United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

For those with their minds in the gutter, I recognize the potential humor in the subject matter.... On a more serious matter, I awoke last night with the most intense itching in my bpi hand. I am 12 years post injury and have no function in my left arm. My hand was itching so bad that it felt like I had a hundred mosquito bites. The itching was so bad that I welcomed the pain sensations to help dull the itching. Has anyone else experienced this ? This was a first for me. I looked at my hand this morning and here were no insect bites. weird....

Absolutely. My hand and arm itched so bad, that I would draw blood scratching. My neurologist thinks it is a good thing. You maybe getting some feeling back. Right after I have the severe itching (not immediately\) I seem to be able to feel things differently. Like the first time I felt the difference between hot and cold was right after a severe itching phase. Although the feeling is not "normal" it is better than not feeling the difference at all. My doc said he could give me something, or I could take Benadryl, also trying dipping your hand in cold water, then hot water. The difference in temperature could make the itching go away. I elected not to take any medicine, I think any feeling (good or bad) is better than nothing. \i hope it is a good thing for you.
Kathy

Intersting, Ihave began to experience touching sensations down my forarm faiding as it reaches the hand and fingers, but day by day it appears to be improving, 2 years post LTBPI, Avulsed C8 C7 Ruptured C6 C5. Any way, the other day i got a real itchy experience arround my hand and wrist, i couldnt pin point it but it drove me mad for about 5 mins. I think stimulating the nurves in my upper arm and shoulder helped stop it eventualy.
But im sure this is down to regeneration, it must be
a possitive reaction, lets hope so!
Mitch.

My elbow and wrist itch occasionally, and they aren't even there any more. Phantom itching. I fiddle about on my neck or shoulder until I hit the right spot, give it a scratch or a squeeze, and Voila ! excrutiating pain. No, I jest. It stops the itching.

I often get pain in my BPI side if I'm watching anything that would be painful or surgery on the TV, or reading about it. I know it's psychosomatic, but it still happens.

I get itches too, even after 23 years, mainly in areas of the hand and wrist where I had breaks following the accident. There's a specific feeling like insects crawling under the skin which is associated with healing, it's called formication if I remember right. I think many of these weird feelings are associated with healing nerves but also with unresolved avulsions-like the broken ends of a wire continuing to give off sparks. And yes, just thinking about it does make it happen (if only it was that easy to make it go away!) so I'm leaving this thread b4 I bring on a bout of chronic itching that will make me want to bang my arm on the wall.....

ps my minds as firmly in the gutter as its possible to be, and I'm proud of it.....but I'm not getting any gutterish connections from the post title Rich.....I'm guessing this is a guy thing?? :0)

Jenny,
Perhaps my head is a little deeper in the gutter or it was a bit of a stretch... Anyway, I appreciate all the responses. Thanks !
-Rich