Burning chest pain that shoots down arms

[jblueeyes7]

Hi. Doe's anyone else have burning chest pain that burns at the sternum and then shoots down through arms? I had an MS dr that said it was "Menopause" and to get a massage. The next MS dr said it was the after effect of the "MShug" and this is the cartiledge damage that I must live with--nothing can be done. Any one else have this pain--any advice? Please help. I wake up this way everyday and have sudden attacks all day long.

[Iona60]

jblueeyes7 I had the burning chest pain and never thought that it could be MS. My primary care thought that it was heartburn and suggested that I figure out what in my diet may be causing it. It doesn't shoot down my arm. But, it wakes me up at night and I used to think that I was having a heart attack. I have gotten MS hugs in the past. Maybe it is related. Mine just comes and goes and I've never been able to relate it to anything.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to Iona60]

Wow 😳 that sure has to be scary. Maybe an MS HUG, sure don't want to feel that.

[Iona60 in reply to CalfeeChick]

Since it's been happening for 10+ years, I quit fearing a heart attack and try to relax. It eventually passes.

[jblueeyes7 in reply to Iona60]

thank you. Your message helps.

[Allen5280]

Hello jblueeyes7 , I get burning sensations in my feet and feel like they are on fire and down my arms. I have had sternum pain as well. Feels like I got hit really hard there and at times even feels as if it is swollen and tender. It's not exactly the same as what you have described however it is very similar. I have widespread nerve pain at times and others like today is just my feet. Sometimes when I have the "MS hug" my whole upper body will be sore for days following. It always concerns me that I might acquire an new condition that may just be overshadowed by MS and just be chalked up to MS and never be addressed so l try to have my doctors rule out any other possibilities before just saying well it just MS. So far when I do it has turned out to be MS, but it helps me sleep a little better at night. Even though I already feel like a human pin cushion and hate unnecessary testing, there is some sloace in knowing. I can only imagine, with all your dealing with, you understand. I hope your able to get a definitive answer before long.

Thoughts and Prayers,

Allen

[jblueeyes7]

Hi Allen. I'm Jo. Reading your message is a relief. It is so difficult to explain all of these things that suddenly appear and then never really go away. I know my loved ones get tired of hearing me complain, or don't complain but they can see the pain on my face. It gets old for everyone, because they cant really help...thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am having a tough week--just found out I had a mild stroke in the hospital over a year ago, and my new MS Dr just diagnosed. It's confusing and I don't know who to believe/trust.

[Allen5280 in reply to jblueeyes7]

Jo,

First off, I am sorry to hear of your stroke. I understand what your saying about who to trust about what's going on. When MS decided to make it's entrance into my life, I had resigned my position as a pilot. I was having issues with panic attacks for no apparent reason and had to ground myself. At first I went to my primary care physician. Who after a little time and meds not being effective to seeing a shrink, whom after a few visits decided I needed a Neuro. Then from a first Neuro who actually said she wasn't quite sure to another Neuro whom gave my clinical of MS. This is all in a span of about 4 years. Not to mention the nerve tests and bone doctors and the general surgeon whom discovered gerd. I believe a direct result from anxiety disorder and stress caused stomach issues. It took a long time for me to find physicians that cared over me being a paycheck. Even still, sometimes I feel the need for a second opinion and if that were to be conflicting, a possible 3rd.

As for how your loved ones seeing you suffer and feeling helpless. I know exactly where your coming from. I am a single man however I hate knowing what my suffering does to others. Sometimes, being single is almost a comfort to me. For I'm not sure I could handle having a wife watch what i am going through sometimes. Then there are other times where my heart just aches sue my solitude. I'm just not sure I have it in me to ever put someone else in that position. I was watching the movie The Circle with Tom Hanks the other night. The main character's father has MS. One point in the movie she was alone and crying over her father's condition and I had to stop the movie for a bit so I could cry for a little while myself. I know my family is heartbroken over what it going on with me but they only know a small portion of it and I am relieved by that in a way. Another of the dark recesses of what this affliction does to us. Some of the indirect symptoms are some of the most painful ones... for MS has broken my heart, over and over and over. I pray for the day to soon come where we all can say goodbye to it and we hear... we have a cure.

Allen

[Hidden in reply to Allen5280]

I'm crying with the reality of all that you said. I had numerous panic attacks (disguised as heart attacks-cuz they fit all of the descriptions-I still feel like I am having a heart attack 35 years later-ouch!) at the beginning of this disease for which I was shocked and embarrassed-panic attacks? really, me? I was ashamed. Anyway, knowing how others must see me is one of the harder realities of MS. You nailed it.

[jblueeyes7 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! It is awful, as only the people that have experienced it can truly understand. Have a blessed day

[jblueeyes7 in reply to Allen5280]

Hi Allen. Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts. Wow, those 4 years of being bounced from one doctor to the next must have been tough. I understand how physically demanding sometimes just getting out of the house can be, let alone for doing it just to be passed along the route to someone else. I was initially diagnosed Jan 2010, but received no real treatment until December 2016, when I finally got to the Aurora, CO M.S. clinic. I began Tysabri in January and my most recent MRI shows no change in my brain lesion. Which is good because it had grown pretty fast from May '16 when I was on the hospital for a week, and October when I had another MRI because my headaches began getting really bad. I just began head Botox and headaches have improved greatly.

I haven't seen "The Circle." Is it worth seeing, like on Netflix or OnDemand, or is it too depressing?

I have 2 children, a daughter and a son. I also have a 14month old granddaughter, by my daughter, who is my joy. I see her every 3 months when I go to the clinic in CO, as she and her husband moved to that area for work. Babies are a lot of work, and my daughter and I have fun bouncing between housework and baby duties. It takes 2-3 days after these trips for me to get out of bed, I am so tired afterwards.

Headaches and this chestpain, as well as feet pain are my chief problem areas. What are yours?

Looking forward to that day when the cure is a reality. It'll feel good to be "Me" again. Take good care Allen

Jo

[Hidden in reply to jblueeyes7]

Dear Jo-you are a treasure and doing ALL you can to 'participate' in this altered existence of life caused by MS. I, with my husband, raised 4 children and now will have my 16th grandchild this Tue. Life does move on even though we have MS (I felt MS when I was 25 and am now 68). My MS has hit me in every part of my body and I too hope for a cure for you and others as it is way too late for me. Yeow, I didn't mean to be such a downer. I wish you the best

Linda

[Allen5280 in reply to jblueeyes7]

Hi Jo, the circle was a good movie I got it as a freebie from my local video store. It's due back tomorrow and usually I return them right after I watch them but I am considering watching it again tonight. It's not all sad a nd depressing. Just the one part really got to me. Wasn't expected at all. As a quick overview without telling to much is basically how technology can infringe on rights to privacy etc..

I also understand about recovery times for pushing myself to do something. I have heard and use the term paying the piper (MS) for being able to live life at times. As far as my worst symptoms... it varies from day to day but the ones that really put me down are a tie between neuropathy (which I have everywhere) and spaticity. Some of the most painful spastic events have been seizure like and my whole body would go into one giant muscle spasm. Thank God I have not had that to those degrees for over a year and a half now. I don't miss that AT ALL. However therw are times when I get multiple Charlie horse type spasms and they are not fun. Then there's the MS hug and from my understanding that is spaticity as well. The past two days I had a migraine from you know where that finally let up late last night, early morning to to be more specific and doing ok so far today. Hope and pray your doing ok, thoughts and prayers.

Allen

[jackiesj in reply to Allen5280]

Thank you Allen for your thoughts...I have mostly single friends and they say the same thing about it being a comfort at times.I see my husband(gettn him checked out) trying to ignore 24/7 signs of MS and dealing with his own.I try to help that.There are times we shut the door literally on each other for a period of time as to give each other a break in lifes daily ouches.Im thankful for a spouse even with us both are ill as I know someone would enjoy your company as well.Yes, sometimes its not a pretty site but isn't that what love is about?you know ahead of time to tell someone, while we just fell into it.We have more to give than MS but yes, I do understand not wanting to share a life of this...but it is their choice also.None of us know.....

[erash]

jblueeyes7

Could be many things. The timing, inciting, relieving factors, other med problems and associated symptoms might help pinpoint the cause.

One possibility is costochondritis southerncross.co.nz/group/m...

From what I've read, the MS hug can present in a lot of different ways. For me, if it was the hug?, I felt as if there was a tight band around my chest (no pain) and just couldn't take a deep breath

[jblueeyes7 in reply to erash]

Thank you!

[SlmHarris]

Ask your family Dr. That sounds more like a question for him/her.

I always start with my family Dr on new symptoms. I try to eliminate anything out side of MS first.

Best of luck!

[jblueeyes7 in reply to SlmHarris]

Thank you!

[Hidden]

My MS Hug began as a skinny strip that wrapped around my chest. It has since evolved into a very wide wrapping sensation that can last for a week to 5 months (at which time I get desperate). It wraps so tight that the pain goes down my left arm and up the left side of my neck, it has also involved constricting my stomach opening which causes severe acid reflux. All that said, MS or not, you still need to have a Dr that seeks ALL reasons for the cause and them treats the symptoms even if they are MS, we have enough to cope with, we do not need any of these other discomforts. Hang on...it does come and GO.

[SWEETCAT in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes MS hugs, not my choice of words I call it. Very uncomfortable and also scary at the same time. Is this a hug or my heart? I experience these and now they come and go. Sometimes shorter times then others. So flustered by them.And yes acid reflux and very happy have insurance. But worries about it all,and some days very stressed by it all..Take Care..

[jblueeyes7 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

[jblueeyes7]

Thank you!

[suzy20]

jblueeyes7 I am so sorry. I had shooting pain down my right arm. I finally went to a pain doctor and received trigger injections of lidocaine, which provided releif for a about 6 weeks. Nerve pain presents in weird ways, I hope you can find some relief.

[jackiesj]

This is hard...don't rule out the heart which they needed to check anyway.If they cant find answers ask for referrel.....

[309Ygi]

yes I get them often Ms hug front back sides . Feels like you can’t breathe and got beat up ! Ya I take a panic med to relieve myself. It works for me and dr said yes .