"The Hug" and searching the forum

[NCStargazer]

Hello all,

I tried searching the forum for clues to the MS Hug but I couldn't get it to return anything, so I apologize for asking if there are previous post with good information.

I have been to the hospital twice in the last year with intense chest and upper stomach pain. Each time they could not find a cause.

(I have been to the PCP two other times, with no cause found) and boy did they search (blood work, ultrasound etc...)

What did help each time was an IV of Nitro... But trust me there was no heart issue (I had the nuclear test, stress test, monitor for a month etc...) nothing found.

I am to the point now that I am a little skid-ish when I feel the familiar pain come on.

My inquiry is:

1. Does the Hug really produce this intense of pain?
2. It usually last for hours (or on and off for days) it leaves me sore (muscle wise) for days. Side, solar flexes and even the back sometimes.

I haven't been DX with MS, but I see a specialist in July, my PCP and two non-MS specialist neuros believe it is MS but don't want to make the call as my brain MRI looks good, with only a few spots on my spine. But fail the Babinski, Rhomberg and hand reflex test on the left side (plus various other issues with my eyes).

Anyway... I just have a difficult time believing this intense of a pain (hard to breathe even) can be the hug?

If so, I have a complete new respect for it (and those that deal with it), and hope it doesn't come back.

Any reason the Nitro (a muscle relaxer) would help if it is?

Thanks and sorry for the long post.

[Sequoia]

I did a search for "banding" and came up with these posts:

http://www.msworld.org/forum/search....archid=1280946

Some of them refer to oligoclonal bands, but others are about the MS Hug (also called banding).

I also searched for girdling, which is another term for the same phenomenon, but only came up with two posts.

[newme]

Hello Stargazer,
I am just coming off of a "hug" experience. I have had this several times in the past - including the first time I went to the doctor with MS issues.

I had numerous tests done at that time for spinal issues and for digestive issues. Nothing was found. At the time I did not have an MS DX but once I had it and explained everything to the neurologist he was certain that was what it was.

Sometimes (like the one I am coming off of) it is very painful. I can hardly breath and sneezing (I have allergies so this is a constant thing in my life) or yawning drive extreme pain. And don't even try to give me an actual hug!

For me, the extreme pain lasts a couple of days followed by a dull pain for a long time. The longest period of dull pain I had was over a year.

Extra strenght tylenol helps me some although I have heard people who say that baclofen helps them (it doesn't make a difference for me).

Hope you feel better soon.

[nthnjacob]

My very first recognizable symptom was the MS hug. I thought it was digestive related and even had tests done including a colonoscopy.

[mjan]

This was my worst symptom for years. I was given a less drowsy RX Methocarbamol that I would take along with 3 OTC Ibruprofin. AND I would wear a lumbar velcro wrap around and place it around my rib cage, even though it was for the lower back.

I sought chiropractic care for years which helped for awhile. BUT then my "mid back" pain continued even right after a treatment. And his treatments were gentle and very effective for years.

Now I am on RX Baclofen and Diclofenac which actually is for spasticity and Diclofenac is for spinal stenosis..my worst pain now.

Since being on Baclofen, reducing my stress a lot (I no longer work) I have not had the MS hug for over a year I think.

Best to you.. hope you get relief and soon!!

Warmly, Jan

[elsieblu]

the hug

Hi, i'm pretty new here and have an ongoing tightness in my mid section, basically full circle...feels like I'm wearing a corsett...I guess I thought that was the ms hug.

[Thinkimjob]

Buscopan, or whatever it is in the USA, worked for me. It's an over-the-counter stomach cramp reliever.

[labms]

What I experience and call the MS Hug is more like I am wearing my pants up too high or my bra is too low. Just a tightness for me but it helps me define MS related problems or just age. So sorry to here of the pain some experience I pray you can find relief in some way.

[renie50]

I think that is what Im experiencing now. Digestive disturbances, tightness around chest, pain across mid back, and no relief regardless of what I do. I found some useful info at about.com after googling ms hug. It helps to know that Im not alone, ER doctors look at me like Im nuts, and promise to educate themselves on it. My neuro says take neurontin.