Does this sound like the "HUG" ?

[chooky01]

Hi ya'all... again, just me being a bit of a pest asking another question lol

Firstly.. have had my MRI, am waiting on results..as yer do, that was this Wednesday.
Went to work Wednesday afternoon and experienced constant foot buzzing, and pins n needles in my face on left side.. I put it down to being over worked because we were short staffed, but I was not stressed or anything because we are often short staffed.

Thursday, I woke up with excruciating pain on the left side of my lower ribs and abdomen, which went around to my back, but didn't cross over to the other side.
Thought at one stage I was having a heart attack, but it did not go down my arm or into my shoulder, and basically was lower than my chest. Was excruciating to breathe deeply, had to take short breaths. It felt like someone squeezing when I stand, or when I sit, lay down, is like someone sitting on my mid section..if that makes sense?
This lasted still into the afternoon. (I start work at 2pm)

It wouldnt go away, so I went to my GP. He noted down everything that has happened, took blood pressure, normal as per usual, sent me for blood work, and said he didn't think it was my heart..though to be sure, I haveto see a specialist to rule it out.

He also called my neuro but she was on rounds at the hospital where she worked, her nurse said fax everything to her, so he did... oh and he said no I am not a nutter, something is going on and we haveto get to the bottom of it.. I knew there was a reason I liked my GP lol

Today (Friday) it is still lingering, though less intense and more around the abdomen and goes around to my back.
The thing is you could draw a line down the middle of my body and it does not cross it, my right side is fine.

I am well enough to go to work but it feels like it might get worse again...or threatening to.. it does wrap around my left side, is not just one spot... oh and it feels a little burn-ie if that makes sense.

I seriously can't wait to see my neurologist! Cannot come quick enough, but have no appointment yet :(

Does this sound like the hug, and if so, how long does a hug last?

Chooky.

[supermum_ms]

Hey Chooky,

Typically the 'MS Hug' is described as a tight banding or constricted feeling that fully or partially surrounds your torso. It's more common around the rib cage because the intercostal muscles spasm and contract, creating the tight bra strap too tight feeling but the MS Hug is caused by spinal cord lesions, so the banding can happen below the rib cage as well.

Burning is 1 of the signs of nerve involvement, with the Hug the banding is often attention getting, weird and often as painful as childbirth contractions without the baby part lol but it can still cause sensation like pins and needles, numbness, odd skin sensation (like you've ripped off a sticky bandaide), burning or wet...  

What you've described is lose enough for the hug to be 1 of the possibilities but until your dx with MS, it's still really a maybe, may be not the 'MS Hug' situation because there are other explanations too, not many but still others to be considered.

Unfortunately, there is not a time frame to give, like most things it could be days, weeks, months if it's nerve related, it's another how long is a piece of string answer...laying down often helps takes the pressure off your spine because your no longer standing and using the same muscles to stay upright, doesn't take it away per say but more like reduces the pain, swapping over hot and cold packs others have mentioned works to some degree.

Hope that helps...JJ  

    

[chooky01]

Hi JJ

Yes, thank you for your insight, and I am glad to say,  after two days of this, and many heat /cold packs, it has finally decided to settle down..

I did go to work yesterday, was still very painful,  but I had to get my partner to come collect me after 20mins.. my boss was very sympathetic.

Laying on my back at home seemed to bring a little relief, and the heat /cold packs also.

I get this every soo often, it comes then goes, then I dont get it for another few weeks. I have mentioned it to my neuro before, but because when I first got it, it was in my rib area only, she was not sure what it was.

I thought it might be Costochondritis, but there is no pain when pressing on my ribs

This last shot of whatever it was seemed to go right around my waist, to the abdomen, back, and stopped just under my breast. Didnt feel it higher than my breast, and below my shoulder blade but above my butt.

I must say it was the first time it has ever lasted two whole days! And was more crushing than I have ever had it.

I thought it might be osteo also, but would think that would affect my whole ribcage, not half, and as far as I know, I don't have osteo.. have had my GP say "you don't have osteo, I have osteo patients, you don't have osteo"

I am soo glad for the relief today, is just a weee bit tight still but no pain thank god.

Thanks again JJ