EXTREME ITCHING AT NIGHT?
New development, for me, with RA (symptoms for one year, dx two months ago) is intense itching at night. Best I can describe the sensation is that it feels like dead Christmas tree needles and fire ants are inside my nightshirt, itching, stinging, and digging in.
It attacks all across my back (particularly upper back), and from my chin down to my chest (in other words, the front of my neck). It also tends to roam up and down my sides and other spots around my arms and chest but not as widespread as the back and neck.
I've found some relief by taking benadryl at night, but the hangover the next day makes me oversleep. Is this a symptom of RA? Or perhaps a reaction to prednisone or Vicodin? Those, along with ibuprofen, are all the meds I'm taking right now. I've had itchiness with Vicodin before, but that was always limited to the end of my nose and around my mouth and chin and only when I had a bit too much. This is quite a different sensation.
I dread going to bed as I toss and turn and itch for hours every single night for about three weeks now. I only itch when I lie down (whether at night or during the day for a nap -- never any other time). Has anyone else experienced this?
Blessings,
Kathy Nichols
I am not a doctor but I do have severe rheumatoid arthritis. My hands and feet swell up, get red and itch really bad. You should still tell your RA Doctor right away and all medications you are taking and any supplements. It does sound like you are having an allergic reaction to something.
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Hi Kathy-My name is also Kathy and I have been an LPN for 25 yrs. I have worked for several physicians, currently working for an Internal Med doc. Itching is certainly a side effect of hydrocodone, which is the narcotic pain reliever in your Vicodin. All opiate based narcotic pain meds have potential for this side effect. You should mention it to your doctor. He may want to change your med or add something else to help with the itching. At any rate he needs to know and you need more sleep! Good Luck! Kathy G LPN
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that is one of the side effects of vicodin
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I get itching periodically and it can be hands, fingers, feet, back arms ankles knees. It is bad and I scrape it sometimes so hard it bleeds. Actually the pain is more tolerable than the itching. It was only recently I connected the itching to RA. I can't identify it with any medications. Also my head can itch and there is no reason for my scalp to itch.
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I have had RA for 8 years now and have just developed a new symptom - itching. I also itch on my arms, legs, top of feet, top of hands, scalp, shoulders and back. It is not connected to any medications I am taking (and I am not taking vicodin or any cortezone). I have an appointment with my rheumatologist next week. I noticed this new symptom with this horrible flare I've been experiencing. I was doing fine for the past three years and it appears I have now gone into a flare. Would be interested in what your doctor tells you. Also, my itching is worse at night, tool
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I have not only had itching at night but I'm itching all the time. Day and night. All over my body. And, I've developed some kind of rash on my hands, arms, chest and face that culminates in scales and then my skin cracking, which is very painful.
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I truly sympathise with your condition (but I don not suffer from RA) - I am experiencing something very similar which started about two weeks ago, with an intense itch on the soles of my feet during the night. When I pressed on the skin I could see red spots, and elsewhere I had sticky, itchy sensation around the crotch and armpits, although nothing particularly visible in these areas at the time. Then the little spots started progressing up my body, while my feet continued to itch like fury, especially during the night. An itchy red patch appeared on the inside of my wrists and now the same condition (as my feet) has kicked in on the palms of my hands. It has sinced progressed up my arms and back and around my waist and is at present attacking around my mouth and chin. Weirdly, the rash on the inside of my forearms, backs of hands and inner legs appear and disappear at random during the day, although I can feel an itchy presence at all times.
I went to a doctor about a week ago and she thought it might be an allergy and gave me some tablet and a cream, but no success; the condition continued to worsen. I've been seen by a different doc today and he believes it is a viral condition. I have to have a blood test and also to see a dermotologist. Don't know if it is relevant but I have recently hit the menopause (no periods for nearly a year). Otherwise, in good health. Watch this space...
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