this post was submitted on 14 Jan 2026
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ExtremeDullard
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ExtremeDullard@piefed.social
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I have the itchies and the cramps from hell, and it's driving me spare (piefed.social)
submitted 3 weeks ago by ExtremeDullard@piefed.social to c/amputee
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For me, phantom pain manifests itself in 10% real pain (usually a sensation of someone driving a sharp blade through my nail beds, or unpleasant electric shocks) and 90% itchy toes. And occasionally, I have insane plantar cramps to go with it.

I get the itchies maybe 4 times a year, and the cramps maybe once a year, and they usually last 6 hours - so basically I got to work in the morning, try not to think about them, and by the time I ride the bus back home, thankfully it's over.

Not this time: my toes have been itching for 3 days. 3 solid day with nothing to scratch! And the cramps are so strong I have trouble walking, and I wake up with bruised muscles in the morning.

I've tried all the tricks: gabapentin, muscle relaxants - pills and topical - creative chemistry, massage, meditation, sauna, my own anal special... there's nothing for it. I can't take anymore, it's driving me up the wall. And I'm thinking of going to sleep at the hotel tonight because I'm starting to take it out on my loved ones and I don't want to do that.

If you have any suggestions, I'll do anything.

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[–] lath@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

No joke, but as a last ditch effort. Have you tried wearing a prosthetic, wearing clothing over it and then scratching it? Either directly or leaving it on, then when the sensation hits, scratch absentmindedly without even giving it a look or active thought. If you have it, maybe use latex for softness like skin, or something similar.

Also, if you can take into consideration picking up a sport as a hobby (presuming you haven't already tried), having most muscle in your body hurting might offset the focus on only that one particular area.

[–] ExtremeDullard@piefed.social 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

No joke, but as a last ditch effort. Have you tried wearing a prosthetic, wearing clothing over it and then scratching it?

Kind of: I'm only missing my toes. So I don't normally wear prosthetics. But I do have a pair of really realistic-looking silicone prosthetics that my wife offered me years ago, that really make my feet look whole again when I put them on.

I never wear them because they're very uncomfortable and very fragile. But I figured they looked so good, I could try to fool my noggin into believing those are my real toes, then scratch the silicone and see if it has an effect.

So I sat down and stared at my siliconed up feet for a while, and even kind of felt like I could conceivably be feeling my real toes come back to a point, but when I scratched them, it was even worse because I couldn't feet the scratching and the itch didn't go away. It made it worse because it looked so much like it should do something and it emphasized all the more that it didn't.

Also, the pressure from the silicone made the pain flare up. I tried that years ago and never tried it again because it was rather unpleasant.

Also, if you can take into consideration picking up a sport as a hobby (presuming you haven’t already tried), having most muscle in your body hurting might offset the focus on only that one particular area.

Sadly it's winter now, and my usual winter sport is cross-country skiing, and I really can't do that right now. Too much pressure on the funny bits.

I did try to waste myself at the swimming pool earlier. I'm busted and kind of sore everywhere now but it's not really doing anything. It did provide respite for a couple hours because I could forget the itch while I was in the water, but if anything, it makes the cramps worse.

Right now I'm at the hotel and I've decided to try the most old-fashioned neurological distraction: hard liquor. I'm drinking myself to sleep right now. Hopefully I'll get some sleep for starters, and maybe I'll be so damn drunk the itch will let go of me for a few hours..

[–] lath@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I was conflicted about suggesting alcohol. It brings on its own set of issues and may have little effect. Personally, I wouldn't use it more than once or twice.

Next, I'm gonna presume you're maintaining a healthy diet.

Have you tried yoga? Or daily stretching exercises. Making the joints more flexible might loosen up your nervous system.

Also, have you heard of something called bioelectric massage? I know little about it, so it's unknown territory for me.

Beyond this, it's at making a wish on a falling star level. Sorry.

I wish you well and hope you find a solution that works for you. Just don't rely heavily on alcohol, it rarely ends well.

[–] ExtremeDullard@piefed.social 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Thanks for your concern!

I mostly never drink anymore. Not that I ever was a heavy drinker, but I'm old enough that it makes me sleepy now, so alcohol interferes with my life. So I just quit cold turkey years ago.

Also, it makes alcohol work better for the few times when I do need it - like now - because I don't have any habituation anymore. So it doesn't take much to hammer me real good. Like right now...

Yeah I have a healthy lifestyle. I tried yoga. It doesn't do anything for me.

I'll look up bioelectric massage. Is it like TENS? I do that too, it helps a little. Not much though.

[–] lath@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Looking up TENS, they do seem very similar to each other, if not the same. If anything, the bioelectric massage seems to use the eastern medicine mystique as part of its promotion.

Unfortunately, I'm out of ideas. Unless you want to rub crystals on your skin while inhaling incense and humming to the rhythms of Enya.

If it really is nerve damage, only a true specialist can say whether something can be done medically.

I'd say keep trying things. If anything, they'll keep you occupied. Good luck to you!

[–] ExtremeDullard@piefed.social 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Well, after a bad night's sleep and an awful day with a lingering hangover, the itching is mostly gone. Not quite, but it's not as insane as it was. Now only one tiny spot on one of my big toes is itching. As for the cramps... Well, I drank, so they'll be there until I flush it out of my system and rehydrate properly.

But hey, thanks for the support!