MS hug?

[erash]

I've been having difficulty breathing, as if I can't take a deep breath especially with activity x few weeks. I am seeing my physician and we are working this up (all normal so far) but it just dawned on me this could be MS hug. If you have ever experienced this, can you share what it's like? TIA

[jimeka]

Hi Erash, I experience the ms hug, I have to bend over and arch my back to get a deep breath. I even went to see a chest specialist who said ther was nothing physiologically wrong with me. Hope this helps Jimeka

[erash in reply to jimeka]

@jimeka , that does help. I will finish the physicians work up and antibiotics she gave me because I had low grade fever but I'm suspicious that this is what I'm feeling. How long did this last for you?

[jimeka in reply to erash]

It comes and goes. It doesn't have a set pattern, if I get really tired or stressed it can trigger it. Some people have had such pain with it they thought they were having a heart attack. Ask your neurologist or go on the web and research ms hug, it's quite common. Cheers Jimeka

[Sukie427]

Erash, I myself have never experienced the MS hug but I do know people who have and I can tell you that it is real. Not much help but at least you know that you're not alone or crazy.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

erash l have never even heard of it before. Just reading what you, jimeka and Sukie427 are saying it sounds awful l hope it doesn't last to long for you. Stay strong

[plosed06]

That does sound like MS hug. I have it too. I used to wear a rib belt. The counter pressure used to help, but then it became too uncomfortable, so I had to stop wearing it. Baclofen and/or gabapentin might help.

[Cwacker]

Hi erash , I've had your experience where it felt like I had to think to breath. It was awful and lasted for 3 weeks. My neuro (whom I'm not going back to) immediately said it wasn't ms. I ended up in the ER but they could find nothing wrong with me, at this point I felt like a hypochondriac, so I went home and waited it out and after doing research found out the MS hug was probably the culprit. Interestingly I had the exact same experience happen to me about 15 years ago, I couldn't go to work, had x-rays done with showed nothing. This was during the years I was unaware that I had ms. Thankfully and hopefully it won't become a common problem and I hope you will find relief in whatever ways work for you best!! Keep fighting, keep enduring, and keep communicating! We can become our worst enemy when we keep to ourselves 🌹

[erash in reply to Cwacker]

Thank you, so very helpful!