Is this MS hug? How do I make it go away!

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Gokr

11 Apr 2012 at 12:07PM

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Hey all

Was hoping this would just go but it hasn't. Since Sunday I've had this incredibly tight feeling round my chest and back on the L - almost like I've got half a belt or half a corset on just on the L. I've tried everything to try and help myself from stretching, slow breathing exercises, meditating, distracting myself with other things to even trying my partners asthma inhaler. Its no better - finding it really distracting at work.

Is this MS hug? How do I help it or make it go away? I'm due to fly out to a conference and long needed holiday for the next week from friday and I'm slightly worried what I'll do if it gets worse abroad.

Help!

Reemz

Gillian44

11 Apr 2012 at 6:33PM

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Hi Reemz

I thought I was having a heart attack the first time it happened.... read Rizzo's (Karen's) comment on the previous post "still waiting" within this still waiting/Diagnosis section of the blog.

I took great comfort from her comments as some symptoms can be scary, I have to say the "hug" (which is a real misnomer in my opinion..... are we talking about a hug from a boa contrictor) is one of the scariest symptoms that I've had, but I am not diagnosed with ms so am loathe to give advice unlike someone like Karen who has real depth of knowledge and can speak from experience.

Gill x

Kizzydane

11 Apr 2012 at 7:18PM

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Hi Reemz x So sorry I can't help you - only sympathise with you! xxx

I ended up in A&E with 'the hug' as well x

I've had it twice now where it's got so violent and spasming in constant waves that it laid me out for weeks - that was a year ago though.

Since then I have the band like crushing sensation most of the time but can't find any way to relieve it x it's a miserable symptom x hopefully it'll be fine by the time your conference and hols come round x

I do use voltarol anti inflammatary gel a lot - I think it helps a bit - rub loads in xxxx

xxxjenxxxx

Gokr

12 Apr 2012 at 11:46AM

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thank you for your comments girls. Yes I did contemplate going to A&E at work at one point yesterday. Took some painkillers and used some anaelgisics as you suggested which has taken the edge off slightly though it's moved lower down my back and abdomen as well (I can take a deep breath now but it hurts/feels uncomfy and my back cracks when I do).

My pins and needles seem to have flared up again also on my L leg /tongue. I'm not sure if I'm having another flare up of symptoms as the pins and needles had gone since december (apart from when I had flu they flared up for a week).

My neuro told me to let him know if anything gets worse but after telling me I was pessimistic and needed to ignore my symptoms I don't see what it will achieve - I feel like he'll just tell me to suck it up and put up with it.

Joys of NHS. As long as it doesn't get bad like yesterday I think I'll be fine. Yesterday I could barely concentrate - and Gill - boa constrictor describes it perfectly. I told my other half this and bless he does try to understand no matter how strange it sounds.

Reemz

midnightmoon

13 Apr 2012 at 1:33AM

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Hi. I am not diagnosed with MS but have been experiencing MS-like symptoms for a month now (pins 'n' needles, numbness alll down left side from head to toe, double vision in right eye) and that bloody awful 'hug' which feels just like you describe, like corset that has been pulled in as tight as possible!... or a wide rubber band across my rib cage but only on left side. It feels crushing at times. Not really painful but really scary and uncomfortable to say the least. I went to my GP who sent me to hospital for a CT scan but that was clear so am now waiting for an 'emergency' neuro appointment whihc was two weeks ago now adn heard nothng. Stil got all symptoms but have regained some strength in my leg and arm so don't need a stick to help me walk any more. I haven't cooked or really been out of teh house for almost as month due to horrible symptoms. I am hoping it's not MS but also hoping it is nothing worse! The waitnig game is just horrible. The not knowing.

The 'hug' feels worse at night but better/less severe in the morning. I think the two worst things for me right now are the 'hug' and the double vision because I have to wear an eye patch over my right eye all the time.

Gokr

13 Apr 2012 at 10:18AM

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Hi Midnightmoon.

Thank you for your reply. Yes the waiting game is terrible - at least if you know whats wrong you can try and help yourself. I've had one MRI which showed some lesions but the neuro wasn't very forthcoming about whether they were consist with MS or not. He said he couldn't say if I did or didn't have it. I now have a repeat MRI due in the next month or so.

The hug seems to have relaxed a little thankfully but yes mine did feel worse at night and also if I had tight clothes on if my partner was trying to hold me whilst we slept. Strange!

Will keep my fingers crossed your appointment goes well. It's horrible thinking I hope this isn't MS but then I hope it's nothing worse. Limbolands terrible!

Reemz

John

20 Apr 2012 at 11:26AM

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hi, i experience this since a few days ago as I'm recovering from chicken pox. The doctor who sees me for chicken pox is dismissive, and suggests me to take advil. I'm taking muscle relaxant and it seems to help. Yes, it gets more serious at night, and can't sleep well. Exercise seems to help. I run 1-2 hours and for the next while, the symptom is milder. Not sure what to do next.

Juleslovesmusicals

02 May 2012 at 7:30PM

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I'm not sure if I may have had it, I get a tight feeling around my diapraghm area up to a little of my chest and its almost as if my diapraghm as stopped working temporarily, I don't feel breathless , but I all of a sudden have to work very hard to feel the rise and fall and when I try to speak its as if there is very little air in my lungs. It usually comes on when I get too hot, does this happen with anyone else?

Pollyp

02 May 2012 at 8:17PM

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Hiya,

I have experianced severe pain around chest and back, it is really tight and crushing. It then gets tighter and the pain peaks! then settles abit then peaks again. I thought it may be galbladder, but neuro said more like muscle spasms. No pain killers have worked yet have been recommed to try Diazepam.

Ppx

HeatherFeather30

02 May 2012 at 9:06PM

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I can sympathize!! I've had this happen to me twice, the most recent being about a month ago. I remember it clearly because my husband and I were going to go out for dinner and watch a movie. That afternoon at work, I started to feel like my ribs were achey. Then it felt almost like asthma -- but I didn't have that "wheezy" feeling you get with asthma. I look my inhaler nonetheless, but it didn't help. By the time dinner time rolled around, I was in agony. It didn't matter what position I got into (lying flat, stretching my arms, hunched over, sitting up very straight), I just couldn't alleviate the pain.

It literally does feel like somebody is using a vice and crushing you around the ribcage. Ugh! Terrible feeling to have!

For me, it went away in a couple of days -- so I really hope that it goes away soon for you as well.

Gokr

03 May 2012 at 2:25PM

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Thank you everyone :-) My symptoms have almost gone just an occasional awareness round my abdomen or ribcage but nowhere near what I had a few weeks back. I hope I don't get it like that again. For once I'm actually having a good few days (touch wood).

Thank you again for all the response - it really does feel reassuring to know you're not going bad having these strantge symptoms and that you're not the only one.

Reemz

John

11 May 2012 at 6:20PM

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Thanks everyone for your posts.

I'm now 31/2 weeks into this "hug" (extreme tightness around abdomen and left rib cage area) and the symptom has subsided, 90% gone! (Touch wood).

It started a few days after my chicken pox and the tightness was extreme for about two weeks but as I entered the third week, it diminished slowly. I relaxed, resteda lot, and continued doing exercise. I also drink organic fortified soymilk every day to make sure I have sufficient and good nutrients.

Doctor said it's probably due to nerve damage (attacked by virus) which resulted in wrong signal being sent to the muscle around left rib cage and as the nerve heals slowly, the symptom goes away.

Be optimistic, it will go away!

John

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