Comments on: An Itch That Goes On And On…..

By: How to Cope with Pain

How to Cope with Pain — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:13:35 +0000

You can ask your doctors if it might be an allergy or side effect of medication; or it might be unrelated.

By: jackie

jackie — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:54:29 +0000

I take pain medication for back problems. About 2 weeks ago I started itching. It seems to get worse when I take my clothes off at night before and after I shower. I also have hives. I never had a problem before.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:29:56 +0000

I have this same kind of itch at the bottom of my left shoulder blade, just out of reach. I’ve had it for almost a year now. Drives me crazy. There’s no mark or anything visible. I can get it with a back scratcher—that takes the itch away for awhile. I take comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one with this condition. I’m hoping it will eventually go away.

By: james

james — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:26:59 +0000

I have had this itch for the last 4+ years. Horrible is the only word I have in mind to describe it. My sleep at nights and my career during the days both have been affected badly by this.

Initially it was my haemoglobin which was too low and was given a simple syrup for a few months but that did not help the itch to go away for good, then my blood tests showed an increased Bilirubin level. And was told that this is causing the itch and was given a simple pill called Liv 52 DS, I am in India at the moment. The itch has reduced a bit but not gone completely.

Sonography has revealed nothing unsual in terms of kidneys, pancreas, gall bladder and liver.

I have been told that this is not serious or life threatening at all. But only I know as to how irritating this has been for the last 4+ yrs.

If you search with two keywords “Bilirubin”+”itch” on Google than you will find a lot of links to pages that discuss itch taking place in people with an elevated amount of a substance called Bilirubin in the liver. Eat less meat, wine, spices, chillies, oil, fat, coffee and believe me this helps.

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:18:55 +0000

Hello. I’ve had a chronic itch for nearly four years. It is over more than half my body. One day it is strongest over my back and shoulders, another over my hips and stomach. The right side of my right breast also itches. I’ve scratched until I bleed when it got out of control.
I’ve been to a dermatologist who took a sample of my skin for the lab – no organisms were found. If I take a hot shower, everything is re-ignited – although a very hot shower relieves the itching for a period of time.
I’ve been a potter for 35 years. I’m 73 years old. The only thing that has helped is a cortisone cream called Triamcinolone. I try not to use it too often because I understand it is a steroid. There is no rash – just evidence of where I’ve been scratching.

By: How to Cope with Pain

How to Cope with Pain — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:30:26 +0000

Pat, a new medication, Relistor, which is approved to treat the severe constipation of opiates, has been shown to help with itch, although it’s not approved for this problem. This may be an idea to talk with your doctors about. I’ll be posting about Relistor soon.

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:46:44 +0000

I have endured extremely nerve wracking itching for the last ten years (both arms and back of neck). At times it has been so “painful” I could have torn into my arm. I tried accupuncture to no avail. I also went to John Hopkins and they had no remedy. The itch did subside for two years but just within the last month has returned. The only thing that helps is to freeze the area where the itch occurs. The doctor said that I could damage my skin this way but I’d rather have damaged skin than to live with this. My husband and I both carry plastic zip lock bags for whenever the itch occurs (I never know when). We stop, get ice and I freeze the area.

By: How to Cope with Pain

How to Cope with Pain — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:11:49 +0000

Terri, sorry, but that’s outside my range of expertise, so can’t make specific recommendations.. Have you seen a neurologist, instead of treating it as a skin problem?

By: Terri

Terri — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:54:06 +0000

I have had chronic itching for 1 yr. 4 mos. I may have had 3 days during this time that I didn’t itch. I have taken so many variations of drugs, antihistamines (up to 175 mg per day), prednisone and have stopped all medications…..still no relief. It is absolutely driving me insane and most days I spend crying because I am so miserable and I feel like my nerves are shot from enduring all this. I have tried Gold Bond Body Lotion in the xtra strength, Presley’s anti-itch sprays, rubbing alcohol…….nothing helps. I have had test after test which are all inconclusive. A biopsy had been done on the skin which only came back to say “possible drug eruption.” Any ideas anyone?

By: How to Cope with Pain

How to Cope with Pain — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:45:56 +0000

Lisa, for many people at low doses, there are no side effects of Neurontin. At higher doses, the common side effects of Neurontin include sedation, dizzyness, nausea, and sometimes mild swelling. In my practice, many people also complain of “fuzzy” thinking, with problems such as word-finding difficulty.

Be sure to talk with your own doctor about your particular situation.