Extreme Nerve like Pain from Touch

28F, recovering from recent sunburn on arms, strep throat, and upper respiratory infection that occurred all within the last week.

On Friday, I noticed a patch of sensitive skin extending from my thumb, up my forearm, and stopping around my lower bicep. I didn’t think much of this because I’ve had sensitive skin patches in the past that resolved within a few days. However, this proved to be quite different.

While in the shower on Friday, I rubbed the affected area with a wash cloth and my arm felt like it had been doused in gasoline and lit on fire while simultaneously raking a cactus over the skin. It hurt so bad that my arm began trembling and all I could do was sob. Following this initial episode, my arm was quite tender and retained the sensitivity.

On Saturday, I still felt the sensitivity and it was made worse when clothing brushed. While doing the dishes, I got water on the area and without thinking wiped it off with a towel. This caused another excruciating pain episode.

Saturday night, I awoke from a dead sleep to another episode that I believed was caused from rubbing my blanket against the area.

On Sunday, while in the shower, the warm water seemed to make the area a bit less painful, so I ran my arm under water repeatedly. This triggered another episode.

Later that day, I was rubbing salve on the area to see if that would help, and the first time it was okay and did seem to help. When I went to reapply hours later, it triggered another episode.

I can’t sleep due to the fear of this reoccurring and I can’t seem to find any similar stories of this type of triggered, nightmarish pain anywhere.

When the episodes happen, the painful areas turn splotchy and red, but otherwise the skin looks normal.

I’ve also began developing some aches within this arm that seem to extend up to my neck.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.