The MS Hug: A Frightening Embrace You’d Rather Not Have
The MS hug can be caused by nerve damage or muscle spasms
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Sharon Hughes
I was diagnoses with MS at the age of 26 in 1984. I call the "MS hug" pain "girdle" pain and have been experiencing it off and on for almost 40 years. I recall describing it to my neurologist years ago as a "vice like girdle wrapped around my entire trunk area" and was relieved to hear that it was MS related and no longer worried about having a heart attack. I will go for several months without this symptom and then it happens daily for several days or weeks at a time. Practicing yoga helps with the pain. Tried medications years ago and they did not help me. I sympathize with anyone who experiences this symptom. It is painful and can be scary.
Ed Tobias
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for sharing that info. I'm glad that yoga is able to help but the uncertainty of when the hug will hit again must be unnerving.
Ed
Jean Delaney
I thought I was having a heart attack & the EMT's thought so to. Ambulance to the hospital. This was in July. I had not yet been diagnosed with MS; in fact no one was even suggesting it. I was diagnosed on Oct 31.
Ed Tobias
Hi Jean,
Interesting. Have you told your neurologist about your experience? If so, what did he or she have to say?
Ed
Jen
Ed, I get an intermittent pain, worse as the day wears on, down the left side of my rib cage. This has happened many times over the years and the bouts can last a few days to a few months. One time I was hospitalised for a suspected kidney infection but testing showed no infection and the doctors said it was probably MS. The next time I thought, I'm not getting fooled again -- and was diagnosed with a kidney infection, but only after three months of pain and nausea and losing 7kg. Another theory is constipation. It doesn't respond to analgesics. Does it sound like MS Hug at all?
Ed Tobias
Hi Jen,
It doesn't sound like the two or three times I've had the hug. Have you talked with your neurologist about it?
Ed
Jen
Actually, perhaps I haven't mentioned it to my new one ... a brighter, younger neuro who goes to all the meetings, who listens and respects my opinion and ideas (!)
Ill put it on the list. Thanks.
Ed Tobias
Jen,
That neuro sounds like a good one and definitely a resource you should take full advantage of.
Ed
Kit Minden
L-theanine strengthens nerves, also get bloodwork to check potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels and aim high for those.
Ed Tobias
Thanks for the suggestions, Kim. Have some of these helped ease or reduce the hug for you?
Ed
Tamsin
I was diagnosed in 2015. I've been having the MS hug quite often for about 3 or 4 years now. I spoke to my neurologist about the pains and she didn't tell me it was a symptom. I've spent 2 years with my GP who also didn't know what it was doing X-rays, etc. He thought it might be mini heart attacks. It certainly felt like them. The worst have always been brought on by anxiety and stress. I've been treating them by going to bed, taking anxiety meds and trying to deep breathe and focus on a podcast or an audio book. My physio therapist has been helpful too, she massages my diaphragm and it helps relieve the tension in all the muscles which are "frozen".
I found only found out this was the MS hug from reading an article on this website, so I am very grateful to you all.