Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

Never experienced that one yet. But if I did, I'd be thinking right off I was having a heart attack! I used to have a problem with pleurisy, and that would make my chest and back hurt bad when I was doing any kind of physical activity. Have you tried taking aspirin when it happens? That's what helped my problem, anyway.

I get the chest tightness and pain all the time. It affects my walking and sleep--even my heart, I believe.

I have been having this since June 06' we just recently after having a cardiac cath done and figured out that nothing was wrong with my heart....discovered that it was indeed the MS Hug.

Ms doc just started me on neurontin to see if that would help..

Hope this helps you...

Terri

Terri35, I've had an angiogram and numerous EKGs and the results were mixed for the most part.
MS can, in rare cases, affect the heart rhythm and breathing.

Yes. 2 1/2 yrs ago, before Dx & when trying to get hse ready for family from out-of-town, I had no idea then that I wasn't up to full-fledged house cleaning. Ended up being worked-in @ doc's ofc, student doc worked on me over two hrs, everything from my hips up was out of alignment, shoulders, neck, rib cage, you name it.

Have you seen a D.O. or a chiro? Maybe you need some manipulation.

IMO, even tho' we didn't know about the MS at the time, I think compensating for some of the restrictions MS was already bringing on led to physical stress & strain on my upper body.

One time since have I felt that particular complaint coming on - hauled butt to PCP [a D.O.] sure enough, she said I was slightly out of alignment.

This part I just remembered: student doc also found muscle cramps in one ass cheek. Mind you I wasn't complaining about anything below my belly, but it's unbelievable how bad it hurt when she found the knotted muscle by using accu-pressure.

She told me to soak in tub w/ Epsom salts when I got home, she said she'd released toxins w/ all the manipulation, & that I'd probably feel like I had the flu after all that.

Anyway, sorry so lengthy, hope some of that helps.

Thank you everyone for responding. I'm pretty certain that this is an MS thing. But like others, I initially feared I was having some heart or bad lung problem. From the small number of responses, Iguess it is not typical of MS tho. Thank you all, at least i'm not so freaked about it now.
-Jan

I have this tightness and spasticity especially in my upper back and if I don't stretch daily my back will not Hold me upright...I can feel the upper part of my body collapsing.
so I try to remember posture, and stretching.

I have this almost all the time. It makes doing regular daily activities difficult sometimes, but I usually just try to push through it. I am taking Oxycodone for nerve pain relief, and it seems to be a bit helpful for that as well sometimes. I find that light stretching can also be helpful, as well as standing under the warm shower for a bit.

yes, I do all the time. I have to see a physical therapist for my pain. They give neck and back rub, a heat massager taken to my neck and upper back. They show me how to do other stretching exercising for my pain and severe fatigue because my muscles are like concrete, that's the way they described it. I also have to do therapy on my legs because they're very weak, especially my right leg. They said I should get a cane to help me on days my balance and weakness is acting up, so I don't fall and heurt myself. I've been experencing the fatigue for 2 years just a couple of months ago when I was dx with MS it all made sense why it wouldn't go away most of the time.