Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Perhaps one of the oddest pain-related symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the “MS hug” (a.k.a. girdle-band sensation, girdling, or banding)—the feeling like there’s a tight band around the chest and ribs. This can come and go over the course of several weeks and range from an annoying pressure to abject pain. Though it’s common in MS, this type of pain tends to be one of the most annoying and uncomfortable symptoms people with MS experience.
Verywell / JR Bee
Like many MS symptoms, the MS hug feels different for each individual. It can also feel different in the same people on different days or at different times of the day.
The pain of an MS hug has been described in many unique ways, including:
This pain usually occurs somewhere in between your neck and your waist.
You might only feel it on one side or in one small area; at other times, it can wrap around your entire torso. The pain can occur in waves that last seconds, minutes, or hours, or it can be steady for longer periods of time.
Chest pain needs to be taken seriously. Be sure to seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe chest pain and/or you’re also having difficulty breathing or other signs of a heart attack. Even if you think it’s simply MS-related, see a healthcare provider to be on the safe side.
Early, Common, and Rare MS Symptoms
The sensation itself is the result of tiny muscles between each rib called intercostal muscles going into spasm. These muscles have the job of holding your ribs together, as well as keeping them flexible and aiding in movement, such as forced expiration.
However, like everything related to MS, the root cause of the MS hug has to do with damage to the myelin sheath.
In cases where you’ve already been diagnosed with MS and the MS hug starts up suddenly along with other symptoms, it’s possible that you’re having a relapse.
Years ago, people thought MS was a painless disease, even healthcare providers. Now scientists know that this isn’t true. In fact, research shows that likelymore than halfof people with MS experience pain at some point in their disease course.Besides the MS hug, other types of pain includetrigeminal neuralgia, abnormal sensations in your legs and feet, andLhermitte’s signamong the most common.However, other types of pain can include muscle aches, neck pain, and headaches.
While you should not be shy about sharing details of your discomfort with your healthcare provider—it’s information that can help lead to a diagnosis—your healthcare provider will still need to do a thorough workup if your symptoms are similar to those of MS hug because a number of other health conditions can mimic it.
Differential DiagnosisIn addition to a heart attack and a panic attack,the following need to be ruled outto confirm the diagnosis of MS hug:Gallbladder diseaseStomach or intestinal infectionLung diseaseInflammation of the cartilage between the ribs (called costochondritis)
Differential Diagnosis
In addition to a heart attack and a panic attack,the following need to be ruled outto confirm the diagnosis of MS hug:Gallbladder diseaseStomach or intestinal infectionLung diseaseInflammation of the cartilage between the ribs (called costochondritis)
In addition to a heart attack and a panic attack,the following need to be ruled outto confirm the diagnosis of MS hug:
If these other causes have been ruled out and you have already been diagnosed with MS, your neurologist may want to order amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanto see if you’re having an MS relapse, as you may need steroids if your symptoms are severe or debilitating.
How Multiple Sclerosis Is Diagnosed
If your healthcare provider determines that your hug pain is indeed MS-related, there are some ways it can be treated, depending on the severity of your pain and whether or not you’re having a relapse. In many cases, you won’t need treatment and the pain will pass on its own.
Medications
For severe cases of MS hug in which you’re experiencing a lot of pain or it’s lasting a long time, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication (or a combination of medications) to help, such as:
A muscle relaxant like Lioresal (baclofen), Fleqsuvy (baclofen oral suspension), or Zanaflex (tizanidine)An antispastic drug such as Valium (diazepam) or Ativan (lorazepam)An anticonvulsant like Lyrica (pregabalin) or Neurontin (gabapentin)An antidepressant such as Cymbalta (duloxetine) or Elavil (amitriptyline)
Some healthcare providers have usedBotox (botulinum toxin) injectionsto selectively reduce muscle spasticity. Botox blocks a chemical neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, allowing your muscles to relax. Treatment is typically indicated for those with severe pain and can last for up to six months with relatively few side effects (mainly injection site pain or redness). Botox is also commonly used to treat severeMS-associated bladder dysfunction.
If your healthcare provider thinks that your symptoms indicate a true MS relapse, they may prescribe a course of a high-dose corticosteroid known asSolu-Medrol.
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Relapses
Home Treatments
Some of these methods, which can be used to manage other MS pain as well, include:
Trial and ErrorBecause of the individual nature of pain, you may need to try a variety of methods before you find what works for you. It may also take a number of strategies used together to combat your MS pain.
Trial and Error
Because of the individual nature of pain, you may need to try a variety of methods before you find what works for you. It may also take a number of strategies used together to combat your MS pain.
A Word From Verywell
Living With Multiple Sclerosis
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Multiple Sclerosis Trust.MS hug.
Popescu BF, Pirko I, Lucchinetti CF.Pathology of multiple sclerosis: where do we stand?Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2013;19(4 Multiple Sclerosis):901-21. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000433291.23091.65
Drulovic J, Basic-kes V, Grgic S, et al.The prevalence of pain in adults with multiple sclerosis: a multicenter cross-sectional survey.Pain Med. 2015;16(8):1597-602. doi:10.1111/pme.12731
Holland NJ.Urinary dysfunction and MS. National MS Society.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain and itching.
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