are different levels of interaction
ho57198
19 Aug 2015
I have itching on my back from Postherpetic Neuralgia due to a case of shingles a few years ago -- itch in the same place as the rash. Currently, the itch is always there -- the intensity varies day to day. It was a "10" daily for a few months a couple of years ago. Walked around crying. Best (but not total) relief was rest in bed on ice packs. NO topical cream helped. Then I found on a website a product from the U.K. -- DOUBLEBASE GEL. Provides some relief. It numbs the area (like ice). For unknown reasons, YAY! , the insane itch has subsided to a "2" to "7." However, I still need and use the Doublebase Gel, I order it (pump) on Amazon. Delivery can take a few weeks. I hope this calms your itching.
seeana
11 Aug 2015
I have found for immediate relief good old Calamine Lotion is the best I just paint it on with an old makeup brush,and Lyrica (Pregabalin ) has helped a lot.
Got this awful condition from Prednisolone withdrawal took my last 1 mg 3 days ago and its not letting go without a huge fight it also includes thinning skin (incurable) if my Polymyalgia comes back I will never take Pred again as the cure is worse than the disease.
jhkantner
9 Aug 2015
I had non-hodgkins lymhoma and was told that I would get neuropathy from the chemo treatments. I already had neuropathy and wonder now if perhaps the radiation treatment I received for my thyroid cancer 16 years prior was the original cause of the neuropathy. I get the stinging in my feet on days the weather is bad and the pain can take my breathe away. Other days I think it depends on how salty my food is. Then other times I can't figure out why. Sometimes xanax helps me to calm down and catch my breath. My feet and fingertips are numb.. I use a walker to keep my balance. I have days without the pain, so I don't consistently take a medication.
KimberlyTru
27 July 2015
I have the same itching, it's driving me absolutely insane! It seems that everyone here has been diagnosed with Neuropothy, I have not. I would LOVE some advice about my own issues , if anyone has any suggestions, I will try ANYTHING!! My itching is almost always in my right palm, it itches so badly and deeply, that I feel like blowing a whole through my hand to ease it! The soles of my feet occasionally itch to the point of no relief, shaking the bed by scratching threm with my toenails, my husband will opt for the couch some nights. I have asked my Dr. About Fibromyalgia, as I have chronic pain due to DDD (Degenerative disk disease) as well as building disks, and herniated disk and sciatica. My lower 4 vertebrae have absolutely no disk tissue between them, so I deal with hip pain and back pain on a DAILY basis. Sometimes that's so bad that I have to Litterally CRAWL to the bathroom, as I can't stand upright at all.
Here's my current issue, I've always thought I had carpal tunnel, (Hair stylists) because of the itching tingling and numbness of my hands. If I leave my hands bent at a certain angle for too long, they go numb and needles, riding a motorcycle is the worst! The constant twist of the throttle makes them (hands) go numb and tingling, but then I wonder, if its carpal tunnel, why do the middle of my feet feel the same way?! This is my CURRENT problem, last night my right hand got the deep itch, this usually happens when I lay down to go to sleep, I have to move my hand position to keep them from going numb, well I started DIGGING at the Palm of my hand, because the itch is so deep I can't reach it, it's MADDENING! Well, 2 hours after I stop scratching and go to sleep, it (My right hand ) wakes me up with needles. Then I notice my hand is swollen, so badly that I can't grip anything, or even THINK about closing it into a fist! I thought, I'll sleep with my hand elevated, that should bring the swelling down, NOT! I woke this morning to my hand swelled even more and if I TRY to bend my fingers into a fist, I can't even get half of a fist without feeling like all my fingers are broken!! This is my dominant hand, my left is not affected at this time, but I'm doing research online, trying to figure out what this could be, I'm afraid all my Dr. Will do is push more pills on me or blame my weight. I don't have diabetes, I have not been diagnosed with anything with the exception of my back problems and sciatica, and just started meds for cholesterol. I'm afraid to find out the problem with my regular Dr. some of my research is pulling up some SEVERE medical problems, ie: liver disease, among others. If ANYONE could tell me if this is how Neuropothy effects your body, I would be forever greatful! I'm so close to an ER visit because of the fear of what COULD be wrong. I don't trust my Dr. With this, he won't even sign disability papers for my back problems that have kept me at home and in bed for years, my back used to "Lock up" only 2-3 a year, now it's 2-6 times a month, and he still REFUSES to help me with my disibility :-( this has become such a henderance to me that I can't do ANYTHING without pain! The weather changes here (Colorado) are the absolute WORSE! I KNOW, by my bodies reaction, the weather is changing. I'm at my ropes end! I know I'm NOT suicidal, but if I don't get answers and solutions soon, I might just jump off the nearest cliff! I'm in pain EVERYDAY, and I can't get relief, Vicodin for the last 24 years is all I can get him to give me. If anyone knows of something I can tell him that he might investigate my symptoms, PLEASE PLEASE let me know! I have gained so much weight from being in pain and I'm unable to be as active as I have always been, he blames EVERYTHING on my weight, INCLUDING my back and hip pain, which have been there for more than 20 years and was there when I was at a normal weight. I know this is a long post, some (MOST) won't want to read it in It's entirety, but if there is ANYONE that does, and has suggestions, PLEASE HELP ME!!! '
ceeartn51
28 Sep 2015
The very first thing I would advise you to do is to do is to get a new doctor. It sounds like he isn't helping you totally, I continue to search for answers for whether or not I have fibromyalgia. Plus I am almost certain that my rheumatologists had a helping hand in me not getting disability. last year. He actually had the audacity. to think he had healed me,which would have been great but fibromyalgia isn't something. that just goes away, so of course I said bye bye.
Please either go to the ER for an MRI or start with a nerologist. The weight probably isn't causing the problem although the doctor will still suggest for you to lose weight because this will lessen your pain.
pulsipevelyn
29 Oct 2015
I would make sure I got a second opinion.
Go to a specialist. There has to be an answer or cure for all of these symptoms. I hope your better.
Marg Bower
30 April 2018
Started with extreme burn itch in arch of foot, had a spray bottle of magnesium oil, used it and rub on for about 5 minutes and also drank a cup of stuff called calm, which is a magnesium supplement. Has help still have slight twinge, but unbearable pain and inch has stopped. 1/2 hour ago.
hankb
9 Sep 2018
My wife had the most severe itch imaginable in her feet from chemo induced neuropathy. I found a couple of suggestions online to try a vibrator of some sort on the itchy area. I had her try my Sonicare toothbrush, holding the plastic backside of the brush head against the itch. It actually has been working for her for 2 months now. She uses it against the problem area for a few seconds whenever it gets itchy and it calms it right down. Maybe you could try it on your hand as well. There is also another thing I got her which might work as well called a Magicfly Mini Massager (cost $8). She uses that as well when the itch gets too intense even for the toothbrush. Together these 2 things have mad a huge difference. Not sure you will see this answer since its about 6 years since your post but maybe this will help somebody. Good luck!
Related topics
peripheral neuropathy, pain, pruritus, fibromyalgia, chronic
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