I have seen no real practical advice when it comes to hugs. I hope you get some here. If not, try doing a seach on MS Hugs and see what responses people have previously left for posts of this topic.

Hi

Mine is permanent so here is what I know.

Heat makes it appear, chew ice or wear cooling vest

Relax, if you stress it gets worst.

Hang in there. xoxox

I don't get them, but when a friend gets them she gets steroids and they go away.
The MS specialist at the conference yesterday said they were caused by plagues on he spine midway.
Talk to your neuro. He/she should help.

BTW, reg docs are totally clueless to Hugs. I know of 3 people being admitted to the hospital to be checkd out for their heart only to be released w/out knowing it was the Hug and finding out their heart was fine. Everyone I know was treatd w/ steroids and it wkd. Dont know about permanent Hugs. Best of luck to you,

Interesting you would mention people going to the hospital thinking it was their heart, ezone. I went to the er a couple of years ago with what we thought was heart trouble. I couldn't move, the pain was so bad. The er doc said it was most likely an esophageal spasm. My neuro said it was most likely a form of the hug and due to MS. I don't get the traditional hug with banding and tightness like others. I get the sharp spasms inside, and tightness from inside, not the outside. It's not permanent and is brief when it comes on. Makes me feel like I can't breathe in or out very deeply.

Yeah, one of them that went to the hospital came home totally without knowing what it was and I reminded her about the HUG and apparently her primary care doc had no idea. Her neuro put her on steroids and it went away.

I also found out that the HUG can happen around the waist too, so anywhere on your torso. I am really grateful that I don't have it.

But I was reminded by that neurologist at the Conference this weekend that there are symptoms that we shouldn't ignore and it isn't always a HUG and it can be a heart problem and we should know what the heart problems are just to make sure.

But back to mixedupmelly, I wish I could help you more. I hope that you are feeling better soon.

Practice breathing with your chest cavity... then practice breathing with your abdomine. Two different muscle groups and when you get 'the hug' you have to make a conscious effort to do the OTHER one

I'd say I have this symptom semi-permanantly...as I get it at least twice a year...if not more. It always lasts for about 2-3 months. It is by far my most MISERABLE symptom!!

I agree with all of the suggestions here. Heat & stress makes it worse...& I had to learn to breathe through my diaphragm as well. I went to the ER once with this too...when it was in the middle of my chest (is usually in my right chest...but not always). Even the medical staff rushed me right in thinking it was a heart attack...as I was having arm numbness, dizziness, & severe nausea.

I'm not sure why...but everytime I get this...my appetite goes away & I deal with frequent nausea. I absolutely HATE it!! Sorry I don't have better advice...as I have been looking for better answers too. Muscle relaxers certainly don't make them go away...but they help some. Haven't found anything else that does though...other than the "all natural" pain killer...MariJane! ;)

The only other thing I know to say is... "hang in there for the rough ride"...until it subsides. Life will just be miserable until then...at least for those of us who experience severe pain with them.

Hey mixedup,

I'm sorry to hear that you're getting these...they really are so nasty. For me, I get the hug about 1-2 a month (some are worse than others) and unfortunately haven't found an exact way to get too too much relief. I usually take a clonazepam (klonopin), and always stay seated upright. For me, lying down makes it more bothersome.

I'm sorry that I'm not able to help you anymore...wishing you all the best.

Years before anyone even mentioned MS I had been to the DR/ER with chest pains, ribs feeling like they were bruised. One Dr wasn't sure what was going on, another actually asked if I had been checked for MS. Some said it was chondritis, in other words nobody knew.

Well now it all makes sense. I'm sorry your dealing with this, it really sucks!!! I take muscle relaxers, pain meds & deal with it the best I can.

Right now I'm dealing with something that feels like a hug but it's in my left shoulder blade, upper back & into my neck. It's not a stiff neck but I think it's to high to be a hug. I just love this disease, something new everyday.

I hope you feel better soon.
Hugs,
Tammy

I have had this so often...I don't wish it on anyone with MS but it seems like a common symptom. I have tried massage therapy and heat when it is really bad. I also have found stretching forward and taking a deep breath helps sometimes. Naproxyn is you can take it may help but talk with your doc about maybe trying Gabapentin. The band like feeling was one of my first sx and my Family doc thought I was nuts until he sent me to neuro MD! Look at how you are using your arms and see if the sx get worse after a lot of arm use-like hanging clothes or reaching over your head a lot. avoid prolonged things like that. strengthening our cores for all of us is actually a good thing so keeping the abdomen size under control can help too! don't know if these suggestions will help. I have used acupuncture as well but again ck with your doc. good luck

As I also have extremely high blood pressure and many risk factors for heart attack I was sent to a cardiologist when I was getting angina type pains in my chest constantly. All the tests came back negative. My heart was not the problem. I had read about MS hugs and asked my cardiologist about it , she dismissed me and said they are rare. How untrue this statement was. I described the pain to my neurologist when i saw him next and he said straight out it was a HUG. I am getting used to the dismissive attitude of doctors who do not specialize in MS. I was having it really bad over about a week. Every time I exerted myself or even walked a distance over 20 metres I had excruciating pain and pressure in my chest. I realise I was stressed and hot and just sat down until it subsided.It started straight back up again when i starting moving again. I didn't find any relief except stopping what i was doing and cooling down. Sometimes you have to 'ride the wave'. I find when it comes to pain meditation and distraction help me get my head i the right place so that what is ha0ppening to my body doesnt win. . At the moment I am not having any HUG symptoms, my legs are numb and dragging , and I am fatigued. I hope you get through this and it subsides so you can have some relief.

Hi
That's why I don't mind mine. It's always there and it varies in intensity.when it was coming and going it was worst. Last week my daughter had her first one,,,, oh boy, it lasted like three days,, she was not happy.

Alma