MS Hug?????

[territorial]

I have not been officially diagnosed with MS. Neuro wants me to monitor any flare ups, and have a repeat MRI in a year. Not exactly happy about the process, but what are you going to do.

Anyhow, about a week ago another flare up began with leg numbness and tingling, moved to my arm and left cheek, just like before. Then the pain in my chest, back started. It started in my sternum, just below my clavicle. It has now moved to my back as well and just feels like constant pressure.  I don't know how else to describe it. It sometimes makes me feel like I am short of breath.  

Is the the infamous "MS hug" or what?????

[territorial]

Met with my GP today and he immediately did and ECG and a chest x-ray just to make sure this rib/back/chest thing wasn't something else. All were clear. Told him about the grief I have been having with my neurologist.  He told me that he would write a letter to Neuro and explain what I am dealing with yet again and that he is putting me on Lyrica to help with the numbness and pain in my legs and arms.  My GP is a great guy and always goes to bat for his patients. He said that he would monitor me to the best of his ability and be my advocate with the neurologist so that I can get some answers. I will be going back in 3 weeks to see how the Lyrica is doing.  Fingers crossed it offers some relief.

[territorial]

Yay..got into my GP for first thing tomorrow morning. We will see what he says. I am either going to get a referral to another Neuro or get him to light a fire under the *** of the one I have now.  

Sumanadevii, I have been monitoring my BP and heart rate and there is no change there. I will keep an eye on it though

I am so glad I found this place :)

[Sumanadevii]

Not trying to frighten you but it could be your heart.  Have you had it checked?  Women do not present the same with heart attacks.  Both the pressure and shortness of breath are classic signs.  I know this, if I called my neuro with those symptoms, I would be in er to be checked.  In fact, I had those symptoms and it is where I was sent.  I then did a follow up with both a cardiologist and lung doctor.  It turned out to be MS but you need to be sure with symptoms like that. Of course, it could be my age that made my doctor veer on caution.

[territorial]

I am going to head to my family GP this week and ask for a referral to a different neurologist.  The one I am seeing is the one that was on call in emerg when I went in with my last flare up. He ordered the MRI and CT and I went to him for the results.  I am not overly happy with him.

Thank you for all your advice. I am learning a lot here about a subject I never thought I would have to. Life can sure take you in different directions.

[MomofTwo83]

I'm sorry you are going through this process of finding answers.  It is horribly frustrating and depressing isn't it?!  My neuro wanted to do the "wait and see" thing too...now 5 months later I found a new doctor and I'm back in with the old neurologist.  (The other one in town was booked till April!)  

My version of the MS hug starts below my breast and goes a little past my belly button...it's a wide belt...feels literally like I have a corset on and it's WAY too tight.  My back all the way around to my fronts hurts, feels tight and often times it's hard to catch a good deep breath.  Several times I thought it was heart burn, indigestion or even heart problems.  But I did my own investigation...changed diet, recorded times and what I ate earlier that day; then realized it isn't anything gastrointestinal...it's gotta be the MS hug.

Good luck through this long and disappointing process.  I'm sure more people on this site with comment more on this! :)  That's why I love this site!!  

Victoria

[RedFlame]

It could be 'the hug'.  When I have the hug it goes around my chest below my shoulders to about my waist area.  There are allot of variations as far as the symptoms because they say it's a lesion on the spinal cord and the lesion can be in many places.

But you need to be careful because it could be something else.  

Why do you have to wait?  Can you find a different doctor that would take your case seriously?  If you do have MS, having it diagnosed and then receiving treatment can greatly reduce any further damage.  That should be enough reason for your doctor to act.

I'm thinking you need to find a different doc

Red

[COBOB]

"Hug"  is like a belt being wrapped around your chest or abdomen and being pulled tight.  I can a a small skiny belt or a wide belt.  You can also get small areas of muscle spasms.  I get spasms in my left trapezius muscle over my left shoulder blade that radiates up into my left neck.  I guess you could get a similar spasm on the left or right pectoralis major or minor that could cause one sided chest pain.  

I usually try IcyHot on the trapezius muscle and gulp down a flexeril and that seems to work pretty well for me, most of the time.


Bob