Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
645390 tn?1338555377

MS hug?

Just a quick ? to all here.  In April I experienced an awful pain/sensation/squeeze in my upper back.  Neuro DX MS hug.  I didn't doubt her, but went to PCP to make sure my heart was OK. All was fine,

A couple weeks ago, it started again, as did a relapse. I had the IV Solu-medrol, last week, now only have 4 days left of a taper.  The "hug" is getting worse. Feels like a hot knife is inserted in my mid back, sort of between my shoulder blades, although a bit lower. It is now not just uncomfortable, but painful.  Has awoken me the last 2 nights. Didn't get to bed until about 3:00 A.M. this morning, but up just a couple hours later in pain.

I took a pain pill, and am waiting for relief. So, the question is, if this is an MS hug, wouldn't the steroids have made it go away?? Think I need to get my heart checked out again? (never had a heart issue, just this pain is so uncomfortable).

What to do? I have been laying on a heating pad, with Vicodin going, no relief yet.

Any thoughts,
Michelle
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
382218 tn?1341181487
The hug is pure misery.  When I had it two years ago, it started to ease up with SoluMedrol but not right away, for me it took a good week or so after I finished treatment before feeling some relief.  For that flare my prescription was 1g x 5 days.  I've never been prescribed the oral taper.
Hopefully the steroids will start kicking in soon and you get some relief.  Unfortunately I have no advice to offer to make it more tolerable in the meantime, although I do remember for me it was worse after a large meal or talking too much.  Both made me feel short of breath.
And yes, if you have any suspicion that your heart may be involved, have it checked out, just in case.
Helpful - 0
572651 tn?1530999357
Thoughts?  My thoughts are you have been through enough and I want this all to stop for you!

Heating pad may feel temporarily good but is that a wise idea with the MS?  Are you heat sensitive?  

The MS hug comes from neuropathic problems and not muscular, so the vicodin and other pain relievers may not  cut it.  You need something for neuropathic pain instead but I did just see that sometimes ibuprofen helps.  

Something you may find helps a bit that I do - focus on breathing horizontally.  When you inhale, try to get your ribs to expand east/west instead of north/south.  I hope this makes some sense - work on getting this area to stretch a bit when you are breathing and see if it gives you some relief.

As for the heart, if in doubt at all, please get it checked.  Just because you were fine last year doesn't mean something isn't going on now.  

gentle hugs to you - feel better!
L
Helpful - 0
739070 tn?1338603402
Has anyone checked out your gallbladder? I had the same pain and several docs (PCP, GYN and GI) thought it was my gallbladder.  My gallbladder didn't do what they wanted on the tests. The GI guy said since I didn't have gall stones no surgeon would take it out . Instead I got the dx of acalculous cholecystitis. Changed my diet to low fat and it only flares occasionally.

Hope it gets better soon!!

My 2 cents,
Ren
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease