MS hug question...

[fjwelden]

Hello everyone. I am hoping someone can answer this question for me.

I've been having symptoms that have been getting progressively worse since I came down with Rocky Mountain spotted fever in October of 2012. I had an MRI of my back done to show bulging discs just a month ago. I seen a very good spinal dr who believes that the symptoms I have are not coming from my spine and worries that it is MS. I've been having my left arm, leg, and the side of my head go numb throughout the day. It's now beginning on the right side as well. My vision isn't exactly messed up and I have an astigmatism anyways, but I have noticed a change in the last few months.

My question though is, has anyone experienced the MS hug around just the left side of the chest? I ask this because I have been having problems with chest pain for months as well and have had the all clear from a very good cardiologist. I'm not sure what to think when it starts happening. My shoulder and left side hurt in the back in the same spots usually but not all of the time. Can anyone tell me if this is possibly the classic MS hug?

[fjwelden]

I have also had countless chest X-rays and a chest ct scan that showed absolutely nothing. I've been tested for lyme and lupus as well.

[fjwelden]

Unfortunately, NSAIDS have done absolutely nothing for me. I took them for months as they thought my bulging discs and tears were what was causing my pain. After having an epirudal block put in my spine and having a bad reaction, I seen my spinal dr again about 3 weeks later who looked over my images and said he didn't think it was what was causing the symptoms of numbness and suggested I see a neurologist right away as he was concerned it was in fact MS instead.

My chiropractor who I used to see referred me to the neuro I will see in July because he also believed my symptoms were neurological as they were only progressing and getting worse.

The tremors, pain around the spine and in the chest are the worst right now, as well as the tightness that is around the left ribcage. It seems to stay constantly. I've tried NSAIDS, muscle relaxants, pain meds, and am now on Lyrica.

[Poppy7402]

Alex, what's you're thinking of is costochondritis I think?

[HVAC]

There is a condition where the connective tissue of the ribs gets inflamed. My ribs hurt all the time an its not MS its the connective tissue, MS usually comes and goes but not always.. MS is more nerve pain. It it is nerve pain they can give something like Neurotin if it is muscle spasms they can give you a muscle relaxer. If its the connective tissue they use NSAIDs. Whatever it is there is some relief. I get diaphragm spasms and take a muscle relaxer every day to keep them from happening.

Alex

[fjwelden]

I also experience esophageal spasms daily that have only gotten worse. I've been checked twice by endoscope. I have no ulcers, my esophagus isn't swollen... I was lucky enough to have spasms during the second scope and my gastroentologist said it wasn't normal, which I already knew. But everything else looks normal. I have IBS, so they believe, as I have problems with staying constipated despite taking meds to prevent it.

[fjwelden]

I see a neurologist in July but I'm trying to get in sooner. The tightness in the chest is there pretty much all day and does involve the whole left rib cage on most occasions. I do have shoulder pain and pain around my spine but was told by the spinal dr that there is really nothing there to be causing it. The numbness comes and goes throughout the day like the tightness does. It's really annoying. Thank you for the info and hopefully I'll have an answer to this soon.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

"The MS Hug is the name given to a “band-like” sensation that feels like a tight strap or girdle wrapped around the torso area. This sensation, which can be felt from as low as the waist to as high as the neck or jaw, is the result of the tiny muscles between the ribs – known as intercostal muscles – going into spasms. While small, these muscles are important because they help to keep the ribs in place, while also allowing for flexibility and movement.

The severity and sensation of the MS Hug may vary from person to person.  Some may describe a constricting sensation or intense pressure, whereas others may experience a tickling or tingling feeling, a sharp, dull, or burning pain. These sensations may be localized or spread throughout the torso area. Rarely, this sensation can become so severe that it may interfere with breathing and cause chest pains, similar to the feelings caused by a panic attack or a heart attack."
http://www.msfocus.org/article-details.aspx?articleID=381

I actually experience the Hug in only the left side of my rib cage (front and back) but its the entire left side that spasms, causing the intercostal muscles (between the ribs) to spasm and or lock down, which you can visibly see and feels like i'm being squeezed. In MS the Hug is associated with spinal cord lesions, but there are other condition that create a very similar feeling eg gastric intestinal issues, gallbladder, panic attacks, lung disease, heart etc etc.

You've described what you experience as "My shoulder and left side hurt in the back in the same spots usually but not all of the time." which doesn't particularly sound the same as how the MS Hug is typically described but i suggest you see your doctor about the cardiologists findings and the spinal specialists concerns that your sx's may be from MS.

Cheers..........JJ    

[fjwelden]

Should also mention I have had tremors, memory issues, anxiety attacks, and fatigue that has progressively gotten worse, especially over the last few months. The numbness has started happening even more frequently as well.