MS Hug

Hello all, I know this has been asked and answered several times, what are everyone’s else’s symptoms of the MS hug. Mine is right in the middle of the chest , only comes on at night, and while sitting and is getting very old. What have people been prescribed for it. Sorry for so many questions, I am just getting frustrated. Thanks Greg

Don’t really have a GP, at least one that speaks the same language lol. I’d say it’s about. 90% of the time at night! and yes stress is there! but it’s always there … Please don’t apologize I’m the one asking questions. Thanks for answering Greg

Jen, My apologies. Last night was a rough one and I feel,I wasn’t to coherent. Mine like yours are right in the middle if the chest, and it sometimes reminds me of asthma, hard to catch a breath. It’s the timing that’s weird, almost every night at the time. I know I need to see a doc, but the ones I see basically push drugs without doing any other testing. Again, very frustrating. Thanks again for your reply and understanding. Greg

hiya greg

i have had this many times over the years and used to take amitriptyline.

this is what i do-some may think daft/stupid but its how i get my head round it.

its the intercostal muscles in spasm so i imagine being able to see them. widen the area as u can (move arms eg) and imagine that they are calming down/stopping vibrating. its temp-it does stop (as u know) sometimes even just being aware of that helps. if its unbearable that is when i used amitriptyline just to assist me thru. i dont like to take medication unless absolutely needed-sometimes the side effects cause more issues than original issue!

i am a great believer in meditation-its def not a quick fix but worth investing the time to learn. i am lucky to have a monestry (that sp doesnt look right but best my brain can manage at the mo!) nearby and the folk there have been invaluable in helping me cope with my ms

ellie

Hi Greg

I have had the hug since dignosis and it has never disappeared.

It is a very tight band that goes all round the ribcage. Sometimes it is painful and other times it is just the tightness, which in itself is a sort of pain.

When I last saw my neuro she said that she was very aware of the hug and I was definitely suffering with it and it is caused by the little muscles in the ribcage going into spasm causing a cramp like pain. She has started me on Gabapentin to try and ease the pain. Fingers crossed.

Hope you get help with yours.

Shazzie

Shazzie, Thanks for the information. I hope the meds work for you. Greg

You’re welcome Greg. I will let you know how it goes.

Shazzie

I had the hug in my last relapse at new year, it felt like a boa constrictor around my ribcage. It didn’t hurt just really uncomfortable and a few times I thought I was going to wet/shit myself as it was pressing down so hard. I found keeping still helped, wearing loose clothes and I also tried voltorol and deep heat cream. It got so bad I went to hospital and a 3 day steroid course to help knock it on the head. Once I found out on here what it was I found it easier to cope with. It’s now mostly gone, just the odd tightness when I over do things.

hi,

i was plagued with the dreaded hug in the first few years around dx. the thing that i found helped most was developing a series of SLOWLY built up stretches that GENTLY stretched out the muscles that were spasming. i found that this graduslly lessened the problem. i always do my stretches before sleeping and, for the most part, only get ms hug occasionally now.

hope you find something that helps you very soon,

wendy x