What to do for MS Hug pain?

[lusciousleaves]

I had tried the ice water 2x that day. I'm pretty sure it worked. And it worked within a minute or two. They're threatening to grab hold again today. If so, I'll get the third and confirmatory test in.

Karen, if this works, you're a genius and a hero.

[KarenR]

I had tried the ice water 2x that day. I'm pretty sure it worked. And it worked within a minute or two. They're threatening to grab hold again today. If so, I'll get the third and confirmatory test in.

Karen, if this works, you're a genius and a hero.

I truly hope it works for you!

I'm not one that likes to take medication. Knowing that, for me, chugging ice water immediately alleviates the hug is a real plus.

Keep us posted.

[lusciousleaves]

I truly hope it works for you!

I'm not one that likes to take medication. Knowing that, for me, chugging ice water immediately alleviates the hug is a real plus.

Keep us posted.

Me too!

I don't like taking meds either, especially the sedative kind. Between the migraine and this pain, I was on so much stuff it derailed my entire day. Had such big fun plans for the day too, not to mention it was gorgeous outside.

If something as simple as a glass of ice water can give me back control over my day, I'm all for it.

[Waydwnsouth1]

Headaches

Over the last 2 or 3 weeks I have been getting headaches. They are not throbbing, bedridden headaches just a nagging pain. Almost as if it is toying with me. Like "I can bring you to your knees if I wanted to" type of headache.

At my neuro appt last Weds. For only the first time he asked if I was having headaches. He proceeded to go down the list of other sx's. Not long after that and the clinical exam he sat me down and told me I have TM.

Are headaches a sx of spinal cord lesions? I have tried Google but have not found anything about it.

Does anyone else have these type of headaches?

Just when I thought I had a handle on MS it throws me a wicked curve ball.

[Boondocks]

Oh that nasty "hug" ouch!!!

This was also my first symptom....6 years before I was even Dxed and then the neuro said the pain I had was not part of the MS! The pain was so bad, it robbed my quality of life and many experiences I can never get back.

Mine was one sided, so the neuro didn't recognize it as the hug but it looked like a duck, quacked like a duck , sounded like a duck, so it was a DUCK! It was a rheumatologist that finally ended up figuring it out, gave me amytriptaline and sent me back to the neuro. The amytriptaline worked for a while and I got my life back.

Now I seem to just get it in flares....lasts a few days or weeks and goes away. It's not fun though! I'm having it now..it's been 4 days and I can't remember how I ever coped when it was all the time.

Mine is high...around sternum hight and it bands around my back and down my left arm. This time and the last few times I have also ended up with sciatic nerve pain as well! Hard to tolerate and the pain is about a 12 out 10. Glad there are folks like you who understand...but sorry too

Does anyone else get the arm and sciatic pain with the hug??

[newbie but goodie]

some hug...

MS hugs suck. I am struggling with mine pretty badly this week. My best response to the hug is to rip off my bra (not as exciting as it may sound), pop a couple gabapentin, and curl up with a hot pad. Of course, I can't get too hot or Ill start to trip over my feet and lose my eyesight (probably more exciting than the bra).

Sometimes I wish I had a magic "Go back to when I didn't have MS" pill. Most of the time I would just settle for taking a full breath or walking without doubling over bc of this so-called "hug".

[Shiela]

I've had the boa for 2 1/2 years.

Eventually got to a neuro who gave me neurontin (gabapentin). He had to keep readjusting the dose to make it work. It's up to 1800 mg a day now and that works except when I wake in the morning. It's always there then but not bad and as soon as I get up and start moving around it goes away.

He suggested I back off the neurontin to see what would happen after awhile and it came back that day. It was so bad I don't know how I survived before I got the neurontin. He told me it was from a lesion on my spine but no MRI has shown it yet.

I told him I was still having trouble with it most mornings He said he would make a referral for me to see a pain specialist, who he said might locate the nerve the pain is coming from and slice or cauterize it. He doesn't want to increase the neurontin any more given my body weight. I considered it but don't think the pain is bad enough right now to go through an operation. If it got worse, while on the neurontin, I would though.

So sorry you are going through this. Hope some of the suggestions here help.

[lindy30lou]

M.S. HUG QUESTION

Does the m.s. hug make you feel bloated?

[gardeningb]

Does the m.s. hug make you feel bloated?

I don't feel bloated per se. But I have not been able to flex my stomach muscles since the hug started. When the hug spasms in the front, especially if it is lower, I can see how it might feel like bloating, but I have not specifically had bloating. Maybe a med side effect?

[MizBarbie]

I read that the banding sensation is caused by spasticity of the tiny muscles of the ribcage.

If that's true, then Baclofen or Zanaflex may help (I say "may" because no treatment works for everyone, as many of us have learned over the years).

[thewildrose]

Valerian Root Tincture

I did valerian root tincture for a bad case of HUG - 1 tsp (which is a heavy dose) about every 3-4 hrs till it subsided. My tincture was homemade and had lemon balm in it also (another nervine). I took about 10 drops twice per day for another four days. Beware, valerian root will likely make you sleepy but seriously helped me - worst of it over in three days.

[mjan]

Over the last 2 or 3 weeks I have been getting headaches. They are not throbbing, bedridden headaches just a nagging pain. Almost as if it is toying with me. Like "I can bring you to your knees if I wanted to" type of headache.

At my neuro appt last Weds. For only the first time he asked if I was having headaches. He proceeded to go down the list of other sx's. Not long after that and the clinical exam he sat me down and told me I have TM.

Are headaches a sx of spinal cord lesions? I have tried Google but have not found anything about it.

Does anyone else have these type of headaches?

Just when I thought I had a handle on MS it throws me a wicked curve ball.

Just thought you may want to post this separately in a thread for others to help you. Hope you find relief and answers soon~ Jan

[JudySz]

I will try the ice water. Mine feel like I have a broken rib and doc keeps increasing neurontin. Alleve used to help, now I take pain pills that I got when I had some teeth pulled. That is all that helps, but doc will not prescribe vicoden cause "it does not help with that kind of pain" Well, It helps me when I am really bad.

JudySz

[marti]

I'm not sure if this fits here, but I was wondering if those of you who get "the hug" are also bothered by car seat belts. I'm small and thin and the seat belts hurt my chest. I know... you have to use them (and I do) but I wondered if there is a way of padding them.

[lusciousleaves]

I will try the ice water. Mine feel like I have a broken rib and doc keeps increasing neurontin. Alleve used to help, now I take pain pills that I got when I had some teeth pulled. That is all that helps, but doc will not prescribe vicoden cause "it does not help with that kind of pain" Well, It helps me when I am really bad.

JudySz

JudySz, do you happen to know if your lesions are c-spine or t-spine? It might make a difference in whether or not the ice water works. It's cheap to try in any case. I know the medical community thinks this "ms hug" thing is sensory, which makes me think mine isn't that. Mine is definitely a muscle spasm and responds to baclofen, in higher doses. It takes the edge off, but doesn't get rid of them completely.