MS hug - advice/help needed please

Everyday living
1

Hello

i didnt realise this exisited till my last visit to the specialist when i mentioned pains ive been getting in my ribs, i thought it was unrelated to MS but he said its due to lesions in my spinal cord. He pricked me with a pin all up my front and back and i have a band of numbness all around the bottom of my ribs. Since then ive realised ive been getting a lot of pains lower, around my lower abdomen, not like period pains but in the same area, sometimes quite sharp stabbing pains. I was just wondering if you can get these bands all down your spinal cord, if anyone has similar pains or if i should be concerned that these lower pains are not MS related and maybe something more sinister?

any help or advice would be really appreciated

Thanks

Catherine

2

hi Catherine,

Thats what hugs are! i did wonder and yes i’ve not long started having them, mainly on my left side.

Thought i was going mad, trying to work out what was going on.

Not had them lower down but i do suffer with terrible lower back pain, dont know if this is the same thing.

I stopped taking gababintin and not having so many cocodimal about 4 weeks ago, trouble is i cant remember if this was already happening before this or started after!

Thankyou for posting this as now i know what it is

Lisa

3

Hi Lisa

I get really bad lower back pain too but its only been since i had my baby 11 months ago and thought it was to do with that but after you said that I’m thinking maybe its all related to the MS after all!

You do feel like you’re going mad don’t you!

Thanks

Catherine

4

Hi Catherine

I get this too. Have had it for the last few years and it is there all of the time to be honest. I know a lot of people who only suffer from this from time to time so I hope yours eases off for you to have a break every now and again.

My Neuro did the pin thing on me and I didn’t feel them at all all round my ribcage. I try and wear loose clothes and this really helps. Also keeping cool settle mine down a little bit. It definitely gets worse if I get hot.

I get the pains too but only round my ribcage.

Really hope yours settles soon.

Take care.

Shazzie xx

5

Dear Catherine,

Well if you get back pain aswell, then yes i do think its related to ms. I have terrible back pain at night in bed, when i try and turn its like a stabbing pain. I often end up downstairs sitting in a chair to try and relieve it, not that this really works but atleast im not keeping hubby awake as i cant settle.

Every time i feel something different, i wonder if its another symptom .

Lisa.

6

Hi Catherine, sounds like ‘hug’ to me.

I get it often so here’s a copy and paste list of tips.

Hope it helps.

Pat x

It’s a spasm of the small muscles between the ribs. Here are some tips that might help:

· It can go all around your rib area, or only in part of rib area… up high on ribs or low down on ribs… or it can be only on one side of ribs

· Much worse in heat

· Much worse when fatigued or stressed

· Don’t wear a bra (it irritates the muscles)

· Don’t wear tight clothing… the looser the better

· Avoid large meals… little and often is better

· Lie down in/on bed if you can… and lying completely flat often helps

· Take 2 Paracetamol… if you are not on other pain med’s

· Try controlling your breathing… deep in through the nose and slowly blow out of mouth… and try and relax whole body while doing it

· Stay as cool as you can but don’t have cold shower… luke warm is better

· Rest, rest, rest and then get some more rest (if at all possible)

· Gently rub the affected area. It might feel like it’s bruised… don’t worry, that’s normal