A woman has revealed her “unbearable” ordeal after constantly feeling like there’s ants “crawling” under her skin due to a rare condition – and there’s no cure.
Tracy Morgan has been left unable to leave her home and spends each day feeling like her whole body is on fire.
The 49-year-old says it all began when scratching a sudden itch on her arm – which quickly spread to her shoulder, then her elbow.
At first, it was simply annoying; and then it turned “excruciatingly” painful.
Now, despite having a diagnosis and trying our various treatments, Tracy is still yet to find any relief.
And the worst part? It’s incurable.
“I constantly have the unsettling sensation under my skin that ants are crawling around and burrowing deep,” the university graduate, from Bridgend, told Need To Know.
“It’s infuriating.
“I want to rip my skin open just to make it stop.
“Often, I feel like I’m on fire.
“And the need to itch is so relentless that I make myself bleed.
“Sometimes, I need up to 40 cold showers a day just to ease the pain.
“I can’t leave my house, especially when it’s cold, as it just hurts too much.
“I get funny looks in the street [because of the sores], which has knocked my self-confidence.
“It’s absolute torture.
“My whole life has been turned upside down.”
Tracy’s ordeal started as long as 20 years ago.
Since then, she’s been passed between doctors and dermatologists, though claims they had “no answers”.
She’s unable to wear coats or anything with long sleeves due to the irritation they cause.
To help ease the pain, she keeps multiple ice packs in the freezer, along with having the aforementioned 40 showers per day.
But says it’s “totally ruined” her life.
She said: “I can’t sleep in my partner’s bed, as I disturb his sleep since I’m up and down so much with showers and putting on creams.
“I’m often up for hours on end – it’s relentless.
“I can’t cuddle my partner for more than a minute.
“I’m scared to go anywhere where there isn’t access to a shower.
“And it’s impacted my enjoyment with the grandchildren, as I can’t take them to parks or anywhere outside when it’s cold.
“If they lean on my arms or shoulders, it only starts the itching and burning.
“I’ve been left in despair and in tears so many times.
“I’m unable to concentrate, can’t sleep and I’m breaking down on a frequent basis, as I don’t know how much more I can take.”
Tracy finally got a diagnosis seven years ago.
Brachioradial Pruritus is a rare neurological condition, where the bones in the neck collapse onto the brachial nerve.
This sets off the nerve endings in the upper body, causing intense and constant itching.
She said: “As the condition is so rare, very few doctors have heard of it.
“And even worse, there’s no effective treatment or cure.
“All I could do was keep trying different creams and medication.
“But I can’t use any of them now, as I’ve tried so many, that they’re starting to cause an allergic reaction.
“I’ve spent thousands of pounds on creams and therapy, along with more on private scans and steroid injections.
“So far, nothing has worked.”
Tracy says the whole ordeal has been “mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting” to come to terms with.
She’s currently on a new course of pain management medication, Pregabalin, which is often used to treat epilepsy and anxiety.
While she’s still suffering, she’s hopeful that this will ease the long-lasting living nightmare.
She added: “I can’t count how many times I’ve broken down since all of this began.
“But my family has been so supportive, which I’m grateful for.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without them.
“I’ve been able to connect with other sufferers on a Facebook group specifically for this condition.
“It’s incredible getting to speak with those who truly understand what I’m going through.
“Sufferers of this usually get dismissed and people don’t get the daily torment we suffer.
“It’s isolating.
“There’s no end in sight.
“I’m desperate for some relief and I hope this new treatment will be the answer I’ve been waiting for.”
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