Nerve-related skin condition symptoms, causes, treatments, and exercise suggestions for Notalgia Paresthetica
Notalgia Paresthetica (NP) is a nerve condition that causes itchiness and sometimes pain on the back, usually under a shoulder blade and often on the left side. This condition arises from a problem processing pain and itch signals, affecting the nerves.
Doctors diagnose NP based on observations and the person's answers to questions about injuries, muscle pain, infections, chronic skin problems, allergies, and recent rashes. In some cases, a doctor may recommend a skin biopsy to rule out skin cancer or other conditions like macular amyloid.
To alleviate the symptoms of NP, effective exercises focus on improving posture, enhancing spinal mobility, and reducing nerve compression. Here are some exercises and stretches that can provide relief:
## Stretching Techniques
1. **Thoracic Spine Mobility Stretches**: Thoracic Extension over a Foam Roller and the Cat-Cow Stretch help restore the normal spine curve and reduce stiffness in the upper back. 2. **Pectoral and Anterior Shoulder Stretching**: The Doorway Stretch and Corner Stretch help counteract rounded shoulders and relieve muscle tension along the spine. 3. **Scapular and Upper Back Stretching**: The Child’s Pose with Side Stretch helps open the upper back and sides, promoting flexibility around the scapula.
Improving posture and using ergonomic positions can also reduce mechanical stress on the upper back, potentially alleviating NP symptoms. Regular exercises to maintain spinal alignment and reduce muscle imbalances are recommended.
In addition to exercises, topical capsaicin and lidocaine patches can be used to manage symptoms by stimulating nerve endings and blocking pain. Consulting a healthcare professional is essential to tailor exercises and treatments according to individual needs and to address any underlying posture issues.
Surgery to decompress the spine and free trapped and damaged nerves may provide relief for NP when other treatments fail. Less invasive medical procedures like laser therapy, pulsed radio frequency, and electrical muscle stimulation may ease the pain of NP. Antiseizure medications, such as gabapentin, may be effective in treating NP symptoms.
NP is a chronic condition that may last for an indefinite period and may require experimentation with several treatments. Skin creams containing capsaicin or hydrocortisone can help reduce pain from NP, while injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) or nerve block medication can help relieve the pain and itchiness of NP.
It's important to note that NP is not dangerous and does not increase the risk of serious illnesses or spread to other areas. Treatment for NP focuses on relieving the symptoms. Anyone experiencing unexplained itchiness should contact a healthcare professional.
Physical therapy can help release trapped nerves, potentially easing the symptoms of NP. Biopsies sometimes show deposits of a type of protein called amyloid in people with NP. Regular exercises, particularly those that strengthen the paraspinal muscles, the neck muscles, and the back overall, may help relieve NP symptoms.
References: [1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Notalgia paresthetica. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/notalgia-paresthetica/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373442 [2] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2021). Notalgia paresthetica fact sheet. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Notalgia-Paresthetica-Fact-Sheet
- Notalgia Paresthetica (NP) is a bipolar condition, causing both itchiness and pain on the skin, typically on the back, particularly under a shoulder blade and often on the left side.
- This condition, arising from a problem processing pain and itch signals, affects the nerves, multiple areas of the skin-care, mental-health, and health-and-wellness communities.
- Doctors diagnose NP based on observations and questions about injuries, muscle pain, infections, chronic skin problems, allergies, and recent rashes, as well as considering skin biopsies to rule out skin cancer or other conditions like macular amyloid.
- To alleviate NP symptoms, effective exercises focus on improving posture, enhancing spinal mobility, and reducing nerve compression, such as thoracic spine mobility stretches, pectoral and anterior shoulder stretching, and scapular and upper back stretching.
- In addition to exercises, predictive therapies-and-treatments like topical capsaicin and lidocaine patches, antiseizure medications such as gabapentin, laser therapy, pulsed radio frequency, and electrical muscle stimulation, skin creams containing capsaicin or hydrocortisone, and injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) or nerve block medication can be used.
- People experiencing unexplained itchiness should consult a healthcare professional, as NP is not dangerous and does not increase the risk of serious illnesses or spread to other areas, but the treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms.
- Regular nutrition, including a healthy diet and adequate hydration, may help manage NP symptoms, as well as regular exercises, particularly those that strengthen the paraspinal muscles, the neck muscles, and the back overall.
- Physical therapy can help release trapped nerves, potentially easing the symptoms of NP, and additional research is needed in the science of NP to further understand and treat this condition.
