How to treat notalgia paresthetica
October 24, 2015 2:25 PM Subscribe
Itching-burning between scapula, usually at some defined spot but sometimes covering or referring the unwanted sensation over a greater area of the midback. Wiki notalgia paresthetica. I have tried many things with no success.
At a certain event, there was a doctor who quickly mentioned something to me I'd never heard, but then he had to leave the room and I cannot find him again. I had said I had this condition (n.p.) and his comment was a one-word thing that I thought sounded like a cure or an herb or supplement. I felt great hope. I know there are several threads mentioning this condition on Meta, and one of them was started by me, but nothing seems to be the resolution of this issue, so I've introduced it by name again here. Might anyone know what this unheard supplement or such is? It may be he uttered the name of a treatment, but the spirit of it was sort of "Ah! You'd be surprised but this is what helps that. Go get some." He was an experienced doctor and medical teacher, the furthest thing from a New Age type ("not that there's anything wrong with that"). Is there a doctor in the house-?? And to clarify -- THIS IS NOT A SURFACE BACK ITCH. One is tempted to treat it like that but you quickly realize it is subcutaneous, and also involves a sense of burning at times. I have an S-curve gouger, have tried accupressure mats, muscle relaxers (all my neurologist was reduced to, besides Advil and Atarax, an antihistamine), and all do not get at this. It seems to actually be activated by doing something I'd rather not be doing, sounds psychological, right? But it's completely non-predictive with that or anything. It first just came on one series of days when perhaps I was leaning in to a laptop a bit much. Any relief from an episode is mainly when resting against something, lying down even better. I've heard of pinched nerves, but how can you tell if you have one? As mentioned, my neurologist did all his tests and didn't know what it was. Even an MRI came back negative.
At a certain event, there was a doctor who quickly mentioned something to me I'd never heard, but then he had to leave the room and I cannot find him again. I had said I had this condition (n.p.) and his comment was a one-word thing that I thought sounded like a cure or an herb or supplement. I felt great hope. I know there are several threads mentioning this condition on Meta, and one of them was started by me, but nothing seems to be the resolution of this issue, so I've introduced it by name again here. Might anyone know what this unheard supplement or such is? It may be he uttered the name of a treatment, but the spirit of it was sort of "Ah! You'd be surprised but this is what helps that. Go get some." He was an experienced doctor and medical teacher, the furthest thing from a New Age type ("not that there's anything wrong with that"). Is there a doctor in the house-?? And to clarify -- THIS IS NOT A SURFACE BACK ITCH. One is tempted to treat it like that but you quickly realize it is subcutaneous, and also involves a sense of burning at times. I have an S-curve gouger, have tried accupressure mats, muscle relaxers (all my neurologist was reduced to, besides Advil and Atarax, an antihistamine), and all do not get at this. It seems to actually be activated by doing something I'd rather not be doing, sounds psychological, right? But it's completely non-predictive with that or anything. It first just came on one series of days when perhaps I was leaning in to a laptop a bit much. Any relief from an episode is mainly when resting against something, lying down even better. I've heard of pinched nerves, but how can you tell if you have one? As mentioned, my neurologist did all his tests and didn't know what it was. Even an MRI came back negative.
Mirrors (also called mirror treatment, mirror therapy, and mirror box)?
posted by vegartanipla at 4:33 PM on October 24, 2015
posted by vegartanipla at 4:33 PM on October 24, 2015
I have meralgia paresthetics (leg numbness) and I have run into the same issues as you — Dr Google tells me nothing, and my actual doctor wants me to be on nerve blockers and NSAIDs for the rest of my life. I asked MeFi what to do, and the thing that worked the best was acupuncture.
It really, really worked. I am a sceptical person. Whether it scientifically worked or worked due to the placebo affect is neither here nor there for me because it WORKED. Googling shows me this is an option for notalgia p. too.
posted by Brittanie at 5:11 PM on October 24, 2015
It really, really worked. I am a sceptical person. Whether it scientifically worked or worked due to the placebo affect is neither here nor there for me because it WORKED. Googling shows me this is an option for notalgia p. too.
posted by Brittanie at 5:11 PM on October 24, 2015
Best answer: I had something similar that was nerve related. My doctor gave me a shot of a numbing agent (it was a mix of two medicines and I think one of them was lidocaine) at the most precise point of the pain.
It went away.
I had this pain/burning for years before that. Nothing helped for very long. Pressure sometimes did ( I would make people put heavy books on my back). It drove me batty.
Haven't felt it in almost 18 months.
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:39 AM on October 25, 2015
It went away.
I had this pain/burning for years before that. Nothing helped for very long. Pressure sometimes did ( I would make people put heavy books on my back). It drove me batty.
Haven't felt it in almost 18 months.
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:39 AM on October 25, 2015
I've had the leg version, meralgia paresthetica, for six months. My doc said, "it's a pinched nerve but it's purely sensory, that is, it feels bad but doesn't affect any function; if you do have any functional impact, get back to me for a neuro consult." At first, mine was a horrible burn plus numbness plus terrible itch. My acupuncturist and I studied her anatomy books, and I understood more about the relevant nerve; I'd suggest getting this information from someone with good anatomical knowledge.
So far, it's changed for the better but not cured. Three helps:
posted by Jesse the K at 1:31 PM on October 25, 2015
So far, it's changed for the better but not cured. Three helps:
- IDing body positions or clothing which stressed the relevant nerve. (I've switched from lady-panties to boxer briefs; changed from tank suit to unitard with no seam; &c).
- Acupuncture dialed the pain way back. Now it's just numbness and compulsion to scratch.
- Reminding myself it's purely sensory, and is not a harbinger of impending doom.
posted by Jesse the K at 1:31 PM on October 25, 2015
I have Multiple Sclerosis, and about 10 years ago I experienced the pain you are describing. Midback, left, I would -- and did -- describe it as neuropathic (I am familiar with diabetic /peripheral neuropathy) at the time, and eventually my neurologist muttered "notalgia parasthetica" but offered no suggestions.
On my own, and thru the help of people on a Peripheral Neuropathy message board, I determined to try Lidoderm patches. The neuro reluctantly wrote the script (he did not believe it would help). I had to cut the patches into smaller pieces and play around with placement -- the goal was not to cover the painful area, but rather to block the path of the nerve impulse from the general site leading towards the brain. I would say this was quite successful. The Notalgia Parasthetica lasted about 7 months, then disappeared.
I am recovering from bypass surgery, during which a nerve was injured -- and, the pain is similar. With my surgeon`s blessing, I am going to try Lidoderm patches on this issue. The nerve injury is described to me as "denervation." It is driving me crazy, and may or may not resolve. But I remember that similar experience, so ...
Obviously this is something you would need to discuss with your own physician. IANAD IANYD TINMA But I wish you good luck in finding a solution to this painful medical problem.
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 6:06 PM on October 26, 2015
On my own, and thru the help of people on a Peripheral Neuropathy message board, I determined to try Lidoderm patches. The neuro reluctantly wrote the script (he did not believe it would help). I had to cut the patches into smaller pieces and play around with placement -- the goal was not to cover the painful area, but rather to block the path of the nerve impulse from the general site leading towards the brain. I would say this was quite successful. The Notalgia Parasthetica lasted about 7 months, then disappeared.
I am recovering from bypass surgery, during which a nerve was injured -- and, the pain is similar. With my surgeon`s blessing, I am going to try Lidoderm patches on this issue. The nerve injury is described to me as "denervation." It is driving me crazy, and may or may not resolve. But I remember that similar experience, so ...
Obviously this is something you would need to discuss with your own physician. IANAD IANYD TINMA But I wish you good luck in finding a solution to this painful medical problem.
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 6:06 PM on October 26, 2015
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posted by mermaidcafe at 4:28 PM on October 24, 2015