We talked about the hug a couple of times earlier, so I'll just attach the information here:
Quote:
Originally Posted by lady_express_44
The hug, which can cause breathing difficulty, could be as a result of a pseudo exacerbation (due to over-heating, etc.), or it as part of an attack. However, the hug is a symptom of spinal damage/lesions and requires that we have damage in this area (not the brain).
It is a sensory symptom (paresthesia), and occurs as a result of a spasm in our intercostal (rib) muscles. While it may FEEL like we can’t breath or like we are having a heart attack, it does not actually impede our breathing.
http://ms.about.com/od/signssymptoms/a/ms_hug_pain.htm |
Friend, have you been checked for any kind of infection; UTI, sinuses, tooth problems, etc. If you do not have infection, it is becoming abundantly clear that you are in a spinal lesion attack.
The type of attack you describe is one of the harder and longer one's we can go through. I am not meaning to scare you (I hope I am not), but if you are like me in that way, I prefer to know what I'm headed for as it eases my mind a little.
The numbness from these attacks spreads, and depending on where the spinal lesion is, will effect us up to a certain point. If it is a T-spine lesion, it often stops just about the breast level, and if it is a C-spine lesion, it may go higher and include your hands.
There may be some odd things occur, including bowel and bladder issues, so please feel free to contact me by PM if you would be more comfortable doing that.
It is my experience that this type of attack escalates over a 6 week period, and then improvements occur mostly over the next 6 weeks. I just don't want you to get discouraged because of how much time it takes to heal . . .
From all the people I've talked to, steroids do not improve the length of time it takes to get through this, and I have not observed any difference in the extent of the attack (severity) with or without steroids. It may take some heavy duty symptom management meds to get through the worst of it, although I do not ever take anything (I have an extremely high tolerance to pain though).
I'm sorry you are going through this so soon again. I hope the "B" starts to "do it's thing" while you are recovering.
Cherie
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I am not a Neurologist, Physician, Nurse, or Hairdresser ... but I have learned that it is not such a great idea to give oneself a haircut after three margaritas
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