What is the MS hug?

The Multiple Sclerosis Trust
The Multiple Sclerosis Trust
3,594
0
Published 2023-06-22
The MS hug is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis that can be hard to explain, and can be mistaken for other conditions. With the MS hug, you feel as if you have a tight band around your chest or ribs or pressure on one side of your torso. Some people find that it is painful to breathe.

Any pain in the chest needs checking by a doctor unless you are sure of the cause, for instance if you have already been diagnosed with the MS hug and the symptoms have not changed. The MS hug is not dangerous but any chest pain should be taken seriously just in case it needs immediate medical attention like heart or breathing problems.

In our series MS jargon buster videos, we are setting out to explain some of the MS terminology that you might have come across, and always wondered "what does it actually mean? In this video, consultant neurologist Kate Petheram explains what is the MS Hug?

For More info
mstrust.org.uk/a-z/ms-hug
All Comments (6)
  • @ALB6969
    I just had this this morning..ive had it twice it was terrible
  • @leaveittolefty
    ive had this for 3 yrs. have had every scan and test imaginable. gave up. live on heating pads.
  • @ArkhamInmate729
    My first symptom was the Hug. Only has happened once, have been living with other symptoms, tremors, pain, numbess, mood swings etc, and im so scared it'll surprise me one day, and its been 12 years. Worst pain i felt in my life was falling out of a tree at 11, fractured 3 toes and my elbow, then the Hug showed up, absolute worst pain so far.
  • @daltsav
    For acouple of years now i have this problem when i sit up or flex my rib muscles in any way it immediately goes into a painful spasm that i have to arch my torso back wards and squeeze really hard to get it to dissipate. The muscles contraction can be visible on either side of my solar plex. It only happens when i flex. Is this a description of the MS hug? Ive recently developed horrible virtigo, ill have it for a week or so and then it goes away only to come back a month or so later. I have pain that comes and goes too but ive not had an MS diagnosis.