Multiple Sclerosis - Chest Pain - Costochondritis or MS Hug?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ส.ค. 2016
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Chest Pain - Costochondritis or MS Hug?
(VIDEO 11)
Since I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis a little of three years ago, I started to get this chest pain and its pretty damn painful, I can tell you!
After three Dr's visits I'm not really any closer to finding out what it is, however I know this.. the pain can be so horrific it can impede my ability to think and function clearly.
Some of the symptoms relate to a condition called "costochondritis" but they don't completely fit the bill, for example the pain doesn't increase when pressure is applied to the area.
I think I'm experiencing the "MS HUG" which is all too familiar to those who have MS. My theory is, due numbness and the incorrect delivery of signals (via nerves) the muscles aren't working properly in my chest and hence causing pain.
Obviously, its very important to get any kind of chest pain checked out by your Doctor, as it could be life threatening!
Can you relate to my video? Please leave me a comment.
Early Symptoms started 2007:
1. Numbness.
2. Burning.
3. Tingling, humming, buzzing.
4. Skin sensitivity or Altered Sensation.
5. Squeezing sensation especially in the Legs.
All of the above across my Feet, Legs, Hands, Tummy and Back.
New Symptoms starting Feb 2012 (Major attack)
1. Weakness.
2. Spasticity.
3. Abnormal Gait (walking as if drunk).
4. Extreme lower back weakness.
5. Severe Chest Pain.
6. Anxiety.
7. Tremors.
If you've enjoyed this video and you feel that if may help another person in some way, please consider SHARING it on your social media - Thank you.
Don't forget to check out the other videos in my MS Vlog Playlist.
• (MS) My Life with Mult...
Hi Neil. Best regards to Molly. I enjoyed your thoughtful video riff. I'm a New Zealand physio working in the area of costochondritis. I don't think your sharp chest pain is directly because of MS or MS 'hug.' As soon as you get a diagnosis like MS, there is a tendency for everyone, doctors included, to attribute everything that goes wrong with you to that. You may have noticed! There's nothing says you can't have MS and also sprain your ankle, say - you still have a sprained ankle! I think it's the same with your chest pain.
You don't get sharp chest pain just because you've got MS. You've been checked out for the heart, and that's clear, and this is a good thing. The label for chest pain that isn't heart is costochondritis, and it is indeed pain and inflammation where the ribs hinge onto your breastbone. But the New Zealand view is that what causes it is that the other ends of the ribs where they join onto your backbone are jammed solid. (This doesn't show on X-ray because X-ray's a still photo and can't tell whether the joints can move or not. That's why your X-rays were 'clear.') You have to have rib movement to breathe, so if the hinges at the back of the ribs are stuck, then the more delicate hinges where the ribs join onto the breastbone have to do all the work themselves. So they strain, get irritated, then inflamed - and there's your costochondritis pain.
The way we fix it is just to free up the tight rib cage movement, especially the stuck rib joints around the back. I'd bet your MS is contributing to the tight movement by intercostal muscle spasm, but what will be actually causing the sharp pain around the front is the stuck rib hinges at the back. It's not a big deal to fix - just a matter of freeing up the machinery. The Backpod would be ideal for you as for ongoing mobilising to keep the rib machinery free, once it is.
I've put up a couple of TH-cam videos on the NZ view of all this, and how we fix it. We don't find it mysterious. The links are th-cam.com/video/uvJbQFDeyOk/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/r7ve6nNVdWc/w-d-xo.html I hope you find them useful. I'd recommend the massage and rib stretching in your case too - I could see how tight your upper back was when you turned your head. Hope that's all useful. Cheers, Steve august.
Hi Steve,
Thank you for you comment it's really appreciated.. I'll pass on your regards to Molly :)
For a long time I've thought the chest pain isn't MS related, because the pain feels muscular and not skin sensory. I know what you mean about it being so easy just to blame the MS for everything, but I always try my best to rule things out before hand. It was my MS Specialist at the hospital that said its classic MS, and because I've had lots of other tests which have all come back negative (which I am pleased about) I was beginning to come around to that way of thinking and perhaps it is the MS.
My Dr initially thought it was Costochondritis and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication which didn't really do anything.
What I can't understand is, from what I've read about the symptoms of Costochondritis it says "The pain is worse with movement, exertion and deep breathing" and "Pressure over the affected area also causes sharp pain" .. for me this is not the case. The quotes I've taken from a medical web site, but they all pretty much say the same to be honest. However "The pain is usually confined (localised) to a small area but it can spread (radiate) to a wider area" (this is definitely true) and "The pain tends to wax and wane, and can settle with a change of position and quiet, shallow breathing." (and so is this). Apart from the breathing.. breathing deeply or shallow has absolutely no effect what so ever. The pain can kick start with something as simple as lying in bed, quite often I awake in the morning and the pain is already at 4-5 (like this morning) when it gets to 7 I literally have to stop, because I can't even function. Oh, and fairly strong pain killers such as Codeine doesn't even take the edge off, THAT is how painful it is!
Interestingly, when the pain is very bad I would say my breathing is effected though.. it's hard to explain but it feels different, almost slightly laboured.
I totally understand what you're trying to say about the stuck rib hinge where they connect at the back, this is a really interesting and plausible theory. Thank you for taking the time to pass on this information, I'm going to spend some time watching the two links you've passed on. Yes, very useful indeed.
Regards - Neil.
Thanks Maggie 😊
@Steve NZ Physio. I so agree with you. I lost a dear friend last year. long term MSER she was suffering with terrible back pain always down to MS. I managed to finally get her to see private doctor. Sadly she had an inoperable tumor and we lost her last year. I do think doctors blame everything on MS.
Hi Neil - I get this too. I've had MS for nine years and about a month ago I started to get this MS hug. I had no idea what it was at first and actually went to the hospital because I thought chest pain was serious. However it was all due to my MS. It's crazy how painful this can get - I was literally living on painkillers for ages.
Good luck with it all - us MSers need to unite ;)
Hi Bryony, nice to hear from you.. :) Similar to you, I've been having MS symptoms since 2007 (just over 9 years) but have only been diagnosed since May 2013. The chest pain is a killer, I've had all sorts of tests all come back clear.. My MS Specialist recently told me it is "Classic MS" and I'm beginning to come around to that way of thinking now. The pain for me, when its really bad is a complete show stopper.. it never completely goes away.
Thanks, and good luck to you too - best regards - Neil.
I have had this pain for 2 years now but diagnosed with MS just this year.. yea it’s related and I have had many tests and no pain relief helps
I wanted to add as well that your calmness has really helped. I went into panic stations until I saw how well you were dealing with it.
Hey Sean, it's easy to go in panic.. I'm learning that although I have a lot of bad days, the good days do come and you just have to remain calm and patient. Try not to let the fear and anxiety set in, can be easier said than done.
Had my heart checked its all good they say but man the pain is brutal i can have a couple of beers and it eases up a lot but it will return the next day makes my anxiety bad and i have panic attacks.
Thanks for sharing pal I’ve had the hug not not nice keep fighting
very listenable and also you set out things very logically and with detail, thanks
Thank you Franc.
Your videos are so helpful and have truly helped me with descriptions to tell my doctor and how ms is so varied for everyone. Thank you!
Hello Hazel, that's lovely to hear and thank you for your kind words. It's really great to know they are helping you, if there's anything you'd like to chat about please feel free to pop back anytime. Take care - Neil.
Me too!! I've asked the MS specialist, and I described it to her. She said that it's not the MS hug and told me to see a heart doctor. He gave me a series of tests and told me that I'm perfectly fine.... lol.... So, I don't feel the pain all the time, but when I do, I could nearly pass out. Other times, it's very difficult to breath, tthe specialist told me to see a lung doctor. Nah...
The feeling is as if a giant hand grabs my chest in the center and slowly squeezes as tight as they possibly can.
The breathing issue is that I suddenly don't seem to be able to pull all the air into my lungs. Shall I call it waterboarding? Neither are a permanent issue, they come and go. I can't base it on ANY triggers. It just happens. I have RRMS, I think it started when I was 10, but it just simmered throughout my life. I was blessed, "cursed?" To have the time to have children and a career. I wasn't diagnosed in 1980, I was diagnosed in 2022. So for over 40 yrs I've been known as a lazy, attention seeking hypochondriac, and the internal dialog that I have is nasty..... I believe that mine is secondary MS by now, but I want to find a new specialist.
Hey there, good to hear from you. The chest pain you experience sounds almost exactly what I have, even to this very day. It never goes away, ever. Even as I type this message it’s there in background. Your description fits perfectly. Yes unfortunately once we’ve got the MS “label” most things are put down as that, even when it can quite easily something else. Gosh, you really have been dealing with this horrible illness for a long time, I’m sorry to hear this. For me, I’ve been robbed of everything, still my quality of life dwindles on almost a daily basis. I’m very tired of it all. Yes, I think finding a new specialist sounds like a good idea. Great to hear from you.
I am grateful for your Vlogs as I have MS,too, and I also have many of same symptoms & questions!
Thank you
Hey Sandra, thank you for your comment. Yes, lots of unanswered questions to this random disease. I hope you are managing your MS okay and that its under control. Take care and feel free to pop back with any questions you may have. Regards Neil.
Your very easily to listen to , and you explain things very well
That’s very kind of you to say so. Thank you. 👍
Hi Neil, I am sorry to hear that you are not doing too well lately. So far I have never heard of MS-related chest pain. Anyway, I like your videos because you are very analytical and nice to watch. Hope you have a a good time this sunday, lets keep in touch.
Hi Martin, and thanks.. to be honest I'm used to the chest pain, it is VERY painful but I know exactly what to do when it gets really bad in order to calm it down. I meant to also put in the video (but forgot doh) that pain killers such as Codeine which, is a medium to strong pain killer don't even touch it, doesn't even take the edge off.
I very much appreciate your kind words about my videos - thanks! :) I hope that you are also well and doing ok, and keeping in touch sounds like a good plan, please feel free to pop back anytime.
Have a great Sunday.. best regards - Neil.
Thank you for this information.
You’re so welcome, I hope the video helped. Take care.
Thanks Neil. This sounds EXACTLY like the symptom I have with MS. Sorry you have this too, but sort of nice to know I'm not alone. :)
Hey there, I know what you mean.. to know that somebody else is experiencing the same symptoms that you are is a kind of strange relief isn't it. In fact that is one of the reasons I do this channel, so that people can relate to what I'm going through on a daily basis and maybe have the "ah-ha" moment.
Thank you for you comment, and of course for watching the video. Plenty more where that one came from, if you have time you might like to check out my MS Vlog playlist. Link below.
Take care - Neil.
th-cam.com/play/PLKh4CtwH9cEUJcntnXWXyo-OtqnMccwWU.html
RRMS for me as well. I can’t believe you were actually experiencing an MS Hug while filming this video!
New subscriber here, I enjoyed your video :)
Hey there, thanks for your comment. This video is one of my older one's now I believe, a lot has happened since then. But yes, I still experience this chest pain to this day, even as I'm typing this reply to you. It never goes away. Thanks for subscribing, all the best to you.
Thank you for doing these videos I have not been diagnosed but share a lot of the same symptoms now I have something to go on to speak to my Doctor about.
Hello Mindy, you're more than welcome. I'm so glad to hear you've now got something to go on. There are lots of videos where I talk about other symptoms as well. Good luck with your diagnosis journey. Best to you - Neil.
Neil, I still have a lot of your videos to view. You are so real and honest about your life - genuine that"s it! I am going through the process of diagnosing - Dr seems to think I have MS. So, you are so helpful for me. It is like having to piece together what you thought were disparate health issues into one long story. Does that make sense? Thank you for helping me and others find their way. Diane, Austin, Texas
Hi Diane, and thank you for your lovely message. Yes, that makes complete sense to me. Nobody wants an MS diagnosis, but sometimes it can be the answer to all the unexplained symptoms over the years. I’m so pleased my videos are helping you in some way. Being able to relate to somebody else with similar issues is very comforting. So Diane, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Thank you for making this. Finally someone who understands and knows how to make others understand as well. New sub.
Hi Jayleen, thanks for your Sub 👍👍 Yes, I try my best to lend a listening ear and I can very often relate to symptoms others are having which, in turn helps them. I hope you are well.
Neil Bradley Hi, Neil. Thank u for replying. I am so glad to find your channel. How are you feeling today?
I was dx in August but it could be I've had MS for at least 15 years, the doc's didn't know what I had and I was always denied an MRI until I saw new docs this year. My health, well...I have good days and bad ones. The MS hug for me is just like you described, its gotten worse since 2015, I was initially dx with Costochondritis (after several emergency room visits thinking it was ♡ related) but now I know it was MS related all along. For me stress, humidity and dehydration play a nasty role too.
I also agree that many of us need the emotional support channels like this one offer, we are being educated as well as being shown that we are not alone. Thank you once again and Happy Thanksgiving.
Hi Jayleen, Happy thanks giving to you too. I’m not too bad today thank you for asking, in fact I’ve been “better” for a few weeks now but I keep having episodes where I feel I’m going downhill again. But then, I pick up.. it’s just crazy and really messes with my head.
I also was having symptoms a good five years prior to being diagnosed. I’m really pleased your finding some support in this channel and my videos. Look after yourself - Neil.
Thank you so much Neil. I have also severe chest pain, no heart/lung problems. Then they thought cotsochondritus/tietze, but nothing is swollen. A fysiotherapist gave me mindfullness excercisis, it had to do with my sensibilty for stimuli. It is true I am hsp like person, but man the pain is real as... Now I gonna make a mri scan in Germany next tuesday, to check my chest and upper spine. I have to pay myself for this. I hope something is coming out. It gives a lot of fatique as well. But I have no numbness. So otherwise I would have made a skull mri als well but cannot afford.
Thanks for the video. Experiencing a lot of similar stuff and dr has no clue. I understand the frustration.
Hi Joe, yes it's frustrating isn't it when the Dr's have no clue and we actually know more about the condition than they do. You might have to go in search for second opinion.
Hi Neil. Great video. I am going through the testing for MS right now because this chest tightness just doesn't go away, plus the other symptoms. I'm a bit scared, but thank you amd others like you for putting your experience out there. Feeling like someone else understands is oddly comforting in a time like this. Thanks again for sharing.
Hi there Ana, I’m glad my video has been comforting for you. This is precisely why I VLOG my journey because it really does make you feel better, knowing somebody else is going through the same thing. And yes, I do understand.. I still get the chest pain but fortunately it’s been much better recently. I wish you the best of luck with your quest for answers, obviously I don’t want it to be MS as I wouldn’t wish this soul destroying disease on anybody but, to have an answer to what you’ve been experiencing does help. Take care.
@@NeilBradleyMS thank you! You're very kind. I am also glad to hear your chest pain is better, as that's my main nuisance at the present moment... and it is crushing indeed. Thanks! 😊✌
Thank you for making such informative videos. Love your detail. MS hug is soooo painful!
Thank you so much Rebecca.. Yes, if it is the hug I'm experiencing it surely is although just recently it's been behaving itself.
Rebecca Chitham YES it is!
Hi Neil I love the way you end these videos with a cliffhanger about the next installment lol love your vlogs, I actually wonder with all these painfull things we get with Ms how the hell do we all make such a good job of covering it up cos id say 98% of people I know dont know im in pain even when im suffering quite bad, Also ive had that chest pain, luckily only about 4 times in the last 3 yrs, I was convinced I was having a heart attack on the 1st a stroke on the 2nd a pannic attack with the 3rd as ive also noticed I sometimes forget to breathe or I hold my breath and then realise what im doing, I dont know if that is Ms connected or just my weirdness but I was told by the ms nurse about this Hug, its so scary I got it at work once and had to be taken to hospital cos I couldnt get a proper breath inwards and then pannic set in and I went abit hyper they did tests bloods and an ecg and all came back normal they kept me there for most of that day but it took a good 8 hours to pass, I dread ever getting it again its so scary, im having memory problems at the moment, just stupid things that really get on my nerves because I can feel myself forgetting as im actually talking about it and the worst thing although I have howled with laughter at this was I forgot what i was saying once to a specialist so asked him were I was upto and he didnt know either he was so embarrassed and I couldnt stop laughing my poor mum thought something was wrong cos I came out with tears down my face, I couldnt even speak I dont think he had listened to anything id said I do admit I sometimes go arseways round something im trying to say and get lost during it anyway take care and speak soon luv Sue,,,, 5 cats
Hello Sue 5 Cats,
I know what you're saying about covering up the pain, I can be in absolutely agony but still try to remain normal looking. Because sometimes, this is what seems to be expected of you isn't it.
I think the MS Hug is so frightening that it can cause intense anxiety in and fear in people such as yourself in your experience, because you don't know what is happening to you. This can lead to other complications such as panic attack, which can leads to even more fearful events.
Thanks for this video. Just experienced some insane chest pain yesterday where I finally took myself to urgent care cause I was afraid my chest would get so tight I wouldn't be able to breath through the night. This was so spot on. I am going to start subscribing to you because I was so intrigued by what you said you were going to talk about next. I feel like you are reading my mind.
Hey Amber, I’m so sorry that your in pain with your chest. I made this video quite some time ago but I still suffer with the same mysterious chest pain even today. Thank you so much for your subscription, very much appreciated. There’s plenty of videos for you to watch. I hope you enjoy - Neil.
I did notice this was quite a bit ago but found it today when I realized maybe the person was MS hug. I think I will really enjoy listening to everything else you have to share. Thank you.
Thank you Amber.
Hi Neil, I watched a video or two of yours a couple of weeks ago, after discovering I have a symptom grouping. Got scan next month. I've just searched 'popping sternum' which has led me back to you. Seems yet another symptom is confirmed...
Thank you for your videos, it's helped me immensely so far.
Hey Sean,
I've also had the popping sternum effect but not for a very long time. I do remember stretching and the centre of my chest going "pop" .. The chest pain I get on the other hand is something very different, it radiates from the Sternum outwards down my ribs. It was fairly bad for a couple of days not long ago and it felt like I'd been wacked with a baseball bat. So pleased the videos are helping you out. Take care.
Regards - Neil.
Ohh, I also meant to add in my reply .. good luck with the scan and investigation.
Thank you for this video .. I was beginning to work myself up into another panic attack .. not having an answer for chest pain is so nerve wracking .. just sitting here wondering if I'm going to die and the doctors missed something becuase like you said, the pain gets unbearable at times but keep getting the whole "nothing is wrong" answer :( hope you're feeling better
Hey there Prima, and thank you for your message. This video is a few years old now and the pain in my chest fluctuates up and down (I still have the same pain), in fact I still have it now whilst typing this message out to you. For me the pain is muscular and even though he Dr's disagree with me I do feel it's related to my condition somehow, because it started around about the same time other symptoms. Obviously, any kind of pain in the chest should not be ignored, so I do hope you've been a got yourself checked out! You're right though, it is frustrating when clearly you're feeling pain but the Dr is telling you nothing is wrong .. why would you be there otherwise? I do hope this message finds you feeling much better. Take care.
Neal thanks for posting this...going though this badly at the moment..a the moment mine is about a 6..earlier today it was almost a 10..took my first infusion about an hour ago. Pray this works because that was not the only symptom of the ms to show up. Noticed this morning i was dragging my left heel..numbness and tingling in arms..this started 2 weeks ago when I feel for the first time. So now I'm experiencing issues with balance and weakness. You give me hope thank you!
Dear Deanna,
Thank you so much for your comment, I just happened to be at the PC and my wife mentioned a comment has just come through whilst she was on the iPad.
Your kind words a greatly appreciated.. I'm so very sorry to hear you are going through a really bad time at the moment, the chest pain is excruciating isn't it and certainly for me its life changing. I don't have numbness and tingling in the arms like yourself, but I quite often get burning/red hands. For me also, my balance is terrible and just lately its been getting so much worse.. this last few days I can hardly walk and I need a stick (or my wife) all of the time. My lower back has so much weakness, I believe the MS is effecting the lower core back muscles which support you when you walk. I'm in the process of being referred to Neuro Physio, I feel I really need some help. They should help strengthen my core muscles with exercises which would (hopefully) improve my balance and walking. Perhaps this is something you should consider also.
You mentioned your left heel, I can relate to that.. back in 2013 when I was diagnosed (my symptoms started in 2007 though) my right foot was also dropping, this did improve with a 3 x day steroid infusion though.
Not sure about you but I feel totally broken, even now as I'm sitting typing to you my back is painful and my left leg is burning so badly I'm just going to have to get up and walk around a bit. I get really fedup of it all, it's relentless!
I hope your infusion starts to kick in really soon for you and that it won't be long before you get a break from all of the symptoms.
Take care,
Neil.
Thanks Neal your words mean a lot to me right now.
No problem Deanna, take care now and keep in touch - Neil.
Neil my friend you posted this video 7 years ago and you are still out here helping so many of us out here with Ms. If you have an update or if anything has helped with your chest pain i would love to know I’ve been dealing with the same pain as you for coming up on a year and i don’t have a neurologist as of now so i would really appreciate your help
Hello there, thank you so much for your lovely and kind words. Yes whilst I don’t do many videos anymore, I still try to answer comments and help people that way as much as I can.
In answer to your question, unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for you. My chest pain, even as I type this message is sitting at about a 2 out of 10. However recent days it has been up at 7’s and 8’s. I’ve not even been able to eat my dinner properly, I have to apply gentle pressure to my chest with one hand (as the pain has been so bad and this eases it slightly) whilst eating one handed with the other. Not easy.
I have lost count the number of times I’ve mentioned this to the health professional, but I’m afraid I just get blank looks in return. I recall telling my neurologist about it, I suggested it could be the MS causing the pain, she just said no it can’t be, because it’s a different nerve. So what. If it’s a different nerve, it came on at pretty much the same time all my other problems did so I’m sticking to my theory. No offer of any kind of help though. So I’m afraid I’ve had to learn to live with.
Please do not give up in your quest to find answers for this pain though.
Prayers and blessings to you my friend.
Neil. 🙏🦋
I am so glad I found this video, I am having the same problems and recently switched from Rebif to Copaxone. I tolerated the Rebif for 13 years until it started effecting my liver and gallbladder. I stopped the Rebif until I was able to have the gallbladder out. Post removal of gallbladder and being of Rebif a year I felt amazing. I could not believe how great I felt. It made me realize that I wasn't feeling crappy for 13 years because of MS but was feeling horrible because of Rebif. That's when I decided not to go back on it. After a year off Rebif I was put on Copaxone, it's been about 3 months now and I am having a terrible time. I'm having severe panic attacks and also I'm having chest pain the days after my shot. At first I thought it was GERD but I take Nexium and this pain is different. It's like you said, it's usually like 4 on pain scale but other times it can be an 8. I decided I am done with these DMD and did my last shot yesterday, I am sick of being sick, made sicker from the meds. The anxiety has gotten so bad I am now taking Xanax on top of all the other MS drugs for symptoms. This disease is a nightmare and after living with for at least 17 years it hasn't gotten any easier. I am 54 years old and have been on permanent disability since 2009. The thought that it will only get worse is so horrifying. But I have decided to choose quality of life apposed to length. Thank you for the video's they help a lot.
Hi Susanna,
Welcome to my channel, and thank you for commenting.
Wow, really interesting to hear about your experience with Rebif.. isn't it amazing what these drugs do to our body's but we continue to take them because we're led to believe they help reduce relapses (which I''m sure they do) but what about those side effects? And how amazing was that when you eventually came off the drug you started to feel much better!!. I was only on Rebif for a short amount of time, I started to get ringing in the ears (Tinnitus) which I sometimes get with a cold. It's well known fact the Rebif makes you feel like you've got a cold. I then went on to Copaxone for almost two years, I've made a video about that one. If you not already, maybe you would like to check out my MS Vlog playlist.
Whilst I was on Copaxone, the only side effect I suffered was the dreadful injection site reactions, I'd get golf ball size swelling in my tummy, thighs.. stuck it out for two years because I was lead to believe "it would get better with time" for me, that was so not true. Packed it in, best thing I ever did.. but then I'm not relapsing because I'm moving into Secondary Progressive. It didn't cause the chest pain for me, I was experiencing this even before starting Copaxone. The chest pain you're experiencing could be a reaction to the drug, definitely mention it to your specialist especially if its happening on a regular basis.
Ooohh, just read some more of your post as I'm typing.. you've had your last shot of Copaxone.. hmm I can totally appreciate how tired of it all you are. I felt very much the same Susanna. When did you last have an attack (relapse)?
I'm super pleased you've been enjoying my videos, I started my channel doing videos about certain MS related topics, and I still do from time to time. But just lately I've been doing more about just little old me and how the MS effects me and my life at the moment, and what I'm going through. I also feel this is very good insight for people because they can relate.
Sorry for the long response.. I hope to hear from you again soon Susanna.
Kind Regards - Neil.
Neil Bradley
Hi Niel, I've only had about 4 relapses in 16 years. I have had only two Solumedrol treatments. Though I have minimal physical disability I have a "heavy load" of lesions which cause much fatigue. I also have many in spinal cord and struggle with bladder issues. I see my Neurologist in March and will talk about my options. When I was diagnosed there were only five modifying meds and Rebif was just approved. I did well on it except in the beginning (fever, chills, aches, flu like symptoms). After almost 13 years it started effecting my liver. Developed some cysts on liver and had to have gallbladder removed. For all those years I thought I felt crappy because of MS, so can imagine how I felt when I realized it was the meds. After this past month with this Copaxone episode I'm afraid to start anything else. I know my Neurologist will try to convince me to try something else but I think I want to see how I do for awhile before going back on a modifier. I did my last shot five days ago and the chest pain is now minimal. Probably wouldn't even notice it if I wasn't thinking about it. I had also developed white ulcer in my throats and mouth and they are almost gone as well. Thank you for listening and for the channel.
Hi Susanna,
I think we must be similar, my MS specialist thinks I'm having small relapses on and off on a regular basis, but I don't. I think these are flare-ups, because I know what my trend is.. I never get any new symptoms, just flare-up of existing symptoms. Sometimes Doctors just don't listen. So when you say you've had 4 relapses in 16 years, that's not a lot.. for me my onset of symptoms was 2007, followed by remission period until 2012 and another major attack which left me with tons of disability, and now as at the time of writing I'm having another pretty major attack where my symptoms have worsened considerably and refuse to calm down. So for me I think this is my 3rd relapse in 10 years, very similar to you.
Wow, so interesting to hear your comments about the meds causing you all of those issues to try and keep the MS at bay and then as soon as you came off them, you felt better!! Amazing isn't it. I would like to encourage you to check out my Copaxone video if you've not already seen it, its #7 in my MS Vlog. I also took Rebif but not for very long as I didn't like the side effects either, but wow hasn't it done a lot of damage to your body. So sorry.
I understand your concerns about taking another DMD, I was the same. I thought to myself, I'm not relapsing hardly at all, then I thought is that because I'm taking Copaxone or is it because I'm simply not relapsing?. I was having a hard time with injection site reactions so I made the decision to do my last injection on 31.12.2015 .. I was right, it was because I was not relapsing. For me I didn't think the Copaxone was having much of an effect apart from side effects!! and making my life miserable.
Good luck Susanna, I'm very interesting to know how you progress so stay in touch.
Take care - Neil.
Thank you so much for this. I have not been diagnosed with MS but the MRI I had recently very strongly points to MS. Within the past month or so I've had this exact kind of chest pain. it feels like I not only have a corset on me at all times, but also like a little elephant is sitting on top of my sternum area. It only continues to get worse. It's becoming really hard to eat even small amounts of food, but I'm trying. Videos like this give me a little bit of reassurance 🙂
Hi Hannah, thank you for your comment. I understand where you're coming with regard to the chest pain, and especially the little elephant.
For me, I don't feel I have a corset on BUT I do know what you mean. The tight feeling I think is what you're referring to, I have this in both thighs.. they are seriously being squeezed and it never lets up. My chest pain starts in my Sternum and it radiates outwards down both sides of my rib cage. It's a very strong and intense dull aching and it never actually completely goes away, only calms down. Even now I'm holding my chest with one arm applying slight pressure whilst reply to you one handed.
I often struggle to eat my dinner also, because using two hands is very difficult and painful, because I have to hold my chest (with my other arm) to help stop the pain just to eat. It's SO painful and I wish I could find a solution.
Lovely to hear from you.
Regards,
Neil.
Thanks for the reply! Hope the tighness and chest pain aren't giving you too much grief at the moment :( I was just diagnosed officially with MS a few days ago. I knew it was coming- I was mentally prepared for it because of my MRIs- but it doesn't stop me from feeling all kinds of emotions. I'll keep looking for videos like yours :) it does help.
Hi Hannah, not sure if it was the same for you but I was relieved when I got my diagnosis. It took over a year, but I'd been suffering all these weird symptoms for so long I wanted to know what was wrong. I pretty much worked it all out for myself anyways. Still comes as a shock though doesn't it and yes the all the different emotions. I remember feeling very surreal when being given the news, like everything was sort of slow motion. Very hard to describe really, but there you go. So pleased my videos have helped you in some way, I need to get around to doing some more but I don't have much free time at the moment. Take care - Neil.
I’ve been experiencing exactly this but with a clear mri and my doctor thus far has said it doesn’t sound like ms, that I don’t have ms. She has agreed to a second mri in six months. I’m terribly confused because this isn’t my only ms symptom according to Reddit users and TH-cam, but according to doctors…nope not ms.
Hi there, this is so frustrating for you.. I understand. I have many people write to me on my channel saying exactly the same thing, they have all the symptoms of MS but the doctors don’t think so. My advice would be to keep a log of symptoms, try and remember when they started. Date and time everything if you are able. Log new symptoms, how long they last, when they started etc etc. Keep doing this as long as you can. But also, Google MS.. write down all the main symptoms then then go through the list and highlight the one’s you are suffering from. Then present it to your Doctor. They may just re-evaluate things when the evidence is staring them in the face. Failing that unfortunately I think it will be time to get a Doctor that actually know what they are doing.
Could I also recommend Aaron Boster, on TH-cam, he’s fabulous and dedicated himself to people with MS. His Chanel is a wealth of information, he also holds live question and answers sessions and much more. You may have already heard of him, but if not please do a TH-cam search on him.
I wish you well - Neil.
I have the exact same thing and of course I ended up in the ER the first few times panicked. But heart is all clear just as you said.
Hey there, it’s very scary isn’t it! I’ve had this pain in my chest varying from excruciating to mild to since 2013 (even as I type this message, it never goes completely). I’ve mentioned it many times to the Dr’s but they just don’t know, so if don’t bring it up anymore. I’m putting it down to my condition.
I do hope you get some relief soon, and you start to feel better. Hopefully it will only be short lived and you will be back to normal in no time. Take care.
Hey i have Chest pains same as the one you describe and they dont know. I never been sick but now getting the MS symptoms so await my results. Thank your for your video
You’re welcome Victoria. I still get the chest pain, Dr’s can’t explain it. The pain has in fact calmed down a lot recently but it’s still there in back ground. It starts in my sternum and radiates down my ribs. It still flares up sometimes. I don’t think it’s the MS hug, because it’s not a squeezing sensation (like the hug) it’s more of a muscular deep dull intense (not sharp) pain if that makes sense. Pain killers do not touch it. Thank you so much for your message.
I just had my Eureka moment, because this is exactly what I am going through as my main symptom, and they had tried diagnosing it as costochondritis, but the medication the prescribed did notthing but make my stomach issues worse. So very frustrating, and so very painful. I lost my job because I just couldn't function any more.
Hi Gwenny, medication literally doesn’t touch the pain in my chest, at all. I’ve mentioned it to several Dr’s including my consultant. They just don’t know, the closest thing they say is the MS hug. But I’m not so sure. My theory is the MS is making the intercostal muscles which hold the sternum and ribs together, aren’t working sufficiently due to poor nerve signals caused by the MS (making it hurt so bad). The pain gets so bad, it cripples me and brings me to a complete halt. I’m so sorry to hear you lost your job because of this, but I really do get how the terrible pain can effect you.
Before my diagnosis, but after my first numbing symptoms, I thought I was having a kidney stone. They never found anything, so we assumed it was too small for detection. Now, more than a year later, I feel the same thing, but all the way around my torso. Turns out it was an MS hug all along. Thanks for the video!
Hi Dustin, thanks for sharing that.. the symptoms of MS certainly can manifest themselves in different ways. Glad you got to the bottom of things, and I hope you're managing ok.
Hey there Neil, hope all is well my friend
Hi Kevin, yeah all good thanks matey. How's things with you and the family?
I get horrendous pain in my chest too, but with mine they seem to sometimes come on with cold night air, other times its anytime, and if I can stretch my back doing like single hand press outs from the wall, I hear a crack and the pain goes away. That crack is always happen in the same place, where I broke my back years ago, so it maybe unrelated, but it has only happened since the other MS symptoms have showed up, in the past few years, while I broke my back over 20 years ago. I have to wait for the neurologist appointment which is 4 months with the free healthcare in New Zealand... but Its all good, your videos have me convinced I know whats going on :)
Hi Karen, Hmm interesting.. it does sound related to your back injury and the MS has somehow irritated the injury. After all, MS disrupts the flow of electricity shall we see.. the signals to the ligaments and muscles in our body. I have something similar whereby I had a disc decompression in my back, then a few months later it had to be done again! The area in my back gives me hurrendous lacerating pain, but what I can't understand is this is such a common operation.. I shouldn't be experiencing this sort of pain, is it the MS? Sometimes I'm of the opinion the Dr's simply just don't know, and we're left to try and figure it all out ourselves.
Four months is a long time to wait, I can totally appreciate the astronomical costs of health care though, I hope the time goes quickly and you manage to get yourself sorted out. Be lovely to hear back from you with an update at some point.
I'm really REALLY pleased my videos have helped in some way, I've had quite a few similar comments from various other people and it so encouraging.
Look after yourself - Neil.
Yeah, I will get back to you for sure, one of your videos I watched, one about your knee feeling like it would suddenly bend backwards, I never heard anyone talk about that before. But it happens to me several times a day for Twp weeks or two months, them goes away for maybe a year, very painful.
Another thing I get, is on waking, one of my knees will be locked in a bent position, can't straighten or bend it more, and it hurts like hell, then after what seems like hours, but is probably 2-10 minutes, the pain just disappears, that will happen every day for a period, then disappear for months or a year, oddly enough the stand knee bending backwards, and after sleeping knee locking up, don't happen at the same time, a couple of times both things might overlap by a few days or weeks.
I find that with many of the symptoms, its not like a cold, when you always get a snotty nose, temp, grumpy mood, tired, etc, all on sequence or together.
Do you get a range of symptoms, that are often different from the last flairup, ... If you understand what I mean?
Hey Karen - Oh yes the Knee buckling.. it doesn't happen too often to me now but it can certainly catch me off guard and I can literally go flying. The Sleep Knee doesn't sound like any fun at all.. I've never had this particular condition whereby its locked in to one position. It's hard to really say what this might be, it sounds like the two conditions could be linked in some way, but its strange how they come and they go isn't it. Almost like, relapsing remitting.. but I think its important not to assume and to remain objective.
In answer to your question, yes I totally get what you mean.. to be honest I've stopped having relapses and this is something I mentioned to my MS Specialist a few weeks ago. My symptoms just persist and I never get new symptoms, they don't go into remission anymore so they think I'm in a transitional phase to Secondary Progressive MS. Check out one of my later video #13 and I explain this in detail.
Take care - Neil.
Hi, I have had a pain such as you describe. I have been diagnosed with nutcracker esophagus. The pressure in my distal esophagus is high. I take a medication for it and haven't had another attack. As you said the pain is horrible. I had to have two test done to get diagnosed. The first they run the light down your throat, the second test is a monometry test which diagnosed me. Thank you for sharing your videos. They have not diagnosed me with ms but I have all the symptoms. My feet and legs kill me. When you said you felt like you were stepping on stones I could so identify, second when you said you had the electric shock, I think you described it as a sneeze anyway then your leg jerked. I could so identify. These jerks hit me really hard in my knees then up into my shoulders and neck, I feel like I'm being jerked around like a rag doll. Anyway thank you for sharing. God Bless
Hi Becky,
Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate you taking the time to come back to me with reference to the chest pain. I never heard of the condition you've been diagnosed with, and I'm going to do a bit of research on it.
Yes, the jerks certainly can catch you un-awares and as for the other symptoms you are experiencing all I can say is, well they are some of my primary symptoms and they certainly aren't nice. Although I've had to learn to cope with them I'm afraid. Hopefully you haven't got MS, because nobody likes hearing they've got an MS diagnosis, nevertheless that said it did come as a relief for me because it was the answer to all the strange and weird phenomena which had been presenting itself.
Are you in the process of getting all your painful legs symptoms checked out?
I hope you're managing it all ok Becky, and the pain isn't getting you down too much.
Take it easy,
Neil.
M.S Hugs are killer for me too. I wrapped myself in a heating blanket and laid on the couch and it seemed to help with the pain. as we all know heat is a killer for us, but if you do this in 5 min turns it might help you like it helped me. Thanks for you post ,oh and by the way I've hit many turning cues with treatment of M.S which I've had for going on year 19. So If you have a questions about anything that
have to do with M.S just ask me and I'll answer best I can. Blessed Be and Prays.
Hi Pat, thanks for the info and I’m pleased you found a solution to help you with the MS hug. I still get the chest pain, and I just manage it best I can. Take care.
I was wondering if I had the 'hug' but I dont even have diagnosis yet, so Im going to look up this other word to see if that might be it, thank you for the info!
I had a similar experience to you and diagnosed with costochondritis.
Hi Rosalind, that's what they thought I had.. I tried all sorts of anti-inflammatory drugs to help with the pain but nothing worked. I still have this pain to this day, in fact whilst writing this message it's about a 4 out of 10 and my day has barely started at 09:37 UK time. Science just doesn't have all the answers does it.
I had the same hospital visit a couple months ago. It happens sometimes, but doctors never actually find anything and just say it is inflammation.
I hope that you get it all figured out so you can share with everyone.
Hi Ana, Thank you for your comment.. yes the Dr's originally thought it was inflammation with me also and put me on a course of anti-inflammatory which didn't work. I've also had pretty much every test going to try and figure it out and they're still drawing a blank. So, this is why I'm now putting it down to the 'randomness' of MS.. in actual fact ms MS specialist said it "Classic MS" .. I talk about this in my latest video. Cheers - Neil.
Well I hope someone figures out how to help it. It is extremely painful.
+Ana Ayers Hello Ana, let's hope so.
Hi again Neil, I having been this pain, but not diagnosed with this word 🧐 but after my heart attack I’d panic at at all chest pain. I was told it was a muscular skeletal pain ..... just seems so strange I have another symptom for MS ..... a few weeks to go before my appt with a neurologist..... The pain you describe is so alike mine, dead centre which during a flare up radiates through to my back and yes dull ache that’s there but can get so painful it’s a panic 999 call, but I have angina also, so trying to decide which pain I have .... I’d be calling paramedics 24/7 lol xx
Hi Michelle, I think with you having a heart attack you just can’t be too careful. Chest pain of any description needs to be treated seriously, but I can see how you’re never quite sure what it is. The pain I describe is definitely Muscular Skeletal pain (in my opinion). When I lie down it tends to go off after a while. Certain things also bring it on like typing for example (use of two hands/arms). It’s a mystery which I’m just having to live with.
It sure is painful 😖. Again it’s like a spasm with the muscles around the heart, I’m wondering if GTN spray would help you, (even though that’s nasty stuff) (and if you have not already tried it) as it opens up small arteries around the heart allowing the muscles to relax ???
I’m not so sure it would Michelle, I don’t feel my chest pain is heart related. It’s something to do with the intercostal muscles connecting the ribs and sternum. Recently it’s not been causing me to much bother, but it’s always there in background and never completely goes if you know what I mean.
Neil Bradley
Ahhhh I see, yes makes perfect sense xx
@AJ HR - I can't seem to reply directly to your comment which says "Highlighted Comment".. when I try I just get an error in red saying "Unable to post".. so hopefully you will see this comment.. I'm' very interested to hear more about the chest pain you've been experiencing.. do you also have MS ? - Regards Neil.
Hi there, ok here goes..
Success!! Looks like you've sorted the problem, I can now reply ok - great! Exactly the same, center chest and pain meds don't touch it - such is life.
Hi Neil, I’m new here. I have PPMS and this week experienced chest pain. It’s literally breathtaking. If I had taken a fall this week I might have thought I had broken a rib. Deep inhaled are incredibly painful. I hope you will do a follow up video if you have any news to share.
(My daughter’s name is Molly.)
Hello there, this particular video is quite a few years old now. However, I can tell you this.. I still get the terrible chest pain which I talk about in this video. It’s not as frequent as it used to be, but it’s always there in the background, even as I type this message to you. It’s still undiagnosed, I don’t mention it anymore to the Doctors as it becomes tiring watching them glaze over as I look to them for answers.
You may find it useful to look up the symptoms of what is commonly known as the “MS HUG”. I’d be interested to know if you make any discoveries, this pain has plagued me now for ten years.
All the best - Neil.
Very sorry to hear you are having so much pain. I was DX in 2000. I have quite a bit of trouble with the MS Hug. Do you have any lesions on your Thoracic area? I have pain that mimics a bulging disc right where one of my lesions are. I find heat and ice on my spine give me some relief. Hope you find something that helps.
Hi Alleycat,
Thanks for that.. so you've been diagnosed for quite some time! I don't have any lesions in my brain, and yes, I have lesions in my Thoracic Spine which are responsible for all of my pain and disability. I too had a bulging disc, the hospital thought the disc was responsible for all of my symptoms. However once I'd had the surgery they soon realised it wasn't when none of my symptoms went away. In fact for some time after the surgery antagonised my pain, the burning in my legs brought me close to tears. Thanks for the tip about heat and ice on the spine, I have a great deal of pain in my lower back.. when this pain is bad my legs are worse. There is definitely a connection, I'm going to try that. 👍
Hi Neil, I recently found your channel and appreciate your videos. I have hEDS and chronic migraines since my early 20's. I recently have begun to wonder if I have MS. I have what we think is Costochondritis(I say it feels like a giant is trying to crush my chest with its hand.) I am now wondering about it. I think it is time to request a referral to a neuro and an MRI.
Hi Heather, and thanks for the message. I’m really sorry to hear you’re having to deal with EDS, that is challenging for sure. The chest pain sure is difficult to deal with, although having said that for me, recently it’s been much improved. It never goes away completely though.
I know it’s obvious but I’ve got to say it anyway, any kind of chest pain needs checking out by a hospital or Dr, I’m guessing you’ve already done this. I wonder if your chest pain could be related to EDS 🤔 Either way, getting a Neuro involved does sound like a plan. Good luck, perhaps you’d let me know how you get on. Take care.
Hey Neil, I hope all is well. I have chest pain as well and have also been recently diagnosed with MS. The doctors have not been able to tell me whats going on as well. I have been to the emergency room multiple times and everything always comes back negative but the chest pain is still there. Mine is also not typical MS hug symptoms which makes it difficult to figure out what it is but I get sometimes very intense but mainly just nagging pain just to the left of my sternum and it drives me absolutely nuts.
Hey there, thanks for the message. Yes, the chest pain is a tough one to crack.. I still have mine now, it doesn't bother me as much as it did but some days it's a real killer. It never goes away completely, even as I type this message I would say the pain level is 3-4 out of 10. Even though they tell me it's not MS related, I feel it has to be, there's simply no other answer (and they don't know!). It started about the same time as all my other MS related problems. I have a theory though, and that is the intercostal muscles which connect together the ribs to the sternum have been effected by the damaged nerves (which are mis-firing). These muscles are simply not communicating with the brain (via the spinal cord) properly, so the end result is they don't know how to function properly, hence PAIN! No amount of anti-inflammatory meds work, nothing. I just have to live with it.
It's the same for me with regard to the MS Hug, I've always felt like it's not the hug. Both of my legs are being SQUEEZED 24/7 constantly, and it's VERY pain and uncomfortable for me. But the point I'm making is, this squeezing is what I expect the MS Hug to be like (same as my legs) but this chest pain is very different. It's more of an intense, deep gnawing pain.
It's very scary though isn't it? I'm glad to see you've been to get it checked out, as it's important to rule out any kind of chest pain.
@@NeilBradleyMS Thanks for the reply. It really is irritating and it annoys the Hell out of me that I can't get a straight answer about it but I swear it has to be the MS. The "hug" occurs when the intercostal muscles get mixed signals and contract all at once but what if they only spasm where the rib meets the sternum? I mean is that a possibility, maybe. The problem I face is that I get pain that feels like its on my ribcage but then I also get pain that feels deeper in my chest and I dont know if that is caused by the same thing or something different. I have had a full cardiac workup and see a cardiologist regularly and everything seems absolutely fine but then I think "well what if this time its different and it is my heart?" Its scary and I hate it. I also have these attacks that basically feel like a heart attack where I get chest pain and I get dizzy and my heart starts pounding out of my chest and Im covered in sweat in a matter of seconds and all of the other scary heart attack symptoms and no one can tell me why they happen. This is actually how I found out I had MS. I was having these attacks and my doctors were trying to figure out what was going on and they found elevated adrenal hormones in my blood so then they ran more tests and found nothing and one time I had some visual disturbances during one of the attacks so they sent me to a neurologist and my MRI showed lesions so they started all of the tests for MS. Although my neurologist says he has never seen these attacks in an MS patient so I got my MS diagnosis but still no answers about the attacks. MS is a weird thing lol.
This sounds very similar to something that I've been dealing with, I would say approximately 4-5 years, I have to be in a hunch back position because if I stand straight my rib sternum starts to hurt like a 10 on a rating scale, so I push which doesn't really help, for me to be able to sleep I have to sleep on my side literally in a fetus position. This can last for hours or days. If I try to stretch it out I'll hear/feel a popping sounds, but pain will increase. Ill be almost a year from when I got an MRI done, and had signs of MS, which in 4 days I'll get checked again to make sure. But this really concerns me, and yes everyone thinks it's like a heart stroke, which nothing to do with my lungs or heart, it's just in the middle of my check where I feel it.
BTW thank you for sharing. Blessings your way.
Hi Cherri, you’re very welcome. It sounds very similar to what I still have now but I have to say over recent months it has calmed down somewhat. It never goes completely though, even now I still feel it in background.
The things that bring it on for me is sitting driving, or at the computer for too long. However, different to you I find lying down soothes it but there has been times when I was ill I couldn’t get into any position to get relief. This was very distressing because the pain, as you know is quite horrendous and very debilitating isn’t it.
For me, my theory is the nerve signals to the intercostal muscles (they connect the sternum and rib cage) are being interrupted causing them to function incorrectly. Hence the pain.
Take care.
What helped me get through that chest pain 3 years ago was paxil. (Antidepressant). At the time doctor's and myself thought i just had anxiety related pain/sensitivity. It was an intense chest pain that lasted for weeks, also all heart related and blood tests negative. It felt as though my chest was just tense non stop. I could not focus during the worst of it. Paxil took it away in just a few days and it never came back after that. Last year that same kind of pain that was in my chest moved into the lower left abdominal area. Became very difficult to urinate and number 2. I described it to the doctors it was as if there was a button down there that i could just no longer press. . That pain is what led me to start up with the doctor's again. Went through ct scans. Ultrasounds. 48 blood tests. . All they can really find physically is that my bladder isn't functioning correctly. And then i went numb on my right side. . It began in my finger tips then worked it's way through almost my whole right side which then got me into an mri machine. .
Two mri later and two periventricular lesions in the brain, and one c1-2 lesion on the dorsal side then sent everything into sos mode through my health network. . I figured out i had ms months ago. Now they are just figuring it out too lol. Just diagnosed today. I tell you that chest pain i believe was actually my first ms flare.
Hey there, I don’t wish that chest pain on anybody even to this day it’s still there in background for me. I do have bad days quite regularly also still. Oh yes, I know that feeling of self diagnosis before the doctors, I also did that. Super happy to hear that finally, you are someway to a diagnosis however it saddens me to hear that you are struggling so much with symptoms. Hang in there.
@NeilBradleyMS I thank you much my friend, I hope that you are still doing well to this day (i know how old this video was). Fortunately for us there is treatment options that those before us missed out on. And here's hoping to an actual cure in our lifetime!
Everyone around me is struggling with my diagnosis. For me it's peaceful. Liberating in a way. As for years I've been telling people i had some kind of cyclical disease that no one else has. Turned out it was just classical pre presentation ms working it's course.
The hardest thing is not the pain or the diagnosis for me, it's getting to that point where someone listens enough to us that they actually consider it. For me it took going numb down the right side of my body. But I am fortunate that i definitely either have remitting ms or secondary progressive (those things are still being worked out). And that my symptoms have either gone away or subsided/improved. It's much more sad to recognize how many others out there don't get any relief at all. .
Best to you and yours my friend, thank you for the reply.
I have all these symptoms. I haven’t been diagnosed with MS but among the symptoms I do have is what you are describing only it starts in my upper abdominal area and pending severity will radiate up to my sternum then across my chest and around my ribs. It started out like a dull discomfort but last few weeks has increased in severity. I was 99.9% sure I wasn’t having a heart attack or heart trouble but due to the severity I still went to hospital just to get heart trouble cleared just because it’s always that one time you ignore the pain that something more sinister happens. So I went in to hospital.
They did up blood work, ECG, and a chest x-ray and it all came back clear.
But I’ve had a history of acid reflux and gallbladder surgery. So at first I was thinking maybe it was acid reflux so I started taking acid reducer but that didn’t help. ER Doc gave me what’s called a Pink Lady which is medical grade Pepto. Not only did that not help I had a severe episode about 30 minutes after taking that Pink Lady.
I thought I heard you say that with Costochronditis applying pressure should aggravate the pain but when I apply a lot of pressure and do some deep methodical breathing I find that helps. I’m not sure if it resolves the pain but it sure helps me endure the pain.
Prior to this ER visit I was in hospital with incredible neck pain. The ER Doc gave me a powerful anti inflammatory with steroid treatment via injection shot and sent me away with a prescription of Naproxen and Amitriptyline. So this time in hospital he seems to think that maybe I had an adverse reaction to the Naproxen so he gave me a prescription for Pantoprazole and told me if the pain doesn’t resolve in a week or two then to come back to hospital 🤷♀️ he gave me a high dose of Pantoprazole.
Not sure if this is true, I read somewhere that Costochronditis affects mostly the left side whereas in my case it’s all around like I’m being squeezed to death and if just one side is affected it’s usually the right side but sometimes on the right side. So there’s a part of me that is believing that this is the MS hug. What I’m trying to do is just learn the difference between Costochronditis and ms because if my pain is more related with the ms hug vs Costochronditis then I can maybe help my medical team do a more thorough investigation and maybe actually start the process to rule out ms via MRI and/or lumbar puncture. But for right now I think they’re confused by my symptoms and not thinking ms because they have yet to look at the totality of my symptoms but rather just one symptom at a time. I’m kinda hoping that if I do have ms then the Opthalmologist I’ll be seeing in a few days will see something that can steer the investigation as to what’s causing my symptoms to go in the right direction. Until then I get this period episodes of pain that randomly comes up while 75-80% of the time right now it’s just an uncomfortable ache that isn’t all that painful but present much like what you are describing only my pain starts in my upper abdomen area then radiates up to my sternum then across my chest and sometimes the pain hits my ribs before my sternum. I sometimes get a sharp pain in my side that feels like a sharp stab that lasts only a second or two.
I’m almost beginning to think that I might be dealing with both conditions. Anyways, I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst of enemies.
And my neck is just constantly stiff with mild pain coming back to my right upper shoulder just above the clavicle bone.
Hello Sarah, thank you for your message and for sharing your experience with this horrible pain, I’m terribly sorry you’re having to deal with this. Please know that you’re not alone.
I have to admit your pain sounds very similar to mine but slightly different in as much you said yours starts at the top of your abdomen and radiates upwards towards your sternum. Where as my pain starts centrally at the sternum and radiates outwards both sides of my rib cage. As you know it is INCREDIBLY painful. As you also say the pain is also very random, at this precise moment in time as I type this message my chest pain is about a 2 out of 10. But not so long ago, for absolutely no apparent reason I’ll be sitting to have my tea and the pain will just ramp up to 8’s but why? No idea. In fact it has been so painful, I’ve had to abandon my meal as it was simply too painful to eat. I also noticed you said, applying pressure actually helps (where as the Dr thinks it should hurt more) .. I have quite often sat eating a meal one handed, whilst holding my sternum/rib cage with the other, absolutely crazy. I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve mentioned it to Doctors both at my local practise and the hospital - the simple answer is they just don’t know. No amount of pain medication helps with the condition, and I’ve got liquid morphine. The only thing that help reduce the pain is resting, particularly lying down flat, and time.
I too have all the tests that you have mentioned, and like you I have the all clear. Whilst the symptoms are similar to costochondritis for me, it’s definitely not that. The course of Naproxen I was prescribed a few years ago did absolutely nothing at all.
I still suffer with this pain to this very day, and since about 2013 when I was first diagnosed with MS, and shortly after all my health problems started. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve got a condition that medical science simply does not know how to treat and basically I’ve got to live with it. I also suffer with a terribly stiff neck.
All the best - Neil.
@@NeilBradleyMS ya, I’ll be suggesting an endoscopy exam with my GP next time I speak with her but that all depends on what they might do if I end up in hospital again as I did last weekend. That is if the Pantoprazole the ER Doc has me on doesn’t do anything for this pain. As I reply to this message I’d say my current pain is sitting at a 3 while I’ve been on a high dose of Pantoprazole for the past 5 days now.
It is possible that this pain is associated with GERD but only I don’t have that acid reflux burning sensation I had prior to my gallbladder surgery. In fact, I haven’t had that acid reflux since that operation. And prior to that operation Pantoprazole worked, acid reducer worked, Pantoprazole worked. Yet this pain feels different. Like the other day I felt like my bra was too tight yet then I realized I didn’t have a bra on lol 🤷♀️
At first I was thinking it could be one of two possibilities: costochronditis or ms hug (based on other unexplained symptoms) but then a couple friends pointed out the possibility of gastro issues like GERD which I’m not dismissing at this point. If I get that endoscopy and that comes back all clear then they have affectively ruled out gastrointestinal issues I think. And with my symptoms not presenting with what’s typically associated with costochronditis then maybe that will trigger further investigation. My problem is the fact that I started having symptoms 20 + years ago but the symptoms went away so I never followed up so now I’m 45 with persistent symptoms that are concerning so they’re not thinking MS. The only Dr thinking MS is my Optometrist when I told her about my vision problems. So I don’t know. Had I mentioned the problem I had 20 years ago things would be different
I'm sorry to hear about your chest pain, I hope your docs can figure something out I don't have pain with my MS but I have tightness in my back and stomach along with total body numbness I thought this was the hug but the more I read about it I don't think it is. I think your theory is correct the numbness is the cause of all this. also like u I was told I have rrms however my symptoms never remitted besides my walking. will you ever get back on a dmd? from what I read they keep you out of a wheelchair I take tysbri and I feel alot better maybe 70%. I'm going back to work soon. stay well
Hi there, my MS Specialist says the chest pain is "Classic MS" but I'm not so sure that it is, apart from an MRI scan I've had pretty much all the tests going which have come back negative.. so I'm kind of left thinking it might be MS related. I suppose the Dr's don't have all the answers do they.
I can totally relate to tightness, especially in my feet and legs.. my legs have "numbness" but its more like sensory disturbance if you know what I mean (the muscles are also effect now yielding weakness).. by this I mean you still have feeling but it just doesn't feel how it should do, right? Total body numbness must have taken some getting used to, feel for you my friend. Did this numbness come on slowly over time, mine did.
As for my theory, yes thank you for that.. I think its very plausible that if the body's sensation and muscles aren't working properly when trying to walk, surely it can effect chest muscles that are used in the diaphragm and rib cage etc. Even though my MS Specialist doesn't agree, I don't agree with her either!! :)
Interesting your symptoms aren't going into remission, our symptoms sound very similar in as much when mine all started in 2007 they did go into remission until 2012 when I had a full on attack leaving me with disability. I still have the symptoms/disability left over from 2012, no relapses since. I discussed this in detail with my Doc and she thinks I'm transitioning to Secondary Progressive. Check out my latest video on this #13.
I not currently considering another DMD as I've not relapsed in the last four years, my symptoms are also currently stable.. well kind of if they are getting worse its subtle. If Tysabri is suiting you, and you're feeling well on it then I would say stick with it especially if you feel like returning to work. Good for you! I'm pleased for you, I wish you well.
Take care - Neil.
Hi , I experience the same thing and I have in the past always worried it was my heart. Because I couldnt imagine my chest hurting or squeezing that badly just because of ms. But it is true. I also have leg, foot and lower back pain. My hug causes numbness at times but also pain and squeezing sensation . Mine starts in my breastbone as well and radiates out, sometime on one side and other in both. It really helps to hear others experience same things cause at times I truely feel like I must be losing my mind. Especially when I was told by my current neurologist that ms doesn't cause pain only in very rare cases. Which is dead wrong , cause she isn't experiencing what I am. Doctors are still so clueless to symptoms and try to lump everyone together. Thanks for your vidoes
Hi Kimberdu, thank you for telling me about your symptoms. I’m really sorry to hear you’re having to cope with all this. Your chest pain sounds remarkably similar to mine! For me, it always starts in the centre of my chest (Sternum) and always radiates down both sides. Currently it’s behaving itself quite well and doesn’t cause me much pain but, it is still there in the background. It never ever goes completely. In the past, it’s been so painful, I’ve been doubled over in absolute agony, and the only thing that would relieve it is to lie flat until it eases a bit. A doctor that thinks MS causes no pain needs striking off in my opinion. They need to spend a day in our shoes don’t they!!. Thank you for your message.
My MS Neurologist doesn't know anything either. He said the ONLY problems with vision is blindness. He said I was just walking like I have bad back. I have MANY symptoms of MS, and when I tried to tell him, he said I'm just blaming everything on MS. He said it seems like I just want to sit around and do nothing. I'm still suffering on my own with no doctor. He's the worst thing that ever happened to me. Now PCP not helping with tick bite. And everyone has anxiety due to Corona. Everyone thinks their world is ending, but mine already did. Sorry, this was about your doctor. What an uninformed jacka**.
Hi Mike, sounds like you need a new Dr .. sit around and do nothing? Wohh makes me so angry, I wish it were possible that those particular Dr’s (not all of them) could spend a day in our shoes. I am, right at the moment sitting around and doing nothing simply because I’m exhausted!! (Through lack of sleep). If I try and walk, I wobble like jelly, my knees are bouncing and I’m crashing in to everything. All caused by my condition. Your Dr needs a reality check!! So sorry he/she’s an arse with no empathy. Makes you wonder why they studied for so long to help people. My friend you’re not alone, I often think my world has ended, in fact I’m having a really bad few days now. They are hard to get through, but hang in there.
Hello Neil! Do you still have this issue? I have exactly what you're describing and have been through the same gambit of tests. I've also surmised intercostal neuralgia or ms hug . Any treatments work for you ?
Hi Jon, nice to hear from you again. Yes I still have this issue, nothing works! Having said that I thought for a while my Physio stretching exercises had a small positive impact but hardly noticeable. It seems to be worse in the cold weather because if I go out I tense up with the cold, this has a massive impact on the pain, it turns right up. It is something to do with the intercostal muscles, definitely. I’ve got numbness across my chest/tummy/back and my theory is, the intercostal muscles are effected here similarly to how they’re effected in my legs. So they don’t work properly and this is their way of complaining. I find Jon, and I wonder if this is the same for you.. most of the time the chest pain is background, perhaps 2 or 3 on a pain levels out of 10. But there are certain things I do which ramp it right up. Good to hear from you. Regards Neil.
Did it also hurt to breathe Neil ? Like a sharp pain ...?
Sorry to hear it got so bad , but I can understand . Sternum pain is horrible ...
Hi Fredee, that’s the weird thing .. no it didn’t hurt when I take in a breath and this confused the Dr’s I think. This video is quite old now, but I still get this same pain today although it’s not as bad as it was.
Hi neil found this blog very interesting thankyou.i thought i was having a heart attack because heart issues run in the family .went to cardiologist who diagnosed costochrondrits.He suggested to my gp that i should take cholesterol tabs. I have fibromyalgia and has had it for many many years but am convinced this could be ms. Im fed up with battling with doctors and bloods always seem normal its frustrating .Now awaiting to see the neurologist as im fed up with them passing the buck.Thanks for listening to my rant but found your video very interesting .Bless you.😀
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Hi Neil. I do have experience this chest intense pain right in the center of my chest. Like a stabbing pain. I went to a cardiologist and got all type of tests and everything is ok. No problem with my heart. I assume is the MS Hug.
Hi Anthony - Oh yes the infamous chest pain, I've got it now whilst typing out this message but fortunately its not too painful at the moment (about a 3-4 out of 10 pain level) .. Absolutely spot in, right in the centre of my chest, the Sternum, the pain radiates outwards and down the ribs. Like you had all the tests and come back with nothing, MS Specialist says its "classic MS" but I'm still not convinced. I also assumed the MS hug, but I experienced the TIGHT SQUEEZING sensation on both of my legs above the knees constantly, this sensation never goes and its always with me. I can imagine the MS Hug is like this kind of squeezing but around the chest, however my chest pain is nothing like this squeezing, the pain is of an intense dull throbbing/stabbing pain.. very hard to describe but not hugging or squeezing. I hope that makes sense.
All the best - Neil.
Hi Neil hope your ok, ive been getting this tight burning hot and cold feeling in my chest for about 3 wks now and have to say I found it very scary I thought I was gonna die it was so bad I found that if t lie on the bed and put my left arm over my head I get abit of releif for a while, I only usually get this when im stressed out and I am stressed at the moment its like a ball swishing round my chest and im starting to think am I ever gonna be able to go out again without needing the bloody wheelchair god I hate it, and stupid me thought right im back on rebif so maybe after a month or 2 ill get the tight numb feeling go in my left arm and hands but I think my consultant was right when he said the longer you have It the less chance of getting feeling back, its 24/7 all day every day, this is my 3rd night not sleeping, yesterday I snapped at my daughter and mum cos they were going on about me getting afew hours sleep in the day, I let the first 4 comments go and then I snapped, it got abit heated I said some stuff I did mean it but it came out with anger, I then had to try to explain that when you have pain every day all day long it gets to you sometimes when people make me feel guilty for sleeping or make remarks on things there is only so much I can bite my lip at, I tend to bottle things up, Dunno whats wrong at the moment maybe its the new tablets but I feel very alone and isolated, im losing interest in things I feel like nobody understands and at the same time how could they if they havnt got it, I can just feel myself moving away I feel like im there but looking through someone elses eyes, We are all OK and talking again now I had to put an end to it cos I was feeling like I was raging and could feel Ms symptoms coming on,
Really weird thing happened yesterday, kate was in the shower we have a downstairs bathroom that you have to walk through the kitchen to get to, me and my mum looking at old photos of my nan and talking about her and kate walked in and stood by the end of the chair, but she had a pale pink quilted dressing gown on with lace top and a beige towel on her head, just as I turned she was walking back into the kitchen so I shouted her to bring something in for me (no answer) I turned to my mum who was staring right at me with a puzzled look and she said who are you talking to? so, I said kate and she said kates still in the shower well I didnt believe her and then told my mum what kate had on cos at this time I was getting abit spooked cos I know what i saw so I told my mum what she had on and my mum just stared at me she looked proper alarmed and then smiling and looking abit nervous said your nan had that dressing gown she also had blonde short hair which I miss took for a beige towel round kates head, then postman knocked with a parcel for me, kate gets out the shower and asks who knocked so I said postman then she said who knocked the second time? by this time I had a mother totally freaking out, she asked kate how long ago had she heard the knock and my god bang on time when I saw what i saw, then my mum told kate and kate freaked out, landing light was on tonight, (for kate) I feel abit weurd about it cos ive not seen anything like that for years, and my mum said she remembered the man vfrom the spiritulast church telling her I had the gift if I wanted to use it but said to not worry if I dont, I think I was 10yrs old at the time, anyway FREAKY!! lol 👻
Anyway just realised ive wrote a book again i should have emailed this, gonna try to fall asleep now for afew hours,
So take care and love to Teresa and molly, think I emailed Teresa yesterday I think im sure i did lol
Luv Sue xx
Hi Sue, I know how you feel with the chest pain. I know it's different to yours but sometimes when it gets so bad, my breathing gets a bit shallow and I acquire a cough.
Totally understand about the lack of sleep and pain every day. Makes you want to scream when somebody says they've got a bit of a headache or something to that effect. It does make you feel isolated Sue, and if your not sleeping.
Wow the experience in the kitchen was amazing to read. Makes you wonder if your gift is surfacing, keep an eye out for other things.
Take care Sue,
Regards Neil xx
Costochondritis my husband suffered with it. The pain was very intense, doctors even thought it was pleurisy. He was a smoker and had COPD and yes they put it down to that. He took codeine 500 like sweets when having an attack.
MS Hug. I have had that. Mine can be vague not being personal but stopped wearing the booby holders as it got so uncomfortable I felt like a boa constrictor was squeezing me lol. Thank goodness i didnt get many attacks. One attack though went from my left back rib cage under my left arm and the pain was so bad i thought i was having a heart attack. I was taken to surgery where they checked my heart and EEG etc everything good. Doctor gave me a dizepam as she said my muscles in my back were like rock. I felt a bit better. Now i sit with a heat pad on every day on my back and i havent had this since. Yes i have had a hug but not MS. The most bizarre Neil was a tickling feeling i had same area it nearly drove me mad then suddenly went. Anyway I swear by my heat pad it relaxes the muscle and i stay comfortable by burning the bra lol. BUT please if you have MS do not ASSUME ITS MS HUG, always always have it checked out ok. Not everything is down to MS.
Stay safe both of you and another great video very clear and precise.
Hi There, I still get this chest pain to this day.. even now as I'm typing it's there at about 4 - 5 on the pain level out of 10. My theory is it's neither Costochondritis or the MS Hug, I think it's the nerve signals which are being disrupted to the intercostal muscles in the chest, causing the muscles to malfunction (like else where in my body) and cause pain. Of course, my Neuro doesn't agree with me because she says it's different nerves which supply the signals, but I'm sticking with it, I know my body better than anybody else.
I agree with you, not everything is down to the MS .. I do get numbness also in the chest/back areas but it's not squeezing like I get on my legs. So I can imagine the MS hug is like the squeezing I get in my legs, but at my chest/back area.
I'm very interesting to hear you say your back muscles are like rock, because I ALWAYS describe my muscles in my back a CONCRETE!! They are basically seriously malfunctioning because of my condition, they are stiff and full of tone and EXTREMELY painful. Diazepam really does help with this as I used to take this, my Neuro changed me to Clonazepam though. The muscles that give me SO MUCH pain and grief are called the "Erector Spinae Muscles", they hold you upright and are also responsible for balancing you, hence when they don't work properly walking is non-existent.
I have this aswell i believe. My pain comes and go. It mostly bothers me whenever i sleep on my left side at night. Or if i sit for to long in a comfortable position. I have to constantly adjust my posture while sitting. Unless i lay flat on my back. Do you think that could be MS related?
Hi there, it's very hard to tell and I'm certainly not qualified to make a diagnosis. I do however advise you to keep a diary of past and present symptoms, when they start, how long they last for, discomfort level out of ten, that sort of thing. A neurologist would then find this very useful to help with a diagnosis. History play a very important part in the diagnosis of MS, along with scans and other procedures. I hope that helps.
Hi mate. I know this is an older vid but I was at the hospital two weeks ago. Paramedics said ? MS hug but ER dr said costochondritis. I took anti inflammatory drugs and it went eventually. But I’ve had it so much over the past few years.
Hi Murphy, I had a course of Anti-Inflammatory (Naproxen) when I investigated this a few years ago. They did absolutely nothing. I still have the chest pain, even now writing this message it’s about a 4 out of 10 on my pain level.
Hi Neil - I too took naproxen and It did nothing. I’ve been hospitalised with this hug so many times - they do the heart attack protocol every time -troponen bloods etc. I have a few days in hospital then home again. Never an investigation into anything else - just costochondritis or an anomaly. My pain was thre all the time and didn’t hurt to push. !! gotta find a new / good neuro. My neuro symptoms are getting really weird at the moment. So frustrating
I experienced this earlier this week (along with a ton of other symptoms, as I am having a relapse). My chest and upper arm felt so extremely tight. The pressure is best described as if there was an elephant standing on my chest. Sleeping was impossible. The MS clinic offered me steroids (Medrol), but I am not interested in taking anything as I have not yet been officially diagnosed. Fortunately the "hug" didn´t last for more than a couple of days, but damn that was rough. Worst hug ever!
By the way, thank you for talking about this topic. I googled it when I had the symptoms (of course) and read about it, but it´s another thing listening to someone talking about their own experience with it. It was quite a relief, as I was scared I was having a heart attack or something (which I am sure most people who´ve experienced this have thought). So thank you!
Yes Indeed, the MS Hug is certainly not the nicest hug in the world is it ! I'm still not sure what the pain is in my chest, I was kind of hoping the Pregabalin drug I've been taking for almost five years might have had something to do with it, but I don't think so. I've been off the drug now for two weeks (check out my latest #17 video), and although the chest pain has subsided slightly, its still pretty bad. I've only ever had the Steroids once back in 2013, to be honest I would welcome another dose to see if they had any effect on all the pain, but the hospital don't seem to want to give me them.
I hope you're taking it easy Rikke, nice to hear from you.
You're very welcome Rikke, hopefully my video helped put your mind at rest a little bit. However, and I'm sure you will agree that it is very important to get ANY kind of chest pain checked out by your doctor. From my own research, there are lots of things that can cause chest pain in lots of variouse different forms. Sometimes I get a 'different' to normal pain in the chest, and the "heart attack" thought wanders through my mind as well, although this different pain is often short lived.
Best Regards - Neil.
I really hope your chest pain will become less horrible. It might take a bit longer to see the effect of stopping a drug that you have taken for several years. I have no long-term experience with Pregabalin/Lyrica, but I have been through several drugs for my mental health - including Lyrica, which I took as a mood stabilizer, but only for a short period of time, so my experience with that is not useful here - and I know it can take a while for the brain and body to stabilize itself again after taking them.
Take care,
Rikke
Thanks Rikke, appreciate it.
Yes, its a bit soon to tell only being off the drug for a couple of weeks but already I can honestly say I'm feel much more clear headed.
I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Well as much as fibromyalgia can be diagnosed I suppose. So many of the symptoms you described are exactly what I've been feeling but I could swear that I've been tested for MS and the results were negative. I wonder if these conditions are often conflated.
Hi Bob, and thanks for your message. I think you could be right, there are lots of similarities between Fibro and MS. I will say though, there is no definitive test for MS (not sure about Fibro) rather they do lots of tests and rule out certain things, they also include a detailed history prior to any diagnosis etc.
Well, I have several doctor's appointments scheduled. I look forward to hearing what they have to say. Thanks!
Good luck with the appointments Bob.
Hi Neil....Chest pain....Hhhmmmmmm...... again....I suffer exactly the same symptoms.....had all the same tests you described...all negative but the hospital prescribed a GTN spray for when the pain really gets tough....not a stabbing pain but a constant dull cardiac type of pain.....now then - you described MS Hug and the possible link.... Question....Do you ever suffer breathlessness along with the sternum pain or tightness in the lower ribs on breathing in....(I reckon you should have these excellent video's compiled and put onto a DVD.....they are invaluable to the many others who have similar problems) and YES!! the Doc's don't have all the answers do they, I bet a few of them have watched your series.....very informative from a sufferers point of view......Cheers.
Hi There, YES! Oh the chest pain, I've got it now and I'm measuring it about a 5-6 out of 10. Earlier today it was 7-8 and I could hardly function, the only thing I could do is lie down, the weird thing is I do feel its muscular in some way. Imagine somebody pressing the end of a rolling pin into centre of your chest (the Sternum) and applying a lot of pressure.. the pain then radiating outward across your ribs. On a bad day, I feel bruised for 24 hours afterwards and its almost like I need recovery time!
I wasn't sure what GTN spray was so Google helped out there, so it looks like this is prescribed to treat Angina, is this what they think you have even though tests come back negative? I'm confident the pain I have is not heart related.
Breathlessness, hmm perhaps a little bit yes but not significantly.. when the pain has been bad recently, two to three times I've experienced this really weird sensation, not very nice either.. the best way to describe it is like my heart is beating in my lower throat/upper chest (hard to pin point exact area) and its an unpleasant feeling, also a slightly worrying one. It lasts about five minutes and then vanishes, but the chest pain remains. Breathing in or out, expanding the chest diaphragm doesn't make any different to the pain what-so-ever, also pushing on the chest area doesn't make it worse.. this is why I don't think its Costochondritis, the symptoms and pain just doesn't seem to fit. My theory is that the MS has disrupted the signals to the Intercostal Muscles in the chest and is causing them not to function correctly, and hence the resulting pain. My MS Specialist doesn't agree with me though.
Thanks for your kind words, I really appreciate all of the feed back I get on my videos and all of the likes.. it inspires me to do more. I decided to start the VLOG because its amazing when you can chat with somebody with the same or similar symptoms.
It's been great chatting with you, apologies for the slightly late response.. my wife and I went out for the day yesterday so I didn't get chance to catch up with comments.
All the best - Neil.
I get my partner to punch me in the back over and over while I do the same to my chest to disguise the pain.
I do understand, sometimes a different pain can disguise or at least for a while take your mind off the primary pain. Nevertheless, this does sound painful! Be Careful, and take care.
do u ever have a lightning bolt feeling that shoot out of your feet out from nowhere or feel like your walking on a golfball?
Hi Quincy,
Years ago back in 2007 when I first started with the numbness symptoms in my feet, I use to describe it as walking on pebbles, sounds familiar to your golf ball? So yes, I completely understand where you're coming from.
The shooting feeling might be similar to one I've described in another video entitled "Strange new symptom" you can find it in my MS Vlog playlist.
Take care - Neil.
I have a numb torso as well and right under my breast line around my ribs I feel like I’m wearing a very tight corset. But I was told I don’t have MS. I have lost the use of my right leg and now have drop foot.
Hi Janie, it certainly sounds like you've definitely got something neurological going on! So many people such as yourself comment on my channel saying they have certain symptoms etc but the Dr's can't give them a diagnosis. I would suggest that you go back to your Dr and discuss the possibility of a full body MRI scan. A lot of my subscribers when being tested for MS only seem to have a brain MRI's. This isn't enough, they need a full body (spinal cord) MRI, because it's lesions in the spinal cord itself that can cause symptoms like what you are describing. The "tight corset" sensation you're describing could be something called the "MS Hug". If you do a Google on it, you should be able to read about the symptoms and compare. Loosing the use of your right leg and having drop foot is definitely a red flag, but not necessarily MS. It could be something much less sinister such as a bulging disc in your back. As I say a Spinal Cord MRI is the only way to properly find out. I hope this helps.
Found out about the MS hug half an hour ago. I explained it years ago: "It's like one of my intercostals has the most serious cramp ever!". Left side first, most times right side as well, and one time, I felt a clamp join them together, like a heart attack. I'm on the floor a few times per year.
I get a twinge, or ache, then I know I'm maybe seconds from being in agony. When it happens on the train platform, it's embarrassing, like I'm in the Matrix. Squirming for a pain free position. I have found that bending at the waist and hugging your knees works for me. I'm telling Doctor tomorrow.
Good luck!
Hello Kevin, and thank you for your message .. this chest pain is so REAL isn't it. Dr's don't know, and I've given up trying to figure out what it is .. I still have it now even as I'm writing this message. As usual it's always in the centre of my chest, it's muscular and it radiates outwards down my ribs. One thing I'm sure of is it's definitely my Intercostal muscles, and my theory is my Neurological illness has disrupted the 'messages' to these muscles (like everywhere else) causing them to malfunction in this way and cause me so much pain. I have to apply pressure just underneath my rib cage/sternum to get "some" relief but it never ever goes completely.
I'm really sorry to hear you're having to deal with this as well, but I'm pleased to hear that you're trying your best to adapt to it and ways to cope. I find pain killers do nothing, don't even touch the pain.
Look after yourself.
@@NeilBradleyMS I've never seen anyone else with this problem. Nor known.
It comes from three options, and I have all three.
1. Broken/fractured ribs. I never broke any, but I was stabbed between them on my left side.
2. Spine damage. I have a spine problem since birth, doesn't affect me much.
3. Brain damage of some kind. I was abused so badly I went insane, it all started in 2005. My ex was a psychopath who beat and poisoned me, tormented me of affairs, etc. I had a breakdown. One of many.
Do you take any medications? Diazepam works, but it's always too late.
Good luck!
This is an older video but wanted to explain my MS hug symptoms. Im being checked out for MS. Not sure yet. After i get out of bed i feel like im being squeezed . My whole torso. After about 15 minutes, 80 percent of pain is gone. Whenever i lay down and then get up, the squeeze happens again for a few minutes. This has ben going on for over a year. At first i thought it was my kidneys. Now its my whole torso that feels squeezed. I have other symptoms as well. Numb hands and left arm. Left leg starting to be a littlest numb. Could be my cervical spine, but Mri might show something. Since this is an older video, hope u r doing well.
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Hello Carolyn, thank you for your message. I’m terribly sorry to hear that you’re having to deal with such horrible symptoms. Thank you also for sharing, and explaining how the MS hug feels. I think this is a symptom a lot of people have trouble describing, and dealing with.
I still have the chest pain I describe in the video but I’m confident it’s not the MS hug. Nobody knows what it is, so I just have to deal with it in my own way. It never goes away completely, but it can remain calm for multiple days. That said, it can also flare up and also nearly have me in tears the pain is so bad.
If you can imagine the MS hug but in both your legs, constantly squeezing and never letting up. That is what I’m having to deal with every day, but that is only one thing.
Thank you for asking about me, l would be lying if I said things were good, I’m coping though, just. Im very lucky to have Teresa.
Hopefully your symptoms are down to perhaps a disc bulge that can easily be fixed. I sincerely hope you do not receive a diagnosis of MS.
Take care. 🙏
I have MS. Any idea why every once in a while I'll have an episode where I'm fighting to not pass out and trying not to throw up sometimes. Always think I'm gonna die, then I'll sweat real bad and start to feel better. I watched your video because I often have chest pains that feel like my heart skipping or racing. Makes my head feel strange.
Hi Mike, and thanks for your message. This sounds really scary!! And I'm afraid I have no idea what could be causing it, however I do have a suggestion.
Keep a diary, seriously I suggest this to a lot of people because quite often these episodes can have "trends". Just write down the exact time and date when it happens, how long it lasts, where you are, what you were doing at the time, your last meal, any medication you're taking .. things like that, anything that might help figure out what it is. Eventually over time you might start to see a trend forming which could help both you and you Dr figure out what's going on . We quite often have to do the investigative work ourselves I've found.
Needless to say, these sound like very serious symptoms of some sort so it's always important to seek medical help when they come on. This in fact would be the best time because they can hook you up to machines which can monitor you, maybe give a few clues.
I felt this the other day just sitting on the couch, have you gotten any answers since?
Hi there, I'm afraid not .. I still get this chest pain, it's always in background and never really goes away. I'm convinced it's something to do with my illness, even though my consultant begs to differ. Dr's don't know all the answers though, they don't live it everyday.
Can paraplegics get MS hug? I have constant spasms in my legs but now its has gotten up to my trunk area and I can't eat or breathe after. I'm taking baclofen 90mg a day and does nothing. Now I'm scheduled for the baclofen pump only to remove the tightness in my abdomen.
Hi there, I'm not entirely sure to be completely honest with you. I've done a bit of research on Paraplegia and my understanding is that you have loss of function from the waste down usually always due to spinal cord or brain injury. In MS the outer coating of the nerves (myelin) is damaged which causes the nerves to short circuit for want of a better word. The signals travelling back and forth get mixed up and confused and consequently our muscles don't work properly and we have all sort of sensory problems like burning etc. I'm no Doctor, but I can't see why Paraplegia in this respect is any different with regard to pain and symptoms, so yes I think it could be possible to experience something like the MS hug, if you have sensation and feeling. I hope this helps a little. Best regards - Neil.
I'm in the long process of trying to find out why I have similar pain. It's constant, from moderate to severe and has been going on for three years.
I was put off as a "drug seeker" then diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, then costochondritis, then told it was all in my head and a doctor tried to admit me into a psych ward, then coronary artery disease, requiring a double bypass last year. The recovery from the sternectomy has been brutal, causing the chest pain to worsen.
Alot of times doctors don't like us to come to them with assumptions. Most telling me not to read online or search for answers, to "let them do their job".
I am seeing a new primary care doctor now that is having me get new x-rays, an MRI, and a visit with Ortho spine, thinking all of this is related to the cervical stenosis.
Should I ask her to order specific blood work that could show possible MS markers? I'm wondering if this may be what was going on all along and was completely overlooked.
My quality of life is so low, I have lost my life and I want it back! I'm willing to do anything to achieve this.
Does anyone have any tips or ideas?
Thank you so much for this video. I wish you wellness and happiness.
Hey there, and thanks for your message. It's sounds like you've really been through it, and continue to do so. I know that feeling of wanting my life back, time and time again I get glimpses of it only for it to be ripped away once again. I'm sorry to hear you're suffering so much. Quite rightly, I also feel the Dr's don't like their patients doing their own research especially now so much information is so readily available on the internet. Personally I have a very analytical mind and always research my own symptoms, and I always encourage others to as well. Knowledge is power and you have every right to learn about how things works.
As you're no doubt you're aware that Spinal Stenosis is the narrowing of the Spinal Canal which results in pressure on the spinal cord consequently causing all sort of neurological symptoms similar to MS such as burning, numbness and weakness in the limbs.
There is no definitive test for MS, instead they tend to do a number if different tests mainly being full MRI of the Brain and Spinal cord (looking for lesions - scarring/white spots), blood tests, Lumbar Puncture. They also like to take a very detailed history of symptoms when they started, for how long, did they get better or worse that sort of thing.
I always advise people to start a journal ASAP as soon as they suspect something is wrong, go back a far as you can remember and log dates/symptoms etc. And, of course anything new that happens, this way you're well equipped and armed with the evidence for the Dr's to assess.
Good luck, and I hope you make some progress towards a diagnosis. Feel free to pop back anytime if you need to talk.
All the best - Neil.
@@NeilBradleyMS thank you so much Neil. Great advice. Starting my journal with as close as I can time periods, symptoms and severities to help the doctors get a better idea of what may be happening. Hopefully save them some time, if possible. I got my x-rays done and looked at. The stenosis has gotten worse since diagnosed via MRI in 2015. Many bone spur type things and close to bone in bone. MRI is next and will show much more. Chest x-ray showed many lung nodules around 8mm so they want to see if they change any in a few months. Alot of disease going on along with all of this. "metabolic syndrome". So all of these things together definitely explain the widespread pain and severity.
Eating healthy and walking everyday. Attempting to get good rest but that's a tough one. Very uncomfortable. Hoping I can get some help with pain until we get a game plan. My body responds well to tramadol so I told my doctor. She asked for me to pass a drug test first, which I did. I think many doctors are concerned to prescribe scheduled medications and I do understand that.
We will see how things develop. In the meanwhile, proper diet, exercise, rest and some really great breathing and meditation techniques I found will be incorporated. On top of that I have to fight hard to keep a positive energy. That's paramount. Luckily I was raised with a spiritual belief system and that is always a good thing to hold on to.
Thank you for what you do and your reply.
Bless you and yours,
Steve
Hi Neil ... I'm wondering about MS affecting your family & caretakers. How does everyone cope with it as this disease affects not only the person carrying it but also on those around the patient. Thanks. PS: I too have an elderly cat who acts a little odd. After we shower, she gets into the tub & "washes" it down, licking every inch of the tub. Dunno why.
Hi Zanne, thanks for the comment .. I'm very lucky because my family are extremely supportive, but yes you're right it does effect everybody around me including myself. Because it's so random I/we just take every day as it comes, in fact my Wife wants to make a video on exactly this subject. She wants to talk about exactly how my condition effects her in daily life, her perspective of it sort of thing. I'm looking forward to shooting this video when we've got time, so you might like to stay tuned :)
As for your elderly cat, I think I know why.. When they pass the age of 15 something like 1 in 3 cats start suffering with kidney problems. This consequently for some reason makes them want to drink water all of the time.. my Molly is 19 in Feb and she drinks quite a lot.. if she goes out all she does is scout for rain water in every dish, drain you can think of. You just have to let them get on with it, so this could be possibly what happening to your cat.
I have found leaving bowls of water around helps, I have one upstairs and one downstairs, and in the hot weather I put one outside as well (she hardly goes out now). I refresh the water every day also and this really seems to help.
I hope that bit of info helps.
Regards - Neil.
She has a good idea. It could be a revelation/help for caretakers.
Thanks Zanne.
Hello Neil. I am diagnosed with MS 2 years now. Almost symptom free. But I am also experiencing a persistent chest pain which It radiates to the ribs and the back of my right side 1 year now. It is not intense but is is permanent and it is trigerred by my arm movement or by flexing my right chest muscle. Docs say that is not associated with ms. I was afraid of lung problem but pneumonologist says that is outside the ribs. Also xray cleared. Does your pain worsens with arm movement??
Hey there, when my chest pain first started it was around the time I was diagnosed in 2013. Since then I’ve had times it has been HORRENDOUS and debilitating. Like you, it never goes away but it has improved over the last year or so. The Dr thought it could be Costochondritis and treatment me with anti inflammatory meds which did zero. I’ve mentioned it several times over the years but I’ve now put it down to one of those things that can’t be worked out. I have a theory though. I believe my illness has effected the nerves signals to the intercostal muscles in my sternum and rib cage causing them to malfunction and be very painful. A little bit like it has with my legs etc. The Docs don’t know so I’m sticking with that. It might be similar for you, or it could be the Costochondritis.
In answer to your question, no. Nothing effects the chest pain by moving an arm or even pressing on my chest. That’s what the docs don’t understand.
Have you an update since you published this video? Did you receive an answer and a way to treat it? Thank you
Hi Alexis, I still get the chest pain.. it never goes away although at the moment it’s fairly manageable. I’ve raised the pain several times and nobody seems to know what is causing it. Tried all sort of pain killers, they don’t touch it.
My theory is, the MS has disrupted the nerves signals to the intercostal muscles which connect the ribs to the sternum, hence causing the pain. They think it could be the MS hug, but it doesn’t feel like that as I know the MS squeezing sensation because I’ve got that in my legs 24/7.
So, no answer really I’m just trying to manage it myself. Fortunately though it’s not too bad at the moment though. Do you get a similar sort of pain?
Thanks for the contact.
Neil Bradley Thank you for the reply. I was just in pain across my ribs then I started to get pain in my sternum. Not always, I’ll let you know if I learn anything about it.
I thought i was getting arthritis at a very young age and now Im starting to think i have MS. I thought i was getting costochondritis for years. I have heat intolerance all of the sudden and numbness in both arms hands and fingers, severe upple and lower back pain and intermittent pain in my ankles.
Also the faintness and dizziness, i get nauseous alot. I could never explain any of these things. The dr told me i was having a panic attack, but i was calm when the pain started :/
Hi Katie, a lot of your symptoms do resemble MS but it’s important to remember this may not be the case. History is also a very important factor, and I urge you to keep a diary of symptoms remembering as far back as you can, and up to present day. This can then help with a diagnosis. Good luck.
Hows it going for you today? I have something similiar. Would be interesting to hear how it goes.
Hi - things aren’t great to be honest but thanks for asking. I still get the chest pain described in this video. How would you describe your chest pain?
I have experienced chest pressure your chest is being compressed and you gasping for air making it hard for you to breathe to the point where your body just freeze it asks for a couple of seconds but they can come back to back
Hi Danell, yep the chest pain is absolutely no fun at all and very painful. As you’re no doubt aware, it’s very important to get any kind of chest pain checked out by your Dr, as they can rule out emergency medical situations. Take care, and thank you for commenting.
do you also have very painful cramps in your fingers? How do you sleep at night? I use to wake up several times and have to go pee otherwise I don't sleep anymore.What about legs pain?
Hi Alex.
When I first experienced symptoms in 2007, I had considerable pain in my fingers.. especially my finger tips! My hands would BURN and be very red all the time, my finger tips felt as if somebody had pumped them up, extremely painful. I didn't know it at the time but I had a lesion in my cervical spine (neck) which was causing these issues. Since then, the lesion has calmed down and my hands are better but no way back to normal. They still burn, and yes I do still feel pain in my fingers (tips), its just not quite so bad.
I do sleep at night, but its not uncommon for me to be awake for several hours in pain because my feet or legs or both are burning with nerve pain. I don't sleep that well to be honest.
Having to use the bathroom frequently can be a problem, people with MS quite often struggle to empty their bladder and hence the need to go all of the time.
I appreciate the comment Alex, and I hope I've managed to answer all of your questions. Thank you very much for taking the time to watch my video, and don't forget to check out some of the other one's in the play list.
Regard,
Neil.
Hi neil do u still get this . Did u have a diagnosis ?
Hi there, yes I still get this pain .. in fact it never completely goes, even whilst I'm typing this message it's making itself known. The symptoms fit the "Costochondritis" diagnosis, but it's not that. I'm pretty sure it's something Neurological, but the 'experts' don't agree, but they can't fix it either. So unfortunately like a lot of pain, it can't be fixed and I just have to learn to live with it. Thank you for contacting me, I do hope you're not having to endure this also. Best to you - Neil.
I find lying on my side makes it tens times worst ..?I can only lie flat on my back or stand up to relieve the pain ...
Yes I absolutely agree Fredee, lying on my side has often, made it significantly worse in the past.
Could it be Dysphagia? I think its that, I have the MS Hug and that is like a big squeezing bear hug around the rib cage, like your bones are going to break. but Dysphagia is like stabbing chest pain like a heart attack. Dysphagia is the esophageal muscles contracting, I also have a hard time swallowing, some times the food just has to come back out. Rest will help the pain go away.
Hello Dixon.
I'm going to have to look that one up, however from what you've said I've not had any problems swallowing at all. Thanks for the information - Neil.
Is it possible to have an entirely painless, just kind of only the pressure sensation kind? Does that still constitute an MS hug as a symptom?
Like a squeezing sensation? I don’t feel what I’ve got is the MS hug. I have squeezing sensation on both my legs terribly, but it’s not painful unlike the chest pain. If this same squeezing sensation was in the chest area, then yes I would say it’s the MS hug.
Neil Bradley moreso squeezing, yeah... but only high up near my heart and only a couple of short times now...
geokaker You should get that checked out, ASAP. It’s important to rule out anything that could be heart related.
Neil Bradley on it... thanks for the video man, anyway, you've got very good sober videos on an important subject
geokaker Thank you, and I hope you get to some answers to your chest pain.
I get rib pain in back and left side
+gwen joplin Hello Gwen, yes so do I but Docs don't seem to know why and I can't work it out either.
gwen joplin hey me too! I’m just getting this now and am at a loss what this could be. Sometimes it feels like tightness in left and right rib, but not really painful, more like a numbness/tightness.
Do you get muscle soreness from the ms hug?
Hi Mary, I’m not sure that the chest pain I get is the ms hug, but whatever it is it is very painful. I do know also, the MS hug can be extremely painful. So yes. Regards Neil.
I have had chest pain in the same area. I don't know what causes it.
Hi Elizabeth, I still get this pain to this day in varying degrees. Costochondritis is the closest possible condition I’ve discovered it could be. It might be worth a Google search to match up your symptoms.
Does it radiate to your back ever?
Hi Kasey, The Dr's still don't know what causes the chest pain .. I personally think it's the intercostal muscles which connect the ribs to the sternum. These are hurting because the nerves supplying the signals (via the spinal cord) back to the brain are no longer functioning correctly. And, in answer to your question yes I do have back pain but I feel it's a different problem and not actually radiating. The back pain I experience is stiff back muscles which sit either side of the spine. At times they absolutely cripple me, so far I've found the best drug that helps me is Clonazepam which is a muscle relaxant. But this drug is like a double edged sword if you have condition like MS because it makes already weak muscles, weaker. Best - Neil.
Omg.... it is like I am talking. What I feel is like a rubber band wrapped around my heart or someone taking both hands and gently holding my heart. I only feel it on my left side. Pressing on it does not hurt, so its not costochondritis. My vitals like blood pressure and pulse rate are excellent. I did all the heart tests, ECG, Echocardiogram, Xray, Stress Test, and Cardiac MRI. All of these tests came back clear. This pain lasts for HOURS, like the entire day or sometimes days, and then mysteriously can fade away into nothingness, but then later on come back again. It never goes away. Does this sound like what you had?
Hello there, I still have this pain to this very day, even as I type this message. To compare, it sounds similar but not quite the same because you said yours fades, where as mine varies in degrees of intensity and never completely goes. At the moment just about a 2 out of 10, it’s just letting me know it’s still here. When it comes on strong, I can’t do anything apart from rest, lay down until it calms down. You’ve probably already done this but look up “ms hug”, compare your symptoms, I may be way off but it’s worth a try.
@@NeilBradleyMS Interesting... I should re-phrase what I mean by it fades, it doesn't fade away completely. I don't ever feel like I have a normal body, it just fades to a 2/10 like you said. A lot of times I find that doing things instead of thinking about pain can help make it go to a 0/10. I did do some research, however they make it seem like the MS hug is just brief muscle spasms for a few minutes. I am literally feeling it for hours and days.The other symptoms I have are unexplained pain, and unexplained fatigue. On rare occasions, I get the overwhelming sense that every muscle fiber in my body is exhausted despite doing nothing. It's like feeling like you ran a marathon, even though you did nothing.
I agree with you about the MS Hug.. I have constant nerve pain in my legs, it 's a tight squeezing and often burning sensation. I feel the MS hug is exactly the same sensation I get in my legs, but in the chest area. Only difference is, as you say it the MS hug fades after a while.
After your re-phrase of the pain in your chest, yes I would definitely agree it sound very much like what I have. It's always there in background, yes 2/10. Once again, agreed.. distracting your mind by doing other things makes it go away, or does it? I've experienced this, but it's always still there when you turn your attention back to the pain. For no apparent reason, this pain for me will increase in intensity up to 5-6's, at this point it's so bad I have to hold my chest and kind of apply pressure with my arm to take the edge of it. The pain can increase further to 9's and 10's, for what reason I do not know, but when this happens all I can say is it's sheer AGONY, no amount of pain killers will touch it (they don't anyway). I just have to try and get into a position whereby I can try and cope, and wait.
I too have also researched, my pain starts in sternum (center of the chest) and radiates outwards. It came on around about the same time as the MS. The doctors don't agree with me, but I believe it's the intercostal muscles which connect the sternum and your ribs together. Somehow, the MS has interfered with the nerves which serve these muscles, and hence now causing 24/7 pain.
Fatigue is definitely an MS symptom caused by brain lesions. I have no brain lesions, only spinal cord. The fatigue I have is through not being able to sleep properly because of pain and spasticity (leg spasms), and the massive amounts of energy which is need to move my body.
My advice would be to keep a diary of all past and present symptoms, describe them in details, if you still have them, or have they faded. This will prove very important if you haven't already been to the Doctor, history plays a big part in any kind of Neurological diagnosis.
All the best - Neil.
Hey again, I just wanted to give you an update. At the beginning of this month I had a severe flare up and things are getting worse now, I am literally walking around with a permanent pressure/tingling sensation on my left side chest now. I spoke to my doctor and he is referring me to a neurologist to test me for MS. When I get the test results back, I will let you know. It's been over two weeks, I have been resting, taking NSAIDs, and I am still not recovering from "costochondritis". I also layed in an emergency room for 3 hours hooked up to the ECG machine and they are not finding anything. It will probably take me 4 months to see the neurologist but, in due time, I will let you know if they find anything. @@NeilBradleyMS
@christone1989 Hey There, blimey I’m sorry to hear that you’re having to cope with these scary symptoms. Super happy they are taking you seriously and you’ve been referred, ok it might take a while but at least you’re on the right road. Good luck.
Im having a relapse right now.
I’m sorry to hear this Debra, what symptoms are you experiencing and have you seen your Dr yet?
I get this,it makes my top half rigid,it alters how I talk,my voice goes low and slow,I went see my doc,he says it's a Panic Attack 😀 its nothing like a Panic Attack,its total opposite!
I suspect I have ms..cramps in fingers,legs daily..vision altered,been referred to hospital by SPECSAVERS, my left foot is painful,but tingles, memory is bad, when I'm talking,I can't say what I want to say,the word is there but won't come out..lately I've been getting a feeling like I'm on a roundabout,a weird sensation...ive seen a different doc and he's listened,did a few little tests,and has referred me to a neurologist
A Panic Attack!! That's just stupid .. I sometimes think that they put things down to a panic attack or stress as an excuse because they've got no idea what's going on. I'm so pleased that you've finally found a Dr that is listening to you properly and taking you seriously. I can tell you now that the symptoms you list are certainly neurological and have absolutely nothing to do with panic attacks. I'm no Doctor. Great, I'm pleased you been referred to a Neuro, good luck in your quest for a diagnosis. Part of an MS diagnosis (if it is MS) relies heavily on history, so if you can make a list of symptoms and when they started occurring (best you can remember) this will be very helpful. Especially doing this prior to your appointment because it will give you time to think properly when they started and form a bit of a timeline, instead of being on the spot and trying to remember in the Dr's office. Best of luck.
@@NeilBradleyMS Thanks for your advice,I will start writing stuff down,I might be able to explain things better,hopefully 😀 I can remember the cramps,foot/ankle pain,numbness and vision issues all starting around the same time 3 years ago,then the thing when my top half goes rigid n stuff that's like the last 2 years I've been getting that.Been doctors a few times about it,and it's been pushed off as depression.Too be honest,I want em to find out what's causing all of this,because I need some kind of pain relief,I'm on warfarin,lifelong,so I'm very limited on what medication I can take 😢 Thanks again,il keep ya updated
Hi Neil. How are you? I'm the New Zealand physio who commented a couple of years back. Sorry I didn't reply to your reply - I seem to get only very erratic notifications from TH-cam, and your wasn't one of them..
I think what we've been doing would be useful for MS hug. I've put some info about it up on the Other Conditions page of our website - I'd appreciate your thoughts on it. Link is www.bodystance.co.nz/en/other-conditions/
I've been working in the area of costochondritis. I've gone back through the original research and there is pretty much nothing to support the common medical view of it as a "mysterious inflammation." The validated and sensible explanation is strain at the rib joints on the sternum because of lack of movement at the joints at the other ends of the same ribs, where they hinge onto the spine. That's why with costo you usually also get clicking as the rib joints on your sternum strain and 'give', and a lesser pain round the back under your shoulder blade where the joints back round there are frozen.
We built the Backpod as a spinal fulcrum that will actually do an effective stretch on tight rib cage hinges. Other things cannot, for several technical reasons covered in the website. For instance, the long cylinder of a foam roller can't get much specific pressure on the ribs; the small peaked shape of the Backpod can.
With MS, my impression is that after a while, the neurological tightening of the intercostal chest muscles causes tightening of the rib cage joints too. This is unsurprising. But once it's happened even if the MS fairy waved her wand and disappeared all the neurological tension, you'd still have a tight rib cage which will stay that way unless enough leverage is applied to the tight rib joints to free them up again. That's what we use the Backpod for.
I've recently given a Backpod to a youngish climber who has impressively trained through his MS and got out of a wheelchair and into the mountains. I'm pretty gobsmacked - don't really know how he's done it. However after only a week on the Backpod he was reporting dramatically less rib cage pain and much easier breathing. He's going to report back on whether the incidence of his MS hugs has also dropped - I have no idea how that will go.
So I'm not for one moment saying the Backpod can affect MS itself. But of course it can free up the mechanical rib tightening that I'm sure is an obvious legacy of MS hugs over time. Freeing up a tight rib cage is just bog standard New Zealand physio - all we've done with the Backpod is build a fulcrum with enough specific leverage to let people do it at home themselves.
These are only impressions of mine - but they make common sense. Would appreciate your thoughts.
Cheers, Steve August (B.A.,Dip.Physio.).
Thanks for the message, and yes I remember you very well when you commented a couple of years ago. The back pod is sounding very successful and I’m pleased for you. I will check out the link you sent me. The chest pain I experience hasn’t gone completely, it’s always there in background but, it’s significantly improved now. It does ramp up sometimes, but no where near as bad compared to when I did the initial video you commented on. The guy with MS who was in a wheel chair, wow that’s amazing. He possibly has the remitting form of MS which attacks and gets better where as mine is aggressive and progressive. Good to hear from you again.
chest inconfront only sit on recliner I walk 4 blocks is terrible I live third fl so hard walk up stairs after I walk the 4 blocks happen yesterday was getting ready for sunday is my birthday
Hello Dee Dee, I hope you have a lovely birthday on Sunday, sending best wishes to you. Living on the third floor must be terribly difficult. I’m guessing there is no lift! I struggle climbing one flight of stairs in my house. You did really well walking four blocks, I can’t even walk round the shopping centre now (Tesco’s). I used to really enjoy doing this and it upsets me greatly that I can no longer do it. Look after yourself.
Is hard do things by myself that day I believe was Wednesday hardly couldn't walk upstairs and I was with my Walker my knees got swollen
Is MS bear hug 24/7? I have chest tightness 24/7
Hi Angela, it depends.. I suppose it can be but the body can repair itself to a certain degree. Steroid treatment can also help reduce inflammation which in turn can also help I believe.
Pressure on my ribs doesn’t hurt for me either, costo doesn’t always hurt when pressure is applied. I don’t believe it’s an ms hug, are you short or breath
Hi Cole, no never been short of breath. I still have this pain even to this day in varying degrees.
I have tietze syndrome, but many say there could be an MS component
I could recover on day though, do you take vitamin D ? How much do u take ?
I’ve not heard of Tietze syndrome so had to Google. I think it the closest symptom match to my chest pain I’ve ever read! The only thing is coughing, sneezing and pressing the area where it hurts makes no difference to the pain. Yes I take Vitamin D in the form of a prescribed med called Accrete D3. The dosage is 400iu twice daily, but they also contain calcium for bones. This is because I’m also on Prednisolone (steroids), so the Accrete D3 is a bone protector effectively.
Thank you for your time , your symptoms take a bell curve and go up and then down again hey? Tietze is more consistent
I am trying to find out if the MS Hug happens in any other condition than MS. Do you know?
Hi Bobbie,
Thanks for the message..I've only ever heard the MS Hug term in relation to actual MS itself. But when you think about it, all the hug is is a tightening sensation of the muscles/skin around the chest area which gives a squeezing (hug) effect. Not much of a hug though to be honest :/ This is caused caused by the malfunction of signals to the Intercostal muscles which support surrounding ribs etc in the area. So the underlying cause of this hug effect, is the malfunction of nerve signals caused by the MS so what I'm trying to say is I don't see why this can't be caused by another condition. There are several more conditions out that that cause damage to the nerve, so why not? That is just my opinion.
Regards - Neil.
Yes, I have Sjogren's Syndrome and I had what I think was the MS Hug. The worst pain spasm, besides the Trigeminal Neuralgia that I also have as well. The neurologist and Primary doctor have no idea what it is, but I am thinking that may be what is was. Lasted 15 long minutes. Horrible pain, took a video of it.
That sounds just horrible, sounds like it could well be the MS hug. I’d be interested to see your video.
YOU HAVE INTERCOSTAL NEUROLGIA MY FRIEND, PLEASE GET A 3-Telsa MRI OF YOUR THERASTIC SPINE!!! PLEASE ask your MS Neuro to check your Spine for Lesions!!! BTW I Liked and Subscribed M8...
Hi Victoria, that's very interesting.. I'm going to Google it, many thanks for the info. I already know I have lesions on my Thoracic spine so I guess this could be the cause which I suspected as much. Thank you for the like and sub, much appreciated.
Is that the hug
+gwen joplin I'm not sure that it is the hug.. I imagine the hug to be more of a squeezing sensation. My legs are being squeezed 24 / 7 so I know what this feels like. For me the chest pain is not squeezing, it's more of an intense pain. Take care.
@@NeilBradleyMS oh boy! I understand that much time has passed since you created this, that said, you spent over 2.5 minutes self promoting and then another 2 minutes self promoting to close. With a cat antidote to boot.
Not a huge help to a person with MS experiencing Costco-chon-dritus OR that dreaded MS girdle.
Hope your current theories about this disease is based on the symptoms themselves, instead of the long blathers about why the internet ought to pay attention to you.
Cheers from Canada.
Dear Carly, I'm so terribly sorry that you seem to be one of these unique individuals in life whom are driven by the compulsion to hurt, upset and offend people.
Congratulations, you succeeded in doing that with me so I'm now hoping that you feel much better for expressing your rude, critical and disrespectful attitude.
If you didn't like my video, you could have just moved on to the next one .. nobody was holding you at gun point and forcing you to watch it.
My channel at the time of the video was small (less than 100 subs), and I was new to the whole TH-cam thing, a learning curve as it were because we all have to start somewhere don't we. My few subscribers had shown an interest in my cat and liked to hear about her.
I started my TH-cam channel to HELP people, this is clearly evident by the absolutely thousands of lovely and positive comments I've received, and continue to receive each and every day. How do you help people?
I do hope that one day you learn not to be so disparaging, and that your cutting words can stay with somebody for a long time. There will be a time when you will be made to feel, how you make others feel.
Have a lovely day.
Cheers from the UK!
PS. Clearly the Internet is paying me attention, this is very evident with the continuing daily growth of my channel.
if you have MS is it not simply an MS hug? I don't know why doctors are not on top of this- there are millions of people who suffer from the same thing- Are we reinventing the wheel each time we go to the doctor?
Hi There - Well that's what I originally thought also, but this feels more than that to be honest. It feels more intense and radiating out from the Sternum, however having said that nothing I've been given for Chosto has worked. So when I mentioned this to my MS Specialist she said its classic MS, I'm still not convinced because it doesn't feel like the hug. I'm all too familiar with the tight squeezing sensation MS exhibits on its victims, I live with this daily.. not in the chest but in the legs (both of them). I can well imagine in the chest it should feel similar, but the pain is more of an intense dull aching rather than a squeezing/tightness.
Regards - Neil.
Neil Bradley I get the squeezing in my legs- and recently in my chest- I woke up just today from the pain- I was a little concerned it was a heart attack it hurt so much- but most likely not- most likely just another thing to add to the long list of bs from MS.
Yep, very familiar with the squeezing in lots of different locations especially in my legs and above the knees, so I can totally relate to you. As you probably know though, you should never take any kind of pain in the chest lightly and always get it checked out by a medical professional, at least for your own peace of mind. This is what I did.
Neil.
Neil Bradley I don't have health insurance.
Hmm, I do see how that can be a problem.. even so surely if you had pains in the chest you simply wouldn't be turned away. I hope you manage to get checked out.
Have you seen a neurogist?I would suggest seeing a MS neurological. Good luck . For your sake, I pray that it isn't MS. God Bless,
Bless you, thank you. Yes I’m under my hospital neurology team for quite some time. 🙏