Desperate-5 year long medical mystery
Hi everyone,
I apologize for the long read, but I have alot of information to relay regarding my issue and am very desperate for help.
I was hoping to get some ideas. I have been suffering from severe armpit hypersensitivity under both armpits everyday for the last 5 years. The hypersensitivity is so bad that I cannot even wear shirts without discomfort.
The issue started 5 years ago during a workout. I remember doing lateral raises when I suddenly felt this burning, stinging/irritation feeling under both my armpits-I just ignored it figuring it would go away, however it never did.
I have very thin skin and substantial stretch marks in the area under both my armpits as I gained a substantial amount of size over the years leading up to that from weight lifting.
I have been to multiple doctors(allergists, dermatologists, neurologists, pain specialists) and no one has any idea what’s happening. The working theory is that the nerves under my skin have become hypersensitived for unknown reasons and have stayed that way(almost like an allodonia)
Two interesting things are the only time I get relief from this is for a couple hours after the gym(usually about 4-5 hours after the gym the hypersensitivity comes back) and if I lay on my back with my arms out to the side so there is absolutely no skin on skin contact.
The hypersensitivity is at its worse at night about 20 minutes after a shower(I don’t even use soap anymore-just nightly room temperature water for 10 min or left and air dry).
Allergies have been ruled out. Nerve medications such as gabapentin and Lyrica are ineffective. I have tried cymbalta, Botox injections and nerve blocks(all failed because the anesthesiologist has been unable to locate the nerves responsible for the hypersensitivity)
I am currently taking gabapentin and a topical ketamine/lidocaine cream(the cream helps a bit, however as mentioned above the gabapentin is mostly ineffective)
By the end of the night the skin under both armpits is red. I thought chafing however any product I put on the skin exacerbates the irritation.
Again I apologize for the long read but I’m beyond desperate for input, ultimately I just want to be able to wear shirts comfortably again.
Thx so much for any ideas.