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Multiple Sclerosis

It is important to remember that MS is only one part of a person and not the person.

MS does not represent them, it is not their identity, they are as normal as the next person.  

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MS Hug - Girdle Band Sensation                                                                                                                                                             

Caused by a lesion on the spinal cord and is classified as a neuropathic pain (paresthesia) which refers to any abnormal sensation. The sensation itself is the result of the intercostal muscles going into spasm. MS hug symptoms vary from person to person and they may also vary in the same person at different times during the day or days.

 

The intercostal muscles stretch from the back of the chest area around to the front encircling the rib cage, when the control signals to and from the intercostal muscle system are disrupted they may contract when they should be relaxing or relaxing when they should be contracting (don’t forget muscles do not push they only pull).

 

There is no set pattern, it is the ensuing signalling chaos created by spinal lesions which causes MS hug symptoms.

MS Hug symptoms may occur                                                                                                                                                                   

MS Hug symptoms vary from person to person and are often described as                                                                                     

Tests may be done to discount other causes such as                                                                                                                          

Attempting to manage the problem                                                                                                                                                          

Antispasticity Medications                                                                                                                                                                         

Neuropathic Pain Relief Medications                                                                                                                                                      

 

Many of the medications used to treat “MS hug” are very addictive, use only with caution and careful monitoring by your clinician.

 

Intercostal Muscles

There are tiny muscles between each rib, called intercostal muscles which basically hold the ribs together, giving the ribcage some flexibility while assisting in movements, such as forced expiration. The intercostal muscles fill up the spaces between the adjacent ribs. They are arranged in three sets, external, internal and innermost internal, eleven pairs of each.

Breathing

 

 

 

 

 

Related Pages.

Intercostal muscles

Layers of muscles between each pair of ribs linking them together.

There are three principal layers;

  1. External intercostal muscles, which aid in quiet and forced inhalation. They originate on ribs 1-11 and have their insertion on ribs 2-12. The external intercostals are responsible for the elevation of the ribs, and expanding the transverse dimensions of the thoracic cavity.
  2. Internal intercostal muscles, which aid in forced expiration (quiet expiration is a passive process). They originate on ribs 2-12 and have their insertions on ribs 1-11. The internal intercostals are responsible for the depression of the ribs decreasing the transverse dimensions of the thoracic cavity.
  3. Innermost intercostal muscle, the deep layers of the internal intercostal muscles which are separated from them by the neurovascular bundle.

Both the external and internal muscles are innervated by the intercostal nerves and are provided by the intercostal arteries and intercostal veins.

Their fibres run in opposite directions

 

Diaphragm

Dome shaped muscle dividing the chest and abdomen areas. In conjunction with the intercostal muscles they form the body’s main breathing muscle system.

 

Muscles are in a constant state of readiness (tonus). Although muscles work in pairs and groups to create movement a muscle can only contract (pull) while the opposing muscle relaxes and vis a versa, however tension is always maintained in both muscle pairs (tonus) otherwise instability will occur.

 

Tension maintained in the relaxing muscle prevents the contracting muscle from overreacting.

 

Now imagine that the nerve signalling to the muscles are intermittent and the relaxing muscle or muscles receiving message to maintain its opposing tension its disrupted it will no longer work to maintain the equalising balance and its opposite partner will then over react leading to the symptoms of MS Hug.

 

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