Wierd Crampy feeling in R ribcage... doesnt hurt though? What is it!?

[cz1970]

Hi all you lovely people,

Im a limbolander... for a week now I've been getting this constant feeling kinda like a cramping of my right rib cage but it doesnt necessarily hurt but I dont like it either...  I didn't lift anything, run, exercise (OH GOODNESS NO!) or anything I can think of. I woke up with it and it gets worse for a few minutes then dies back down to a constant irritating feeling.  Do any of you guys have this? I cant say its necessarily a squeeze.... it is tight though... Hmm... I dont know how to discribe it!  Ah... can anyone help?


Thanks!
cz

[cz1970]

Does this sound like the MS Hug?
cz

[mokibear]

I'm a limbo lander too so take what I say with a grain of salt, but I did write a similar post a while back and the consensus seemed to be MS hug. I googled it and it can act in different ways from mild to severe pressure. Mine started like yours and then I ended up the last time I had it all around into my back. It felt like I was wearing a girdle that was way too tight.

Hope that helps some.
Moki

[cz1970]

Thanks for the info.  Well, I guess after finals I'll call and let the dr know about this new symptom too. Lovely..... isn't it!?  

cz

[Quixotic1]

While I considered the "hug" also, I wanted to mention that any muscle or muscle group can spasm.  You may have an isolated spasm of the muscles between several ribs on the right side (called the intercostal muscles).  Typically this is painful, because anything that pulls on the ribs usually is, but I guess it doesn't have to be.

Let the doctor know about it now, but maybe you can put off going in until after finals.

'kay?

Quix

[cz1970]

LOL.... ya, I have my Nursing finals so this irritation is last on my priority list!  But I do need to go in because I had a horrible experience after a hot bath.... BAD MISTAKE! I knew better too.  Ok, thanks for the info and wish me luck on my exam! And no... I wont take a hot bath again!

cz

[Quixotic1]

I am shaking my finger at you!!!!  So, you just had to go and try a hot bath!!!  Bad Girl!  Bad Girl!!  In MS my neuro told me not to do it, even though the effects don't last long.  He says the effects of the heat can do small amounts of damage each time.

Actually, the "Hot Bath Test" was discontinued after a patient developed permanent paralysis....I used to love a long hot shower and even dreamed of getting my own hot tub when I got a house.  Guess that money is going some where else.

Good luck on your finals!

Quix

[zmombomb]

what's wrong with taking a hot bath?  Is it possible this "hug" is more of a gallbladder attack?  I had a couple gallbladder attacks that made me feel like an elephant had taken a siesta on my chest,  and he was hybernating!  They got rid of my gallbladder and the elephant with it.  

[Quixotic1]

Hi, you and I haven't talked before. Welcome!

In MS the nerves in the brain and spine are damaged by an attack on the myelin sheath which insulates the nerves.  It is called demyelination.  When the myelin is damaged the nerve signal does not move along as fast as it needs to.  It's conduction is slowed.  Raising the temperature of the body, even a fraction of a degree slows the signals of these damaged nerves even more.  So many people with MS report "heat intolerance" where their symptoms worsen rapidly if they get hotter.  

This is called a pseudo-exacerbation or false relapse.  Anything that raises the body's temperature can cause the nerves to lose their signal speed.  So that includes hot days, exercising, fever, hot showers and baths.  My neuro, whom I respect immensely, said, "NO HOT SHOWERS, EVER AGAIN!"  Alll...righty then!

There are reports of people getting overheated and having a permenant worsening of some symptoms, so it is not anything to play around with.

For the summer months, they recommend the use of "cooling garments" to stay cool in the heat.  These come routinely as vests and neck wraps, but I just found a hat that acts as a cooling/evaporative hat also and the head is the quickest way to cool the body, due to its higher blood supply in the scalp.  These garments can be purchased and there are also instructions online for making them.

Before exercising, if it is warm, they recommend a cool bath or shower BEFOREhand.

Staying cool is so important to the person with MS that purchase of an air conditioner is allowed as a medical deduction on the federal income taxes.  

Quix

[cz1970]

First to Zmom,.... trust me this isn't a gallbladder issue. First of all that is preceeded by eating fatty foods etc and I dont eat fats/fried food etc. I do know what that feels like though and thats why I dont eat that way. LOL learned the hard way. No, this sensation is a tightening feeling in the intercostal muscles almost like a squeez you cant get away from.

As far as the bath... yep I was really dumb and today I think I'm paying for it.  My neuro said "It's not MS so go on with your life" and wont even respond to my issue of heat intolerance this winter when I got too hot sitting next to the wood stove... cuz I started off cold but then got comfortable and before I knew it (lost in homework) I got overheated and was almost paralyzed! I literally crawled (I"M SERIOUS) up the stairs to sit by the window where 20 degree wind could cool me off. Once I was cooled down I was fine.  This time, my ribs got me thinking "maybe I just pulled a muscle and this isn't a possible MS thing..." so I took a hot bath.  I did my own test.  I checked my vision before I got in. Both eyes great (I had ON in the right last year). After about 5 min, I lost my vision, felt dizzy, really weak, nauseated, almost like jello too. So I got out, could hardly walk or see. Laid on the couch, my right side went almost numb, I had vertigo from HELL and felt so sick I just went to bed in a COLD ROOM!  Once I cooled off I felt normal.  Its worse than the flu! It's aweful!

Now, today I have the beginnings of a flare. I think I did it to myself or it's from the stress of finals. In either case I'm gonna call my PCP and go see him so he can see what it's like when I'm flared. This is a mild one cuz I can walk this time!  SO NO BATHS FOR ME!!! NO NO NO.  Sorry Quix.... I'll listen now....

Cz