"Hug" or pain from old injury

[Fluffysmom]

Hi,T all!

A day or so before leaving town, I started having pain under my ribs, first on the right front, then both sides of the back, and then all the way around.  It was glowing, intense pain.  I even googled kidney problems.

I had to pack and get ready for my trip, and decided to ignore the pain.  It moved up to involve my entire ribcage; I could just about feel spasms between my ribs.  It hurts around my sternum, and about the same area on my spine.

Now the pain is really intense around T-7, where I had a compression fracture in 1985.  The rest of the ribcage is still involved; hurts to take a deep breath.  My shoulders hurt some, too, like the muscles are being pulled on by the tension in my chest and back.

Could this be the infamous MS hug, undiagnosed though I am?  It would seem strange to me that it could be from the old injury, since the pain started in the front up under my ribs.  The body can do strange things, though.

Anyone care to venture a guess or offer an opinion?

Kathy

PS  I missed you all while i couldn't get this dang laptop to work!

[Fluffysmom]

Hey there, girl!

Maybe someday someone will figure out what this "hug" type pain we both have really is.  Mine is still hanging on, but I still had a great time in New Mexico.

I've been doing pretty well.  No new sx for quite a while, only a few flares of the old.  It looks like I'll be seeing an MS specialist Aug. 11, and my sports and spine doc thinks that the "patchy" areas on my thoracic spine are not just artifact; he pointed out to me how it showed up on two views, and said that though he's not an MS specialist, there was defenitely something there that shouldn't be.

I see him tomorrow for a bi-level lumbar epidural to try  and calm down the radiculopathy that hurts from my low back down into my right foot; hurts to walk.  I'm looking forward to some relief, since I kind of flared that up more with all the wonderful walking I did in New Mexico.  Probably the riding in the car a fair amount didn't help that much, either.

My cat is so glad to see me, that he will hardly let me type!  He's been in my apartment, with my neighbor coming down and taking care of him.  I'm taking him back down to Linda's today.  We've been really comfortable there, it's like a quarter of a mile from my spine doc's, and she likes our company.  Fluffy gets to go outside on the deck, and loves watching the birds and lying in the sun.

Ooooh, one of our Sun Gold Tomatoes ripened while we were gone, and a bunch more are growing well in the sun.  My basil, lemon thyme, oregano, and sage are doing great, to.  I have a pasta salad recipe that uses cherry tomatoes (the Sun Golds are cherry), fresh basil, green onions, zucchini, and Italian Dressing.  It is so good and I am really looking forward to making it soon.  I'd better pack the cookbook with that recipe!

So, how have you been?  I haven't been on the forum much, what with being tired and travelling, but haven't seen a whole lot of you when I have been on.  I've been happy that I've been seeing more of you lately, and hope that means you're doing fairly well.

I think I'd better put Fluffy in his carrier and get out of town.

later,

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

I got plenty of sleep, enjoyed the birds singing and shady walks (with cold water in a bag) along the Rio Grande,  and the day before we left I got a picture of a panting coyote loping across the field in the foreground of the picture I posted.  

I ate great food, spent a little time in the pool, and basically had a great time.  I didn't take any extra pain meds, and still managed two day trips to Sante Fe.  The heat almost took me down the first day, and my tremors got so bad I could hardly stand, but I got cooled off and took it easy the rest of the day, and then was more careful the rest of the time.

I was surprised at how many steps I put on my pedometer; surprised and pleased.  Later I'll post some more pictures.  One evening I spent a half an hour trying to take a picture of the lightening; not possible with my camera!

Kathy

[wingnut19]

Hiya Kathy!

What you're describing sounds exactly like something I've had several times a year since about 2003 (ish)

I was told that it was costochondritis one time, and another time they said it was pleurisy....As you know, I, too, am undiagnosed still, but have recently wondered about that same thing.....

How else have you been doing?

HUGS!
Tammy

[wonko]

I've never experience anything like the hug, so I have no idea!

I just hope it is not interfering too much with your trip.  I saw the view you posted, looks nice!  I really hope you can manage your pain and still get out plenty.  Looks like a great opportunity to get some R&R!

[Fluffysmom]

Now, I don't know if it's the laptop, or my unsteady hands, but I just noticed the odd greeting above.  Sorry about that.

Does the MS hug originate in the brain or spine?  Can the pain you feel from nerve damage cause muscles to contract in sympathy, or do they not get the connection?

I'm just full of questions, and my last trip into the sun gave me a rash, so I think I'll stay in for a while, though the river beckons.

Kathy