Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
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MS hug, my ass!!
What stupid fuck decided to call it an MS hug?
So this MS hug for me is not a nice gentle hug. In fact, it is almost like an electrical shock. It is right along my rib cage, under my breast. I say breast because it is mostly on the left side. My MS favors my left side. It does affect my right, but not to the degree it does my left.
I honestly am surprised my neighbors did not call the police. It hit and it hit hard. I was screaming to the top of my lungs. I could not control it. I scared poor Hannah to death. She is 4.
It only lasted 40 seconds, but it was a looooooong 40 seconds. When it hit I could not breath, I thought my lungs was going to collapse, I did manage to get one breath in during that 40 second time frame and it hurt like hell.
If you are reading this and never experienced it, then I cannot truly explain it to you. The best I could describe it is that it is like someone is using a taser on you.
If anyone deals with this and has any suggestions as to what to do about it, please enlighten me. I am open to any and all suggestions.
I know this is supposedly from muscle spasms, but man it does not feel like that.
I am now exhausted. Still sore but not in the excruciating pain way. It has settled into a really tight, uncomfortable bear hug.
Once I was finally able to breath and the pain subsided to the point I was not screaming, I called Hannah into the room, hugged her, and told her I was ok, mommy was just hurting.
She put her little hand up to my face and said, Mommy, you should call the doctor, he will help you.
Oh, honey, if only my doctor could help me. But I did not tell her that, I simply reassured her that I was going to be ok and that I loved her. And then I hugged her tight.
Yes, this MS hug is for the birds, but the hug from Hannah makes it so much more bearable.
What stupid fuck decided to call it an MS hug?
So this MS hug for me is not a nice gentle hug. In fact, it is almost like an electrical shock. It is right along my rib cage, under my breast. I say breast because it is mostly on the left side. My MS favors my left side. It does affect my right, but not to the degree it does my left.
I honestly am surprised my neighbors did not call the police. It hit and it hit hard. I was screaming to the top of my lungs. I could not control it. I scared poor Hannah to death. She is 4.
It only lasted 40 seconds, but it was a looooooong 40 seconds. When it hit I could not breath, I thought my lungs was going to collapse, I did manage to get one breath in during that 40 second time frame and it hurt like hell.
If you are reading this and never experienced it, then I cannot truly explain it to you. The best I could describe it is that it is like someone is using a taser on you.
If anyone deals with this and has any suggestions as to what to do about it, please enlighten me. I am open to any and all suggestions.
I know this is supposedly from muscle spasms, but man it does not feel like that.
I am now exhausted. Still sore but not in the excruciating pain way. It has settled into a really tight, uncomfortable bear hug.
Once I was finally able to breath and the pain subsided to the point I was not screaming, I called Hannah into the room, hugged her, and told her I was ok, mommy was just hurting.
She put her little hand up to my face and said, Mommy, you should call the doctor, he will help you.
Oh, honey, if only my doctor could help me. But I did not tell her that, I simply reassured her that I was going to be ok and that I loved her. And then I hugged her tight.
Yes, this MS hug is for the birds, but the hug from Hannah makes it so much more bearable.
I have had that take away your breath, excruciating pain inside my chest. The worst time was when I was awakened by it at four am. I couldn't move, breathe, talk. I laid there for what seemed like forever trying to decide if I should wake my husband. After just a minute I reached my hand over and shook him without moving my body. I could barely get any words out.
He took me to the er, and after being there for just 20 minutes, the pain left as abruptly as it had came. They did all the tests and told me my heart was fine. I asked if it could have been pericarditis, which I had had in January 2008, shortly before my MS dx. The er dr said it wasn't that, but it could have been my MS, or an esophageal spasm. When I asked my neuro about it, he said that for someone with MS, any muscle spasm can be linked to your MS. He said it was most likely a nasty form of the hug.
I have had small bouts of it since, but mostly my hugs are feeling constricted, not being able to breathe deep enough. When the sharpness happens, I just have to sit still and try to breathe through it. I know what you mean about it being a loooong 40 seconds.
I hope this isn't going to be a regular thing for you /:
Non-Ms hugs to you:)
I've had it before too and it hurt's like all hell! Plus very very uncomfortable!
Maybe your getting a flare up?
Ur daughter is so sweet and right.
Maybe time to see ur doc again. At least that's what I'd do.
Some round of steroids should make all that go away , if u can take the steroids.
i'm no doc , just is my opinion.
I do hope it goes away as fast as it came !
Much love ur way!
Always Silky ~
Since I'm heat intolerant, it gets worst when I'm hot or have a fever, which is weekly. As impossible as this sounds, relaxing makes it go away faster, or at least hurt less.
Alma
I guess my question is, is the electric shock feeling the MS hug. It does scare you thinking it is a heart issue. When I mentioned it to my neuro he had my MRI scan expanded to check my spine but didn't see anything there. I don't have any suggestions, but would love it if someone on the site does because it is not a pleasant feeling. You are blessed to have such a special and caring daughter.
As of now, it just feels tight around there... almost like an elephant is on my chest. And yes, I sometimes wonder how I will know if I have a heart attack.
I think we all have that issue, something could be wrong and we ignore it, blaming it on the MS.
I was in the hospital once, was up walking around and saw a poster for signs of a stroke. It was comical, I have these signs everyday.
Numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body.
Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Severe headache with no known cause.
Love, Alma
The two times I've had this were bad, but noting like what you have described.
I pray you don't have to deal with this again.
I have been having these regularly & they do take your breath away. I couldn't scream if I tried as can't make any noise or move & they tend to hang around for a few days or more.
Dr's do not have any answers except to breathe shallow when I have that & try & sit/stand straight to relieve some of the pressure. It's awful when it happens at night too for sure.
I have never bothered to go to er for it, I have told the pain Dr as well & he increased my pain tablets to try to control it. Has helped but not stopped them just decreases their length. Neurologist said it is another form of the neuropathic pains.
Sending you gentle hugs