MS "hugs": Have you experienced them?

Hello everyone,

How are you today?

I thought I'd open this discussion to talk about an MS symptom that many people have a hard time describing: the MS hug. MS hugs vary from patient to patient, but it generally describes an uncomfortable feeling of tightness or pressure around the chest and torso. 

To learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for MS hugs, feel free to take a look at our latest article here: MS Hugs: What are they and how to live with them?

Have you experienced an MS hug? What did it feel like to you? How do you manage them?
@bawannajim‍ @AaronMc‍ @Adene66‍ @LLYDDON‍ @Teddylynnprince‍ @Lorimarie65‍ @Shequit2020BBFLY20‍ @LouKing‍ @Cembre21‍ @RachelRay‍ @Wellsville_mom‍ @richjh‍ @EROC2113‍ @Ricky188q‍ @Jimdifo‍ @Mastercamp‍ @Bettypic‍ 

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences here!

Take care,
Courtney

@Courtney_J I just got a chance to read the article, thank you for sharing! I hadn't heard of the term before, but I've definitely experienced the sensation. The "boots" feeling too. Next time I have a "hug" I'll give the tight clothing a try. 

Has anyone else had this? Did any of the tips in the article help?

Hello, new here.

I have been xperiencing "MS Hugs" for the last 18 years and I've yet to find the "trigger". I've had them while sleeping, driving, basically at the most inopportune times. For me,  it feels like a boa constrictor wrapped tightly across my ribcage or an extremely painful bear hug. Luckily, the muscles release in about 10 minutes. I have tried EVERYTHING imaginable to relieve them when they come on due to the horrendous pain and extreme difficulty catching my breath. What usually works is to apply pressure similarly to when you get a Charlie horse. If it's possible, I'll have someone wrap their arms around me to force the muscles to release. If I'm alone, I've resorted to very desperate measures that most would find questionable. But, if you've experienced these cruelly named "MS Hugs", you'll do just about anything to make them go away. I've had no luck with Baclofen or Zanaflex and Neurologist is now looking into Botox.... fingers crossed. 

I hope for a better outcome for you because it's the worst 😞.