HI Kristi, I think you need to talk to your doctor ASAP. I came in here looking for what I heard called MS hug, which I thought it was about hot flashes. I will pray for you right now. Talk to your doctor, Please! Karen

Karen, thanks for your concern, but it has already gone away. It happened about 5 or 6 times, lasting about 30 seconds to a minute each time. If it comes back, I will definitely call him, though.
Thanks again!
Kristi

Hi Kristi. Everyone has a different experience with different symptoms, but I think the easiest way to describe "the MS hug" is if I was the Little Sprout and the Jolly Green Giant came along and picked me up and squeezed me in his hand. Totally sucks. And I really hate that they call it a "hug". A hug is a nice thing. This symptom is not nice at all. Best of luck to you!

I agree that the MS hug is different for everyone. Harmony777 is too quick to call the doc immediately for every little symptom you experience with MS. Have been diagnosed for 9years and knew I had it for 6 previous and if I called someone or went to the ER with every little symptom I would just move in! My MS hug used to be around my thigh prior to diagnosis and with Copaxone it is around the upper gut, sometimes constant for a day or so with many days or weeks free of pain. What sets it off is stress, strife and also for no good reason. It comes, it goes, it is a part of who I am now I guess. I attribute it to IBS as it seems to occur with those symptoms as well, Docs have no idea and want to try every med they can put their hands on - me I think Copaxone is really enough, sometimes too much. I have a friend with RA who is on so many meds that when she gets a new ache or pain she has no idea whether it is med related or RA related. Her blood counts are horrendous, she is 50 going on 80 with an 11 year old. So try to stay as stress free as possible (yeah right) and good luck. May you be "hug" free for as long as possible.

i too have dealt with the ms hug.until recently i had it for year's.it would stop for a little than boom back again.i find if i eat very gassy food's that it aggrivates the symptom's.which are just like bobby j's.very uncomfortable.
it has been gone now for a few month's.

mamak,the symptom's you describe sound like gerd aka acid reflux. i have that awful with the symptom's mama feel's.they found out through a couple of test's.
i wish you load's of luck.diane

I was at the doctor's office two days ago because of this.I keep having tightness and stabbing pain that comes and goes.

They did a couple of tests and an EKG to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack or problems with organs. In my case they said said it could be the MS Hug, Anxiety or side effects of Copaxone.

Take your BP, make sure it is not too high and make sure you are drinking plenty of water .Hope you feel better.

Kristi, I am glad that it has gone away, but the next time you see your doctor mention this to him or her. The doctor should know all that going on with you, due to meds side effects and so worth. It is good to have a close patient and doctor relationship. This is crucial for your health, and it is not consider to be weak to bring up things that bother you, it is better to be safe than sorry. You will be the stronger physcialy and mentally to address issues concerning your health. One more thing something with a pain in your chest and not being able to breath is not something to be consider lightly. Take care and keep me posted.

Well, If a wrestler came along & said hello with a hug, it's like that.

So if we are talking about getting a hug from a wrestler...the "MS hug" is a great name for it cause that's what it feels like.

I found this website where you can design T-shirts of whatever kind you like & I actually made an MS hug one awhile back. It's a picture of a huge, scary looking knight guy reaching out to grab you & all up & down the shirt I put..."Quit hugging me MS, I'm trying to break up with you!" Hehe!

Take care,
Stay sane!

This is just my opinion but I don't think there's anthing funny about the "MS Hug" I've gotten it only a few times and lemme tell you, it felt like I was going to die. A while back I made a petition here to rename that particular symptom the "MS Crush". To me that better describes what it feels like. A hug feels good. Well, at least the ones I've ever gotten have. When all ur ribcage muscles contract at the same time and keep contracting for more than ten seconds it freakin hurts! and It becomes impossible to draw a breath. For me it is kind of horrifying. not funny in the least.

I agree, Freddie. MS Crush would be much more appropriate. Hugs to you (the nice kind).

have any of you had plurisy? dose it feel like that at all. I've had plurisy and costocondritis and now this wierd crushing chest pain. I've been to the ER for all three and for what i belive is the MS hug they told me it was "either musclarskelatal or anxety"

but it felt different than the plurisy but similar. am i making any sense?

Awww thank you Chi-Town Girl XOXOXO...... Oh! lemme not get too friendly, u might be twelve :-)

My feeling on the matter is I don't have a "Crush" on MS in the least...But MS sure has a "Crush on me! Hehe!

Hey, If you don't keep your sense of humor & spirit through all this crap all that happens is you become a bitter old crone & that stress doesn't help the situation much, if at all. Just my opinion.

But sure, there are times having MS sucks more than usual symptom wise, BUT you gotta keep your spirit & don't forget who you truly are & not let MS take you down. You gotta try & rise above as much as is possible. Sure, some days are less possible then others symptom wise, but never loose yourself & your spirit...Never forget yourself.

That's how I feel about it!

Take care,
Stay sane!

rayfoof yes it dose feel like pleurisy only in both sides at the same time.I have had both, it is similar.

Rayfoof...I must agree with you TOTALLY!! I've posted on this same topic many times over the past couple of years, bc I've been so confused between the 3 conditions .....Pleurisy (inflammation of the Pleura surrounding the lungs), MS Hug, & Costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage attaching the ribs to the sternum)!

I was Dx with Pleurisy (confirmed with X-rays) 4 years ago...then got it again about 6 months later. It was so difficult to breathe that I missed several days of work (1st incident was worse)...as I couldn't even hardly move! Then...about a year later...I thought I had it again (although, it felt somewhat different)...only it wasn't as severe...so, I refrained from going to the Dr. & was hoping that I could fight it on my own...& it did go away...about 6 weeks later (Pleurisy usually requires antibiotics/steroids &/or anti-inflammatory meds).

I continued to get this same "severe/crushing chest pain" over the next few years...along with the sensation that "something" was squeezing my chest area/rib cage...& other times, more like a tons of bricks sitting on my chest. However, my last 2 "severe" incidents (as I'm not counting my mild case of it now) that I experienced were very excruciating & frightening! The "severe" case in the summer of 2009 sent me running to my Rheumy. She did X-rays, & assured me that it was NOT Pleurisy...gave me Prednisone & antibiotics anyways...only it did NOTHING for it!! I simply had to wait it out...for several months. This incident gave me horrible PAIN in my "right-side" chest & back area...along with severe nausea & sudden loss of appetite (lost more weight again)!

Then, this past summer of 2010 (May-June)...I experienced this again...only it was in the MIDDLE of my chest...associated, once again...with SEVERE PAIN, Nausea, & loss of appetite...in addition to extreme dizziness & numbness of arms! My brother rushed me to the ER next morning...after having been up SICK all night! ER at hospital thought I was having a heart attack as well...rushed me right in! EKG, blood work, X-rays...ALL confirmed that it was NOT Pleurisy...OR cardiac arrest. Sent me home with a Rx for anxiety (my Zanaflex worked better!)...& suggested I see another Neuro, after hearing my health history...only I couldn't afford one & had NO health insurance.

I've been researching this for 4 years now...as I've been Dx with Fibromyalgia...but NOT MS! I've also had tons of other diseases ruled out...Lupus, SjS, Wegener's, Parkinson's, etc... Left ONLY with Dx of Fibro. However, Fibro patients don't complain of the "crushing/squeezing" feeling, severe nausea, or loss of appetite...when dealing with Costrochondritis...only SEVERE PAIN! So...whether or not I've been experiencing this MS HUG is questionable at this point...since I'm not Dx with MS. The only thing I DO know for certain...is that the last few "severe" cases have NOT been Pleurisy...confirmed by X-rays!

It's just that my symptoms seem to fit "MS Hug"...moreso than the Costochondritis...but IDK for sure!? I agree...it affects everyone differently. I also posted a link several years ago...(as I was freaking out & asking questions)...describing the MS Hug as excrutiatingly painful for some...while mild for others. Idk where that link is now?...would just have to research it.

I also have to agree with Antilyn...hard to know what's a REAL emergency...& what isn't anymore!! I finally realized that running to the ER for every "life-threatening" feeling...just yields more complaints & criticism from family members!!

If I ever DO have a heart attack...I guess I'll just DIE saying..."Darn you MS hug (or WHATEVER you are?)...go away!!!" Gee...what an epitaph THAT would be!!
"Here lies XXX...died from a Heart Attack...thinking he/she was
being "hugged" to death!"

Funny...but NOT so funny! Scary in fact!
~tj