hey man

i got the same as you about 3 weeks ago, i felt a real sharp itch on my back, scratched it, it didnt go away, infact felt it worse on my other side, then since then ive been getting itches all over the body i cant take its like somethings crawling under my skin...

tryin2hard and Gretchie, sounds like shingles. Starts hurting and burning somewhere on your body and ends up with a rash somewhere else that gets bumps and stays for a couple weeks to a couple months. (My ex used to get it on his forehead).

I get shingles when I get really anxious, even with my anxiety medication. I hear theres a shot for them now, but I haven't checked in to it.

Its called Herpes Zoster and is in your blood system after you've had chickenpox. Be careful, its contagious when the bumps are breaking open. I usually put cortisone cream on it so it doesn't burn/itch, otherwise I let it go. As for the pain, Ibuprofin usually works. I get burning/pain in my shins and in a couple of days I end up with a rash about the size of a silver dollar around my tail bone opposite the shin that is burning. Its something about being connected to the nerves, but if you google it you'll see. They say it is usually found in people over 60 but anyone I've known has been in their 20s and 30s -- I'm 45 and I've been dealing with it for a couple of years. I guess I'll check into the shot pretty soon since I'm getting tired of going through the pain of it. Hope this helps and if you haven't been to the doctor, try St. Johns Wort, available everywhere, usually helps with anxiety, but it'll make you tired if you take too much. Also, theres Valerian root, stronger than St. Johns Wort, but harder to find. If you do look for it, try to find some with a higher percentage of the Valerian root in it. Beware: Just like prescription medication, you can overdose on vitamins too, your body can only absorb so much.

I've had a similar problem, but I haven't had chicken pox since I was a little boy & now I'm 59 since January this year. So I doubt that I have Herpes Zoster. However, my legs, butt, hip, back, & arms itch incessantly. When it started in December 2008, I thought maybe it was the winter itch. But now it's already April & I haven't stopped itching. I replaced cereal with rice to avoid gluten. I scrub myself with exfoliating gloves 2-3 times a day, apply lotions & creams, but I still itch ! I can't stand AMA doctors especially after the death of that very healthy 11 year old girl from MRSA when they gave her the wrong antibiotic. I prefer alternative medicine from the thousands of testimonies I've heard. So I'm wondering if it's my diet. It consists mainly of brown rice, eggs, strawberries, spinach, liquid vitamins & minerals, liquid calcium & magnesium, capsules of vitamin E & D,digestive enzymes, probiotics, & protein powder. What do you know about this? Please ONLY answer if you found a solution to a SIMILAR problem. Thank you.

alternative_health_for_me,

Yes, I hadn't had any problems for many years but I had chicken pox when I was a child. My Dr. says that herpes zoster is in your system after the chicken pox so it can remain dormant for years or for ever but there is something in your system that can trigger it if its there.

My trigger is high anxiety and stress. Check into the shot, it's supposed to diminish the itching and burning if not eliminate it.

Your diet seems healthy but you should check with your doctorf since it's possible that you're missing something essential for your body. However, if your diet has been this for many years, it may be that instead there is something in your life that has changed, even gradually over this past while that has accumulated and is causing you stress, even unconsciously, that causes the effect of shingles.

I applaud your preference to alternative medicine as I too believe that long ago humans didn't have any doctors with synthetic medicines to fix every little thing so look to yourself to see if anything has changed in your life or anything different in your diet, such as a different brand of vitamins, or even a different brand of laundry soap.

I remember many years ago my mother switched from one laundry detergent to another and my sister and I were sent home from school because the itching became so bad.

Good luck and let me know if you find out what the problem is. I hope it is something as simple as a different brand that's composition is enough for your body to react.

Phelan

i have red iching spots on my body can any one help me out

shorty84,

red itching spots can come from many things. Have you changed detergents recently? Anything in your diet?

Red itching spots can be anything from hives, an allergic reaction, and of course also shingles.

Shingles also come with a burning sensation somewhere on your body, not necessarily in the spot where the red spots are.

You can check internet information on herpes zoster (shingles) and see if these are your symptoms. If so, there is now a shot that you can get that helps.

Also, check into information on hives or allergic reactions. If you can narrow down what has possibly changed in your life, stress, diet change, etc. it will help to find out the reason behind the itching.

Good luck.

phelan

i had what i thought was an allergic reaction, i got all itchy and had 6 tiny red bumps appear on me. I took allergy meds for two days and its still here. It doesnt sound like i have shingles. The oddest part about this is i only have these bumps on my left side no burning anywhere just extreme itchyness. Ive put on creams and moisturiser but nothing is helping. any ideas?

estogirl,

did you try cortisone cream? you can buy it over the counter at any drug store/walmart/kmart/grocery/ etc.

It usually does the trick for most itchy spots, bites, etc.

If not udder balm, also available at most stores (I'm not sure about grocery stores) should do the trick.