Help-Line 01233 334879

 

Proventus

Making Life Fairer

 

Working Together to Make a Difference

UK Charity No 1131517

Working together to make a difference

We are a member of the Fund Raising Standards Board

 

We are all volunteers and the advice we receive is also given freely.

 

All donations are used to further the work we do.

Please Donate

 

Join Us

 

Provide Support

Buy At

 

UK Charity

No 1131517

 

Copyright © Proventus 2010

 

Terms & Conditions

 

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.  

Find Us Here

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                                                                                                                                                                   

• At waist level or chest level, it is unusual to experience MS hug - girdle band sensation as high as the shoulders or neck.
• It may focus in one small area or go all the way around the body.
• Symptoms worsen with fatigue or stress.
• Symptoms presents itself as waves lasting seconds, minutes, hours or may even persist for longer periods of time.

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

• Burning pain.
• Constricting sensation.
• Dull pain.
• Intense pressure.
• Sharp pain.
• Tickling.
• Tingling  
• Difficulty breathing can be so severe that it is often perceived as a heart attack or panic attack.

Tests may be done to discount other causes such as                                                                                                                          

• Gallbladder problems.
• Gastrointestinal disorders.
• Heart problems.
• Inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs.
• Lung disease.
• While MS hug can be a sign of an exacerbation, it can also be a sign of a pseudoexacerbation, a temporary worsening of symptoms caused by an external factor, such as:
• Heat Problems.
• Stress.
• Fatigue.

Attempting to manage the problem                                                                                                                                                          

• Auto-suggestion -  Close your eyes and picture different images that represent the sensation, then visualize doing something to get relief.
• Increase Fluid Intake - Try lukewarm herbal tea for relaxation and plenty of water, trapped wind will cause discomfort and pain and may be mistaken for MS hug.
• Massage - Manual lymph drainage massage can be helpful, however be sure to learn the correct method. Massage is not always appropriate and can be harmful if applied when suffering certain diseases. (Always consult your clinician).
• Pressure - Place the flat of the hand where possible onto the area and press fairly hard.
• Always wear Loose Clothing - Tight fitting garments prevent the body from breathing or losing heat.
• For some heat helps, for others it makes the problem worse (Uthoffs Phenomenon). Try a warm bath, warm / hot shower or heating pad to see if this provides some relief.
• If you feel an MS hug beginning and heat exacerbates the situation, try cooling off and resting. (lying flat may be better than sitting when resting).

Antispasticity Medications                                                                                                                                                                         

• Lioresal - Baclofen
• Valium - Diazapam - lorazepam
• Xanaflex - Tizanidine

Neuropathic Pain Relief Medications                                                                                                                                                      

• Lyrica - Pregabalin
• Neurontin - Gabapentin
• Ibuprofen
• Advil
• Motrin

 

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

• Inhale - the intercostal muscles contract which raises the rib cage up and outward, and the diaphragm moves down, making the chest expand. Air is sucked into the lungs, because the pressure in the airways is less than it is outside.
• Exhale - the intercostal muscles and diaphragm relax the ribs fall downward and inward, and the diaphragm springs back into a dome shape, gently squeezing the lungs and pushing air out.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Top of Page