MS Hug

[Mummy76]

Everyone seems to describe the MS Hug differently.  I gather it's tightness around your entire chest and back or one side.  I have spots of pain on my ribs and back.  Sometimes 2 or 3 spots but not encircling me.  I'm hoping for opinions on if this is related to the MS?  Thank you.

[supermum_ms]

I have to agree, what your describing doesn't sound quite right for the Hug. Generally, its described as a 'banding feeling' that is either totally or partially going around your torso. The ribs seem to be more common but from my understanding, the Hug is connected to spinal lesions so it can happen anywhere on the trunk of the body and not just the ribcage.

Sometimes when my intercostal muscles are spamming and my ribcage contracts, its pretty painful but most of the time when its happening, it feels like i'm wearing a bra that's way too tight. lol I can't actually wear a bra or constricting clothing, because it can set the spasms off, it just doesn't feel comfortable having anything restricting my ribcage any more.

I'd speak to your Dr (we don't have nurses handling things here in OZ) its not going to hurt to get it checked out.

Cheers...........JJ

[Mummy76]

Thanks guys.  Ess - how you've described costochrondritis is exactly what I've felt.

DBn- I don't think it's related to digestion, but who knows?

[doublevision1]

My hug is as Ess describes: squeezing pressure in my ribcage, like wearing a Spanx camisole several sizes to small.  It makes my breathing feel shallow and laboured.  I wouldn't exactly describe it as pain, morelike extreme discomfort.  It makes moving around, even rolling over in bed, very difficult.  

What you describe, spots of pain, doesn't sound like mine but it seems it presents in different ways.  I don't think it hurts to call the clinic and mention it to the nurse.

Maybe it's the same thing Ess has had, or maybe something else entirely.  

Any chance it could be digestion related?

[essdipity]

This could be the hug but I doubt it. Mostly the hug is felt as squeezing or pressure in the rib area, not exactly pain, though if it gets bad enough it certainly can get painful. It doesn't have to encircle the body, but it's more than one or two isolated spots.

What you describe sounds more like costochondritis, which is inflammation of the tissue between the ribs. I've had that quite a few times, with no explanation that I know of. It feels quite sore and touching it hurts, as if there were a bad bruise when there isn't any. Usually, with me at least, it doesn't hurt much otherwise, though I've had it bad enough that I needed muscle relaxers. A couple of times it really hurt to turn my head, kind of like when a car is in 'park' and you try to turn the steering wheel. That was when the inflammation was near the sternum.

Just my experience.

ess