Twitch to get to the itch

Itching is an unpleasant sensation in the skin leading to the desire to scratch. When localized, it creates a situation in which the person is always aware of an abnormal, predominantly irritating, itch sensation or discomfort in a particular area.
It is quite common for an animal with a sore to constantly lick the area of the sore to ease the discomfort. Similarly the patient with a chronic localized itch is motivated to frequently or constantly scratch, touch, press, rub, or dig fingernails into that area to feel some relief.
In a not uncommon condition known as Notalgia paresthetica, the itch is localized to the mid back at about the lower angle of the shoulder blade in the region between T2 to T6 dermatomes. The characteristic symptom is itch on the back, occasionally accompanied by pain, tingling, and/or super-sensitivity, which results in a well-circumscribed darkened patch in the itch area.
Entrapment of the spinal sensory nerve roots due to degenerative spine conditions have been considered as the cause of the chronic itch1. Skin biopsies had shown postinflammatory hyperpigmentation without amyloid deposits. Friction amyloidosis can arise with irritation from scratching. Some hereditary cases have been noted mainly in young patients, associated with multiple endocrine malignancy type 2A2. The itch may be caused by activity in very small slowly conducting C nerve fibers.
Treatments directed to benign chronic itch have consisted of physical therapy with ultrasound to the area involved, local application of capsaicin (a compound made from chili pepper), oral medications used in the control of seizures, low-frequency electrical stimulation, TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), acupuncture and dry muscle-needling methods.
Massage to the area of the itch and other related muscles along the spine and upper and lower limbs can help in relieving the itch.
Massage to the area of the itch and other related muscles along the spine and upper and lower limbs can help in relieving the itch.
The more powerful and effective way is to relax the muscle in the itch area through motor point (nerve-muscle meeting point) stimulation. The goal of motor point stimulation with eToims (Electrical Twitch-Obtaining Intramuscular Stimulation) in the treatment of localized itching is to get the muscle to actively contract through stimulation of its nerve. This contraction releases the local muscle spasms in the area of the itch. The eToims treatment must also locate and release muscle spasms in the entire spine from the neck to the base of the spine including the upper and lower limb power muscles.
Many of these patients with chronic benign itch have associated cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral nerve root irritation related to aging. As a result, they have tight and shortened muscles not only in the region of the itch but have restriction of range of motion of the neck, entire spine, upper and lower limb joints.
The muscles which must be included in the eToims treatment are the (1) huge muscles, (2) muscles involved in lengthening or stabilizing contractions, and (3) muscles that cross two or more joints. It is essential to include the prime mover muscles supplied by the neck, midback and lower back nerves even when the itch is local since the muscles are connected to each other through the myofascial tissue that covers them. The muscles in the area of the itch which are usually secondary muscles in lifting activities will not get a chance to heal as long as they remain ischemic from being continued to be used as substitutes for the tight and shortened powerful prime mover muscles used in lifting.
If the condition is long-standing, the itch cannot be cured since it is a nerve related situation. Ongoing nerve degeneration is maintained and nerve regeneration is prevented by a self-perpetuating cycle of muscle spasms that continue to act as a vice to the intramuscular nerves and blood vessels.
However when eToims treatments are maintained regularly, new nerve injury initiated by new muscle spasms even from activities of daily living can be immediately relaxed. The twitch associated active exercise plus the internal stretch effect immediately releases the newly injured nerves. Twitch Relief Method can thus achieve a cure at sites of new nerve injury and the associated increased blood flow can aid in the regeneration of chronic nerve injury.
1. Savk O. Savk E. Investigation of spinal pathology in notalgia paresthetica. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 52(6):1085-7, 2005 Jun.
2. Rivollier C. Emy P. Armingaud P. Buzacoux J. Chadenas D. Legoux A. Esteve E. [Paresthetic notalgia and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a (Sipple's syndrome): 3 cases]. Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie. 126(6-7):522-4, 1999 Jun-Jul.
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