MS Hug

[Deb61]

Can the MS hug cause death?  When I saw the Oprah show with Montel Williams, Dr. Oz mentioned that the leading causes of death in MS were suicide (which sounds very likely) and the MS hug were the leading causes of death.  Is this true?  If not can you die from MS?  I will certainly pay more attention to those chest pains if this is the case.  Not worried, just would like to know to make sure I get myself the proper care . . .

Don't throw rotten tomatoes if you all have discussed this topic earlier . . . I've looked around on the forum and didn't find anything.

Deb

[MarisaV]

Jana,

I get pains in my ribs every once in a while that feels like I'm breaking my ribs when I breath in. This can go on for several hours.

I don't know if this is what you were feeling, but my Internist at the time I first started experiencing it, said it was due to spasms of the intracostal muscles. No explanation why these muscles would spasm, however.

Mar

[AtlantaJana]

i forgot to add to my post that there have been times when i have been eating with friends when i seem to just 'pass out.'  one minute i am there, the next i am waking wondering what the h-ll just happened.  it can last from a minute to several hours.  my thyroid doc asked why i never went to the ER when it happened and i told him i just thought it was exhaustion.  he suggested it could be my heart, so i had it checked out and it isn't.  then it was possibly narcolepsy.  did a sleep study and it concluded i had central sleep apnea with no known cause (59 apneas in six hours). doc put me on CPAP, dextroamphetamines, and daytime oxygen,  II have still had episodes and just had one earlier today that lasted about 10 sec. (even taking Adderall),  i am frustrated that no one really knows what the heck is wrong, that the diagnoses are subjective, and i just keep on keeping on the best i can.

thanks guys
jana
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

[AtlantaJana]

OMG, I just cannot believe I found this topic!  For the past SEVERAL YEARS, i have had an incredible pain in the trunk of my body, mostly after sleeping and trying to move or get up.  i have described the pain to my docs as 'someone taking their bare hands and ripping open my chest cavity.'  my ex used to have to take me by the hands and actually pull me up because the compression around my chest was just too hard to bear.  it feels as though i have been cast in concrete and can't move, the worst part, however, is the horrible smothering pain.  

does this seem like the same thing as the 'MS hug?"  until i found this forum, i never told or talked to anyone about what it could be.  docs just condescendingly pat me on the arm, shake their little heads back and forth with a "tsk, tsk" but have never given me an answer outside of the fact that it "could" be related to my sympathectomy.  i also got a script for oxygen to keep at home because my pulseox drops to around 90!

as always, i appreciate all the help i can get.  

PEACE,
Atlantajana

[MarisaV]

hmmm...

With this last episode I developed difficulties breathing severe enough to go to the ER last July.

Basically, it feel like I'm trying to breath against a weight  or pressure against my chest (lower ribs only). Its very difficult to expand my lower ribs, and I can't belly-breath anymore. Its more difficult to breath laying down, and since September, I've been having to sleep sitting up.

I never thought this fit the description of the MS Hug, but now I'm starting to wonder.

Mar

[mayperl]

Wow - love this topic.

Question:
I just read this entire thread, but didn't see anything related to how I experience this "hug".  

I just started experiencing a new symptom, but I'm not sure if it would be considered a "hug" since I do not lose my breath.  Hot heat... like clothes out of the dryer... or slightly warmer. This wraps around my chest/abs, around my back, and down my right thigh and buttocks.  When I bend down or move my neck in any way.  The Dr. has me on IV Steroid infusions for 5-days, but I'm just curious (because he doesn't have time to SEE me until the end of this month) if anyone knows if this is another version of the "hug" you all mention?

[jscruggszoo]

This is what has been going on with me for at least 3 months now. Pain mostly in upper/mid back on left side. Hard to draw deep breath. Almost impossible to exercise or do anything strenuous.Have R/R MS since '96. Feels like all my ribs are sore. Thought it was a lung problem, but I guess it is 'The Hug'. I don't smoke and was used to riding exercycle for 35-65 minutes every day. Can't do it any more. I'm a 45-yr-old female. This is constant and I'm really sick of it. I want my life back.