Crawling sensations on scalp

October 24, 2007

Hello colleagues,

I have a case that I could use some feedback on.

51 y/o Female

Tingling, pressure, crawling sensations (no pain) on the top front

half (forehead to vertex) of scalp and on face, right side more than

left, down to SI 18 on R side. Primary site and most intense point is

R UB 7. Patient can activate symptoms by pressing on it. Sometimes it

feels like a tight band around the head. Symptoms stronger when

stressed, but can also be intense when relaxed. Scalp is somewhat

sore and sensitive to light touch. It is soothed by massage but will

comes back minutes later. Symptoms improve when lying on right side

while going to sleep.

Initial onset in 2000, for 3 months while studying for a science

board exam. The symptoms disappeared completely the day before the

exam and did not return for 1.5 years. Present continuously for the

past 6 years, varying in intensity throughout the day and over a

cycle of several weeks. It can be very strong for a few weeks.

Initially on right side, feeling like someone was digging fingers

into her head. Now it is echoed on the left. Tingling on the right

cheek is especially strong during sitting meditation, or lying on her

back (in tub or w/acupuncture.)

Patient has tried acupuncture, osteopathy (diagnosed muscle tension

in neck squeezing nerves), chiropractic, neurologist (said the nerve

pattern theory didn't make sense. Maybe it was a type of migraine. Rx

Magnesium, Vit. B 6, neurontin which didn't really help). She had a

brain MRI which was negative.

Tongue: pale, thin white coat, dry center crack, reddish tip with red

dots.

Pulse: L side wiry, tight R slippery

Patient has history of breast rash, red, oozing, and itchy,

especially before periods. Periods clotty, dark, crampy, migraine

headaches since 8 y/o, insomnia. Has had psycho-therapy for 20 years

to deal with anger and frustration. Practices Tai Chi for last 10

years which has helped to calm and relax her, deal with emotions, and

help her lighten-up a lot, but is stubborn about relaxing her back

and lengthening her spine, especially through her thoracic vertebrae.

In the last 5 years she has started to make art and has blossomed in

that direction, and her mood has become much less frustrated. She has

taken 1/4 mg. dexamethasone (cortisone) for the past 20 years due to

an imbalance.

I have treated her in the past for the breast rash, and a few times

unsuccessfully for the tingling. She has seen all the chiropractor,

osteopath, nuerologist, another few acupuncturists (including Dr.

Zhu scalp acupuncturist) since then and no one has been able to help.

If you have any ideas, please help. Thanks.

Chinese Medicine

October 25, 2007

Hi Wendy,

I frequently experience soreness, itching and tenderness-to-touch on my scalp,

and have for the last 6 years. In my case, massage is irritating. It is worse

in hot dry weather and absent in winter. It is also worse if I drink coffee,

but not with other forms of caffeine. I regard it as a symptom of yang rising

due to yin deficiency, therefore it is worse in hot dry weather and with coffee,

which also raises yang. Perhaps your patient shares some of this pattern. I

find Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin helps.

I have experienced tingling in various parts of my body for many years, but not

my scalp. I do occasionally have this on my left cheek, and I think this is a

mild form of trigeminal neuralgia. Elsewhere, I believe it is due to various

factors, including nerve impingement and to some extent, blood deficiency. For

over 20 years, I have been experiencing paresthesias in my thighs - sometimes

extreme itching, sometimes the crawling sensation you mentioned, a couple of

times a year it feels like someone is driving a pencil into my thigh, and I

often have decreased sensitivity. The thigh symptoms are also always worse in

summer, but in hot and humid weather, therefore I believe damp heat obstruction

is part of the scenario there.

I hope this helps. Let us know what you find.

Chinese Medicine <> wrote: Hello colleagues,