MS hug

I am still searching out more HELP and information on the MS hug, I cannot believe that this is not life threatening, it is that bad?

[jimeka]

lindance, do you think you should get it checked out. If it's that painful, it maybe isn't the ms hug. Seriously go get it checked and let us all know how you have got on, blessings Jimeka

[Hidden]

jimeka-thank you for your kind concern. I have had the developing MS hug for over 30 yrs (hate to scare anyone-it began with some of my first symptoms as a skinny little band around my chest (disappearing for years at a time only to reappear) and now encompasses my entire rib cage and wraps around my chest/shoulders front to back-squeezing my breath) and yes I have had numerous ER trips and heart evaluations to make sure it isn't my heart, they all say it is NOT my heart, but....the intensity of the hug has become almost intolerable of late, so I am searching here for others with this obscure developing MS symptom. I have SPMS. HNY 2017!

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to Hidden]

Your descriptions make me wonder. I've just recently got my diagnosis, not stage. Definite lesion in thoracic spine, over 20+ Spots in brain, will have another MRI in April to see if there's any changes since Oct. MRI. I have and have had since June 28, numbness and tingling on the right side of my back and around my right side of rib cage. The front of my rib cage feels like a deep bruise and when I try to sleep on that area it feel like my ribs are going to collapse. Very, very uncomfortable. The front area only used to bother me at night, now it's all day. I've had no remission since I went numb.. What do you think? How would you describe the hug?

[Hidden in reply to CalfeeChick]

The numbness and soreness are typical MS symptoms I am sad to say. The 'hug' can manifest itself so differently for OUR MS bodies, very simply it feels like your ribs are being squeezed (like yours) and can be a small little (like an elastic band) tightening that wraps around the rib cage or it can be like a larger girdle around chest and back area. I hope yours s temporary and weak. As with many/most symptoms they come and go in different degrees. Sorry you are suffering I know how frightening it can be.

[Midgey_Midge06 in reply to Hidden]

Hidden i totally feel your pain. If u find out anything please let me know. Sometimes my ms hug is so bad i just lay in bed and pray for God to take me. My last hug wasnt as bad and only lasted a week instead of months. I think it cud be because i started physical therapy. I dont know it as a fact its just abot the timing.

[Hidden in reply to Midgey_Midge06]

Thank you for your post, I hate knowing there others suffering, too. It is impossible for me to find a 'cause & effect' with my MS?? One of my last PT sessions was so helpful for my pain and compressions that I almost cried, but the next session did nothing but cause more fatigue. I understand how TOUGH it is to lie there inside this painful body where nothing seems to help-I for sure will SCREAM from the treetops if I find anything that stops the hug.

[Midgey_Midge06 in reply to Hidden]

I will do the same 😊

[Hidden]

How I wish there was a 'rhyme or reason' to my MS symptoms, but no I cannot do anything (past 30 yrs) that will bring it on and I can't with my other numerous MS symptoms either. There is the typical for me fact that getting over heated brings on a symptom/temporary exacerbation and once I cool down, it goes away but that is the only 'control' if you can call it that, that I have over my MS. Currently I am being seen by my Neuros PA and I am looking for a new Neuro, sad to have to leave but...I believe that this last attack should have been treated with Solumedrol but she even refused to see me!!! Sheesh, she needs another profession, she made me feel like I was bothering her (she talked to me through her office manager) and not a patient in extreme pain and fear. Oh well, now on to see how to manage this latest symptom with the least amount of disruption to my family.

[Hidden]

Hidden OMG the HUG!!!!!!! Mine is brutal.I have lesions in my thoracic spine that are not going away. I have had MS for years undiagnosed. Diagnosed in 2014. I have always had this symptom as long as I can remember. Mine causes massive pain on my thoracic spine. the pulling and squeezing I assume puts the most pressure on my spine, then around my chest. like you. mine started smaller several years ago. Actually, that is how my ortho found that my C4,C5.C6 vertebrae were wasted and I needed cervical fusion. They used cadaver bone because my hip hurts so bad from my lumbar fusion 16 years ago. So that didn't help. Well it took some head pain away. Then a few years later it go soooo bad again. or should I say they were sick of seeing me and accused me of drug seeking. The did another MRI and found the fusion did not work. So they redid it. Problem still there/here. Again was accused of drug seeking. Also funny thing is lesions have been here for more than a decade. I have all the discs and showed them to my Neuro. She picked them out right away. It keeps getting worse and has caused pain attacks so bad I have had ER trips and EMG's and dozens of tests on my heart. My heart is healthy as can be! Mine has been completely intolerable since halloween 2016. I filed disability with my company. I have 9 months of that then they will help file for SSD and medicaid. So free lawyers! So I have found something that takes the pain from a 10+ to a 7 sometimes 8. I don't say that lightly. I have had many many broken bones, concussions, 480 stitches and staples not counting surgeries. Also roughly 15 surgeries. So I know pain. Sorry, Squirrel! My pain Dr put me on Opana 20 mg ER every 12 hours. It is an incredibly strong narcotic. it is 4x's more powerful than morphine at 10mgs so at 20mgs I am at 8xs. My Dr said it is like shooting up heroine 2xs a day. I not only have a huge pain tolerance I have been on and off narcotics since 1992. The Opana starts at 5mgs so if you Dr would be willing, you could try that. Does any of this make sense? I hope it does, I also hope it is helpful to know you are not alone. If you have any more questions for me. please feel free to message me.

Have an amazing day!

Rob.