hug sounds like it would be pleasantbut if you have multiple sclerosis, you know its anything but.
It may feel like a corset squeezing your torso, and it can be really painful.
Often the first symptom of M.S., the sensation is due to spastic nerves, according toRush University.
An MS hug is a very painful muscle spasm.
Before we get into what an M.S.
hug is, exactly, its important to understand how M.S.
National Library of Medicine(NLM).
As more and more myelin gets destroyeda process called demyelination1M.S.
The symptoms you experience depend onwherethe myelin has been damaged.
For example, if myelin damage is in your optic nerve, you may have eye pain.
One symptom that is still not well understood is the M.S.
Researchers still have a lot to learn about the so-called hug, but here is whats known so far.
What is an M.S.
hug?|What does an M.S.
hug feel like?|What causes an M.S.
hug?|Does the M.S.
What is an M.S.
In short, the M.S.
How long does the M.S.
Its painful and it comes in clusters, Dr. Green says.
The hug is sort of a colloquial termin fact, there isnt an official medical definition of M.S.
hug, according to a 2019 paper published in the journalNeurology2.
That said, the current understanding of the M.S.
hug is also sometimes categorized under dysaesthesia, a group of weird sensations triggered by nerve damage3.)
hug also occurs in another demyelinating disease, neuromyelitis optica, which affects the optic nerve and spinal cord.
Another mystery is the number of people who experience the M.S.
hugand there are several explanations for this.
Dr. Green theorizes that doctors and people with M.S.
may miss signs of the hug.
Further, some people with M.S.
mistake symptoms of acid reflux, gastrointestinal conditions, and even anxiety as the M.S.
What does an M.S.
describe it as a squeezing, constricting, or band-like tightening in a section of the trunk.
Some say it feels like they are wearing a tight garment, like a girdle, Dr. Wingerchuk says.
Theres no doubt about one thing though: Its very painful.
Some people who experience M.S.
hugs have chest pain and others report that their limbs go numb during the spasm4.
Sometimes, people tear a muscle if they pull against the direction of the spasm.
By pulling against a spasming muscle, you end up with a secondary musculoskeletal injury, says Dr. Green.
This can make your pain even worse.
As with many othersymptoms of M.S., experiencing M.S.
hugs canmake daily life extremely difficult.
What causes an M.S.
Broadly speaking,demyelination(the process of myelin getting destroyed) is what causes an M.S.
The symptom develops only if there is demyelination from M.S.
affecting certain sensory nerve pathways in the spinal cord, Dr. Wingerchuk explains.
Although experts dont knowexactlywhich pathways those are, most agree that dysregulated firing of nerve cells causes an M.S.
Researchers also know that certain events can trigger an M.S.
hug: Hyperventilation is a biggie.
The other two things that can bring on an M.S.
hug is being overheated or, strangely, getting cold, Dr. Green says.
Many people with M.S.
feel overheated before having a flare-up of symptoms.
More rarely, some individuals get chilly before an attack and docs arent exactly sure why this occurs.
Does the M.S.
hug is a spasm, the feeling itself should eventually subside.
If you experience recurrent M.S.
hugs, there are medications that can help.
hug is actually pretty easy to treat, Dr. Green says.
Medications to treat M.S.
in the first place.
Anti-seizure medications:Treating M.S.
is the best way to avoid an M.S.
Its important to note that medications can reduce the number of M.S.
hugs you get, but they may not prevent them from happening 100% of the time.
For some people, hands-on therapies like massage or touch are also helpful, he notes.
Beyond that, he recommends avoiding any M.S.
hug triggers you may have noticed, such as extreme temperatures.
The good news is that if you experience an M.S.
hug once, that doesnt necessarily mean it will become a chronic problem.
That said, if you experience an M.S.
hug can feel really scary and jarring.
