MS Hug ??

[firerescue9]

I think what I have been experiencing is is called an "MS Hug".  It starts with pain/pressure in the middle of my back then to the front right below my chest then into my chest.  The pain is really bad and causes small amount of breathing difficulty.  I have been checked for heart issues and have none other than LVH. It happen a few weeks ago and because it was new to me it sent my blood pressure very high and my boss took me to the ER.  Everything they did there was no help. A few years ago I was taken to the ER for just the Pressure in the chest and trouble breathing.  Both times at the ER they told me "acid reflux" which I have had ruled out by a specialist.  I was diagnosed with MS in January. This is described to me as Spasms around the Esophagus.  The doctor has given me "nitro tabs" he said that it should help with the pain until the spasms go away.  Just had another one this morning.  Was able to breath through it without taking anything.  Is this what they refer to as an MS Hug?

[firerescue9]

Your are correct in the reason the doctor gave me the Nitro Tabs.  It is only to dilate the vessels to try to relax everything so the pain will hopefully be more tolerable. I also have high blood pressure (which is controlled with medication) and when I have these attacks it shoots my blood pressure very high.  The doctor said the nitro would lower by blood pressure as well.  I will try the warm fluids next time it happens.  My doctor also says that it comes from the lesions in a particular area in my spine.  I also noticed a strange feeling in my throat this time around.  That was new from the first time.  How often do you get the spasms?

  As for medications I am one of those who only wants to use them as a last resort.  Given that I take many already makes it hard to want to take anymore.  I am learning though that sometimes it is the best thing to do.  

Leanne

[jensequitur]

That's what I have! One of my doctors diagnosed it as an esophageal spasm. It basically feels like a piece of a chip caught in your throat. I get it as a pain right behind my solar plexus, and sometimes it radiates up into my jaw and around my ribs. At first I thought it was a heart attack, but they tested me and told me there was no unusual heart activity.

Nitro tabs? That would be for a heart issue... I don't know if they would help. They're best for lowering blood pressure quickly  by dilating the vessels.

I deal with it in a couple of ways. I find that drinking water, especially warm water, will help it go away. It's a spasm of the esophagus, and like with other spasms, you can 'confuse' the muscle that's spasming by working it. I drink warm water, hot tea, hot chocolate - anything that I can gulp down and get my throat to relax. It usually takes a full glass of whatever it is. I also take a low-grade muscle relaxer like Flexaril.

I used to take an acid reducer, until I realized that I was getting a lot of relief just from the glass of water.

I call it an MS hug, because it's caused by a lesion in the spine. But the MS hug is usually felt around the ribs, not the esophagus. I know what I mean, .but I don't want to confuse anybody else.