Help! Need MS Hug Relief

[katie4242]

I think I am having an MS hug attack.  This happened last summer before I was diagnosed and I just thought it was costochondritis from carrying beach chairs while we on vacation.  I have a sharp pain in my lateral rib cage just below my left breast.  It hurts on inspiration and well, actually, it is just hurting all of the time (going on three days now).  I am certain that it is not cardiac related, so I don't need to go running off to the ER or anything.  Can this one symptom by itself be considered a "flare."  Should I let my neuro know?  Does anyone have any suggestions for stopping the pain?  I tried taking Tylenol, but that hasn't touched it.

Thanks!
Katie

[SarahL2491]

I am an ER nurse and I sorta resent the remark about nurses who know nothing about MS,
I clearly stated in my post that it was the DOC............

[katie4242]

As mysteriously as it came on, my MS hug has disappeared!  Wow, four days of that was enough.  I can finally breathe deeply without feeling like my chest is going to pop open. Ess; I definitely can relate to the "bruised rib" sensation.  What a strange thing.  Thanks for all of the great tips.  I'm hoping to steer clear of "hugs" for a while!

Katie

[jerseyg]

I have had this symptom for years. Actually the first I remember. The only thing I have ever found to work is a soft pillow a lying on my chest. My second symptom was left weakness that caused a broken bone during gymnaatics.

[essdipity]

I don't think ERs really know about the MS hug. Even my own PCP didn't. But when I came in the next time, he had looked it up, to his great credit.

I have had costochondritis a bunch of times, once or twice to the point of needing steroid injections, so I really know how it feels. For me it actually feels like certain places in my ribs are bruised and sore.

My experience of the hug is quite different. I get the pressure sensation, as if someone is pushing hard into my ribs with the heel of his hand, either at the base of the sternum or to the right. I don't get a banding sensation.

Anyone who gets severe chest pain should have it checked out to make sure it isn't a heart problem, but don't get sidetracked by nurses who know nothing about MS.

ess

[SarahL2491]

I too had the chostrochronditis, or so they told me, I had it at work, and doc on staff gave me something, and since then have had 2 more, so I am eliminating the chostro dx and going with ms hug.......ER will usually blaim it on chostro

[supermum_ms]

I get this a lot, laying down seems to help me, i think its to do with taking preasure off the muscles when you lay down, less work for them to do. I also use heat bandages sometimes and i use a pain med with the anti inflammatory built in, doesn't touch it but its something. I tried the cream type but it was less than useless.

When i went to the ER the first time it was bad, i ended up being dx with idiopathic intercostal muscles spasms. I would tell your neuro, there are medications that may help if its muscle related, I always think its better to know exactly what it is than to assume. It happens during relapses but sometimes its on its own, so i've done something to set it off.

Hope someone else has some tips for your.

Cheers......JJ

[Deb61]

I get the same pain just below my breast in my rib cage that gets worse with breathing and have gone to the urgent care center to stop the pain.  My out-of-town neurologist was concerned that it was pleurisy, so he encouraged me to go.  After an exam, x-ray, and lab work ruling out all sorts of problems, the doctor at the urgent care center told me that this was costochondritis.  The doctor says that this is very common--even for the general population.  He told me to take an anti-inflammatory like Advil.  I don't remember it helping much, though.