ITCHY LEGS FROM WALKING/RUNNING

THIS IS MY REAL STORY
My legs itch so bad when I walk or run I want to scream, fall to the pavement, and drag myself across it for relief.

The itch always starts with my legs and soon moves up to the sides of my stomach and then my upper arms and upper back. All my skin feels like it's simultaneously itching and boiling and I start crying. One time it was so severe it caused some sort of temporary insanity.

I was about 1/2 mile from home and I was itching uncontrollably. I was trying the "mind over matter routine" I was using all my concentration to try and control the itching. Suddenly I couldn't take it, it reached my scalp. I sat down in the middle of the sidewalk and started tearing at my skin, like some sort of paranoid schizophrenic. All these people were driving by asking me if I was okay and I couldn't speak. I tried to nod but I was crying so much I don't know what I did. Finally, I calmed down enough to realize someone was going to call an ambulance or the cops so I got up and walked very slowly, painfully home. I had scratch welts and cuts all over my body for a few days.

Now my walks usually last about 5 minutes and I feel like a loser for not being able to really work up a sweat.

I've tried to research this phenomenon and I, like most of you, have been shocked to find that there's not much info available.

My doctor told me that it's a temporary consition that affects people who don't exercise often. He said the capillaries on the surface of my skin weren't used to pumping blood very fast to my skin surface so the itch I was experiencing was the skin adjusting to the change. he said after a few weeks I wouldn't feel it anymore.

Well, honestly I can't tell you if he was right or not because I'm so lazy, my walk/run resolutions last about a week before I'm so miserable I never want to do it again. So I switched to swimming. Its great exercise and you don't feel the burn as bad.

My pharmacist told me to try a Benadryl about 45 minutes before going out walking. This works for me a little, but I still get itching... it's just delayed another 20 minutes. This is good enough for me to at least get a sweat going and not feel like a loser.

Lastly, the lotion theory: Some internet groups say the itching is caused by lack of oil in the skin. Something about dry skin and walking don't mix. It really doesn't make sense to me but I have figured this out, when I put on lotion and immediately go out running I still itch. If I do a consistent 3 days of intensive lotion therapy, I don't itch. So I guess there's some truth to it.

If you guys find out anything else, please let me know, we ought to form a support group because I know how discouraging and infuriating it is to resolve to exercise and then have your efforts thwarted by excruciating itching.

What even makes me sadder is that soem people enjoy running SO MUCH! They crave running, and they're in such good shape. I'd love to be one of those people but instead I feel disabled like I have a permanent handicap that will forever keep me from knowing their joy.

Found out am not the only one suffering from this problem that seems to make me disable. Has anyone got any other solution or remedies. please help.

Message edited 6/24/2007 11:55:04 AM.

Re: ITCHY LEGS FROM WALKING/RUNNING

wow.... that's terrible..... I wish I had a solution for you..... sometimes when I run, I get a tingly sesation in my legs... it feels really weired.....but not itchy....maybe you can try a different form of exercise for a while...then go back to running...... I find the only time that happens to me is when I'm running...I've never had any problems when I bike ride. swim. or play tennis. Try one on those for a while... GL

Re: ITCHY LEGS FROM WALKING/RUNNING

I'm so sorry you have this

Your post struck my eye b/c when i don't run for a long time and then pick it up again I get the itchyness/burning on the inside and top of my legs and I know how painful that is, I can't even imagine going through what you did/do.

I definitely know that for me it does go away the more I excercise, and I've been known to get to 6 miles w/o it happening at all (but then my knees start to hurt!)

I hope you find a remedy!

Re: ITCHY LEGS FROM WALKING/RUNNING

I get this with my hands & legs - for me it's salt & blood pressure. I find if I cut down on my salt significantly...it helps.

Re: ITCHY LEGS FROM WALKING/RUNNING

I have gotten this too in the past...I always thought it was from the fat jiggling in my legs....lol

Re: ITCHY LEGS FROM WALKING/RUNNING

I have always gotten this too and that is why I have a hard time working out- I always thought it was the sweat . . . . .