MS Hug - what do you do?

[jensequitur]

I guess it's an MS hug.  I keep getting this banding pain around my torso, that mostly sticks around in the sternum area.  Sometimes it's in my back to the left side.  I've checked my blood pressure, and it's very low (102 over 70) but my heart rate is up (102 bpm.)  But the heart rate being up isn't necessarily a indication that this is heart related.  Wehn I'm fatigued, sometimes my heart rate will be higher than normal.

All I can do is what I always do - drink water and take Flexaril in hopes it will go away.

What do you guys do?

[ShadowsSister]

Hi Sweetie,

These  M/S Hugs can be hard enough to break ribs, I know.. Get in touch with your Nuro. and also your PCP..

I also put a tight band around my rib cage when these hit there.. It seems to help and a heating pad for the back..

I am Praying yours will stop soon and leave you a lone..

Know that you are in my Daily Prayers..

{{{{{{{{~!~}}}}}}} Hugfs and Love from..DJ

[supermum_ms]

I've been trying to think of what i do, its seems illogical that all i do is, well i do nothing! I figure there isn't much of anything i can do, which again logically can't be true but at this moment in time there is nothing for me to do but ride it out.

My youngest was just a few weeks old when i first felt a crushing blow to my sternum, literally bringing me to my knees, lots of tests later and the dr's didn't have an explanation. He's now on his way to 13, and this sternum thing has been going on and off ever since though its not quite the same, my sternum now cracks like a broken chair lol.

The proverbial catch 22, i have some intercostal muscles that seem stuck (spastic?), think of when you pick up a toddler, your thumbs are either side of the spine at the back and the rest of your hands are at the sides of the rib cage. Those spots hurt all day long now, it makes me want to stretch to try and relieve some of the pressure but I cant because i'll crack the sternum like a walnut.

I havent worn clothes that band around my ribs since 2008 when i had the entire left front to back of my intercostal muscles going off, they tried to squeeze the life out of me lol. I used heat pads that stick on your skin, it didn't really do anything but at least i was trying something. I havent worn a bra (its ok no one would notice) for over a year, i cant think of anything to help, probably because i dont know what to do for my self.

I do find it interesting that you mentioned your bp, i dont have a clue about what mines doing but one thing is weird (just one of many lol) if i do stretch my shoulders back, i see stars for a time afterwards, and i'm not sure what if anything thats all about.

Anyway if anyone comes up with something i'll be all ears (eyes) because nothing isn't doing anything for me.

Cheers......JJ

[jaegergirl]

I cannot tell you what a relief this website has been to me!  I have always kept most of my aches, pains and overall crazy body happenings to myself for fear that what I was feeling was spiralling out of control and possibly just in my head.  Oh what a relief it is to even after all these years, discover that someone else knows how I feel!

I have the same chest/torso pressure/pain. The way you describe it perfectly fits how mine feels. Like a side stitch only in my sternum area. It is sometimes more toward my back but always on the left side. I also am more effected by it during my down time although mine is usually in the late afternoon evenings.

I have no idea what it is and because of the troubles I have had with acid reflux and swallowing problems my Dr and I have pretty much chalked it up to esophageal spasm also.

I will keep you in mind if I hear anything different and please let me know if you come across anything you feel may be helpful also.

-Carol

[risnerrose]

I'm not sure if I'm having the MS hug or spasticity . . . they may even be the same thing???  During spastic periods, I wear one of those spanks-type undershirts.  If it is really bad I also wear a "girdle" around my torso.  The pressure seems to "distract" the nerves and provides temporary relief.

[jensequitur]

I've talked to my PCP about the heart rate problem, and they've stuck the tabs on me and checked my heart - everything's fine.  Notably this pain never happens when I'm exercising or exerting myself - it's always in the morning, right around that down time when I experience my worst symptoms.  This was three years ago - right before my MS diagnosis.  

My PCP thought it was an esophageal spasm, and it's possible that's what it is.  Except that the pain keeps moving around my torso, from front to back.

I think mine is more of the railroad spike sensation - it's very much like a stitch in my side, except it's at the sternum.

[Sailorsong]

Have you had this checked out for possible heart issue? If not I would do that immediately.

I can't remember right now the exact number for when you should go to an ER for heart rate problems, but I think the 102 is at or near that number. Maybe someone else knows that number for a pulse.

As to MS hug I get two different version that I call MS hug for lack of a better quick term.

The first one is like a band around my mid section but a little lower than you are describing. Mine is more like across my stomach and basically feel mostly like someone is pressing on my stomach.  This one is not too much of a bother so I just lay down for a while.

The second one I could go without very easily. It feels like someone is shoving railroad spikes in between my ribs. With this form I take 1 or 2 hydrocodone and head for bed as they will knock me out very quickly for several hours. Most of the time this will do it, but a few times I have had to knock myself out several times before it will end.

Dennis