MS Hug in MS #shorts

Usually a hug is warm and welcoming—but not so much with the “MS hug”. The MS hug affects about one in four people with MS, and typically is described as a band-like feeling or a feeling of pressure around the chest and upper abdomen. Episodes can last anywhere from just a few seconds to several minutes.  Other symptoms may include:  - Crawling sensations under the skin  - Difficulty breathing  - Dull, sharp, or stabbing pain  - Feeling of burning hot or cold  - Numbness around the chest  - Tickling or “pins and needles”  Have you ever experienced the MS hug? If so, be sure to follow along for part two where I will breakdown how to both prevent and treat the MS hug. Stay tuned!

Many times. I even went to the ER a couple of times because felt exactly like some of the warning signs for women for a heart attack.

I get this horrible sensation when I am standing or walking. The pain can be excruciating and totally drains me. Breathing feels restricted and my left side hurts terribly. Recently I am experiencing a crawling tingling sensation in my left shoulder and upper chest. These symptoms can last hours at times.

Today I had my first hug while driving. Scared the s*** out of me. My hugs usually only last 5-30 minutes, but I know calm helps me. Driving is not calm. Had to pull over in a parking lot and just wait it out.

One of my last relapses I experienced the MS Hug. Along losing the use of the dominant arm. I honestly went to bed thinking that I wouldn’t wake up. It was so tight and hard to breathe from nothing. I was reassured that I wouldn’t die but it was one of the worst MS fk ups I’ve experienced. The hug and many other symptoms lasted for well over a month and took months to recover fully.

Just had one. Ouch! I have not been diagnosed yet.

Sometimes they last weeks or even months

Yes I have.. I've had the MS hug around my ribs, to bring back memories from a little girl where maybe my friends or family were horse playing and someone comes and put their arms around me to pick me up as they are squeezing me tightly around my chest.. crazy..

It feels like i think a heart attack would feel like. Starts in one spot on chest or back and then spreads to encompass entire chest and upper back sometimes into neck. Can be excruciating and then it dissipates. The shortest time is one minute to as long as 25 min. I hate them. Why do we have to put up with this when we have so many other problems 😢

Have experienced this before

I get on my back especially lower back. I don’t call it an MS hug because it’s excruciating!! I call it bear crushing my back. I don’t get it in the front .

I'm a paraplegic with a spinal cord injury and experience this exact symptom. Like a snake or a vice is squeezing the life out of me. Takes my breathe away. Can people with spinal cord injuries experience the MS hug?

I get pain on my left side from hip to shoulder and it squeezes and hurts. Doesn’t last long thank goodness

I've had this more times than I can count. I am very interested to know how to prevent and treat it because it's an awful experience. The ms nurses were no help at all or the neurologist. I follow a very strict diet without which I think I would be either totally crippled or dead but it hasn't been enough to prevent the difficulties I experience which are wide and varied. Thanks so much for tackling this issue because it can feel like I am about to asphyxiate.

It's horrible feeling, and it also increases my anxiousness, often it can last a few minutes to a few hours, sometimes even off and on for days, which will come and go with intensity. Had a really bad one a few months ago, that I had to go for a walk around with blasting music because the pain was unbearable around my ribs. Often I've found taken CBG/CBD and rolling on a yoga ball has helped me. I don't get them often.

I call it baby elephant sit.