Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
Your doctor may be able to diagnose notalgia paresthetica by taking your history and examining your skin. In addition, your doctor might order an X-ray or another type of radiologic study, such as an MRI or a CT scan.
If you do have a diagnosis of notalgia paresthetica, your doctor may try the following:
- Prescription-strength anesthetic cream
- Prescription-strength corticosteroid (cortisone) cream
If the itching or pain becomes intolerable or interferes with your activities, your doctor may prescribe an oral anti-seizure (anti-epileptic or anti-convulsant) medication, such as:
- Gabapentin
- Topiramate
- Oxcarbazepine
If these approaches are not effective, and if your symptoms are severe enough to justify it, more aggressive procedures may be performed to relieve pressure on the compressed nerve:
- Injection of local anesthetic near the compressed nerves as they exit the spine (paravertebral block)
- Spine surgery
Self-Care Guidelines
