Brachioradial Pruritus - Medtick

Brachioradial Pruritus

What is it?

The brachioradialis is the muscle in the lower part of the arm that helps the arm bend at the elbow.

  • Brachioradial pruritus is a nerve disorder that causes itching, stinging, or tingling sensations in this area of the outer forearm.
  • Brachioradial pruritus usually affects both arms, but it can occur in only one arm.
  • In rare cases, the urge to scratch spreads to other parts of the body, including the shoulders, neck, and lower legs.
  • It occurs more often in women than men from early teenage years to the elderly but is typically seen in fair-skinned women in late middle-age (40- 65 years of age).
  • This condition is not contagious.

Diagnosis Tests

  • Ice-pack test: A doctor places an ice pack on the affected area to see if symptoms stop when you apply the ice pack and return when you remove it.
  • Imaging tests: Tests such as X-ray or MRI help doctors identify spine abnormalities and/or conditions and/or Osteoarthritis or a herniated disk in the spine may cause a compressed nerve.
  • Physical exam: During a physical exam, a doctor looks at and feels the skin on the affected area of the arm.

Symptoms go away in a few weeks to a few months after taking medication and reducing exposure to sunlight.

  • For some people, the itching and burning sensations come and go for the rest of their lives.
  • In many cases, doctors can successfully manage these flare-ups.
  • Many people with brachioradial pruritus find that symptoms improve during winter months.

Cleveland Clinic

Cause

Symptoms

  • Intense urge to scratch your forearms?
  • C6 nerve damage: Constant neck pain, bicep and wrist muscle pain, tingling and numbness of lower arm to thumb and index finger?
  • Symptoms  often worse after exposure to the sun?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to skin complications due to excessive scratching i.e.

  • Eczema
  • Hypopigmentation (loss of skin colour).
  • Nodules (hard lumps).
  • Sores or scarring.
  • Thickening or darkening of the skin.

Treatment

  • Ice packs: Many people with brachioradial pruritus find relief from symptoms by applying ice packs to the affected areas.
  • Physical therapy: For some people, exercises to stretch and strengthen the spine ease symptoms of brachioradial pruritus.
  • Medication including:
  • Surgery: In rare cases, doctors perform surgery to correct a spinal problem causing brachioradial pruritus.

Cleveland Clinic


This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Brachioradial Pruritus in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

References

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21181-brachioradial-pruritus

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/brachioradial-pruritus