A Case of Brachioradial Pruritus Treated with Chiropractic and Acupuncture

Abstract

This case report discusses the treatment of brachioradial pruritus (BRP) in a 57-year-old white male veteran with chiropractic and acupuncture. The patient presented with findings consistent with a diagnosis of BRP to include sharp pain, burning, and itching at the bilateral upper extremities over the C5 and C6 dermatomes with acquired excoriations over the affected regions. The only known palliative measure was applying icepacks. Plain film radiographs revealed mild degenerative change at the C4–C5 and C5–C6 levels and postural evaluation observed anterior head carriage with forward-rounded shoulders. He had pain upon palpation and motion restriction in the cervical spinal region. His trial of treatment consisted of manual cervical and thoracic spinal manipulation, manual cervical traction, prescription of a home exercise program, and acupuncture. At the conclusion of this trial, the patient’s symptoms resolved and his acquired excoriations began to show signs of healing. A proposed etiology of BRP is cervical spine disease. There are limited case reports and retrospective studies in the literature that examine conservative care options targeting cervical spinal disease for the treatment of BRP. This case study reviews a patient diagnosed with BRP and confounding cervical spine disease who was treated with chiropractic and acupuncture, experiencing relief from his symptoms.