First, let me say I took my 2 week copaxone break, and went back on this stuff kicking and screaming, and will break down and cry if someone tells me that I caused this by taking a break.

Once or twice a year, I get this weird tugging, sensation in my intestines just under my right rib cage. many MDs through the years have said "come see me when it happens again" I call, and they say "we can see you in two week." its gone by then. The new AlaCarte MD said "come in today!" so, in I trudge. I feel like i have to lean to the left, and I cant explain it any better than to say, I feel like my liver is trying to flip over. He was impressed with the size of the muscle that was standing out on the ridge where my liver sits. After careful palpation he said he doesnt think its my liver, but...off to CT scan I go. Negative! off to Xray I go. Negative! blood work all negtive incl LFTs and CBC except small rise in platelets which is normal for me.

I normally can have that tug feeling under my rib cage, but once or twice a year WOWIE! it literally feels like my liver is trying to flip. All those who have been pregnant, and remember the feeling when the baby swooped, and rolled over? I keep expecting that to happen to my liver! anyway, After much poking, and some careful questions by the ala carte MD he said he can find nothing truly wrong, and found it bizarre. He has schedule me to see a surgeon in the AM "just in case" He also said "do you think this could be an MD thing for you?" Huh?! Not one MD has EVER said that this may be MS related....why didnt I think of that?

So, cast your votes now! what is your opinion. Btw, you should know I just got over an ear infection, and was and still am running a low grade fever, which always makes me feel poopy. I dont normally run a temp when this silly thing happens.

This has been happening for at least 10 years, and each year its a lil more intense than the year before. it will leave in a few days or up to two weeks is my record, and then...it will be quiet till next time.

Has the fever caused me to lose my mind? did I have one to start with? it wasnt a long trip to lose it...anyway....

It is 24 hours a day without break.

What is this? Is it MS?

I had a "thing" quite a few years ago before MS was confirmed where it felt like a baby kicking and/or turning (no chance!) under my ribs. It lasted a few weeks. It wasn't painful; just strange. I didn't do anything about it, but I was mystified. After MS was confirmed I just figured I'd blame it on that.

If yours has been coming and going all these years, it probably is just an annoyed muscle, brought on by the fever. I would think anything dangerous would have showed up in your tests or at the very least, caused some major pain. Sounds like your Dr. is on top of things.

Keep us posted!

C

NO WAY!! My neuro thinks I am crazy when I told her about that. It's happened to me a few times in the last year and normally lasts a week or two. The last time I actually went and bought a pregnancy test just to be sure! I am so glad I am not the only one!

I hope it's not a flare, Dej..

It could be one of those change of weather thingys.

(((Dej))) Giving you gentle hugs.

Could it be from MS, absolutely. It sounds like a milder form of the hug. This was one my presenting symptoms and one that I now deal with on a daily basis to varying degrees. I have it on my left side and when it becomes more "active" you can actually see not only the muscles in the ribcage but the complete outline of my stomach. Ouch!

The good news is that your liver appears to be functioning normally. Phew!

I hope it is not a flare and that you start feeling better soon.

The way I think of it is, anywhere that has nerve endings or a nerve supply, in theory, can take damage as your myelin is eaten away.
Though the liver has no direct inner nerve paths through it, it does have a supply to the bile duct and surrounding areas, portal veins and hepatic arteries. Otherwise the blood supply would not be under control.

So I think that where there is a nerve, there could be damage.
Now whether this damage can cause pain, discomfort or sensations is another matter.
But if nerve damage in the spine can cause you to feel 'water running down a leg' , then I think anything is possible.

Take it easy.

OK, maybe I understated the pain level. it has been rocking on a 7 out of 10 for me most of the day. it doesnt stay there, it can go as low as 4 but ramp back up to 7. its PAINFUL!

I loved the feeling of my baby rolling around my tummy, and that is the only way I can describe this, BUT it feels like he grabbed onto my liver and is yanking! I am not preggers, long ago had the factory shut down.

One theory is that the fever from the ear infection set off a flair. The MDs cant find out what is making this happen, and clearly can feel it when they put their hands on my tummy. They have all said they have never seen anything like it. Dont ya know its special when they call in an office partner to "come see this thing!"

I have written an email to my neuro office, I am sure they will respond bright and early. Its HUGE for me to go see a surgeon for a second opinion. I am a "stop touching me" kinda girl.

Thanks for the hugs and well wishes. they mean alot.

With the new description - I am thinking more HUG! It is at times extremely painful. When it is bad the only thing I can do is lay flat on my back. I also get lots of shooting, sharp, burning, and stabbing like pains. Not to mention dam* near passing out and throwing up from the pain. Truly, it is not fun.

Like you, I am a don't touch me kind of girls as well as a stop breathing when in pain kind of girl. I don't scream out, I become real withdrawn and quiet. (No wonder DBF likes it when the Hug acts up. j/k He really doesn't as I get pale and sickly looking, etc from the pain and he wants to help but feels helpless as there is nothing he can do.)

Also like you, for me to even pick up the phone and call the dr is a major deal. I hate, hate going. (Hence the reason I ended up with a 2 round abx sinus infection). And to go to the ER is even a bigger deal. Working in one is one thing, being a patient in one is totally different.

Let us know how things turn out for you and how you are doing. In the meantime, try laying flat on your back with your arms over your head and take some deep breaths. This does help. Additionally, ice packs on that side may help. Ice is great for nerve conduction.

Dejibo,
I want to say that I don't think it is MS, JMO. I can only compare that I have had this and so has a friend of mine without MS. I was going to my GI doctor for my other problem years ago, and while there I had him feel the sort of bulge under my Liver, right above the waistline.

It felt very uncomfortable most of the time when it was there. I was getting it off and on during the last 10 years. I think it started even before that, for I was tested for gallbladder a long time ago.

Many doctors had tested me for gallbladder, liver tests, GI tests upper and lower, many scans and nothing was found. It drove me crazy.

He, being a GI surgeon, said it was a misplaced muscle that can spasm at times. It can bulge and you feel the movement. The bowels tend to set it off at times too. You could have twisted it or pulled it, he said to me.

It goes back into place again. That's what I think it is. I hope you are not having a flare.

When I changed ins and didn't get my "C" years ago, my MS Specialist said don't worry you are covered with the "C" for 5 months, it will still be working for you until you get the med again. So I don't think it is the drug holiday. JMO of course.

Dej!

I agree with what Lady said, and my neurologist said the same thing himself. Even though my MRI was much, much improved since the previous, and I had stopped Copaxone 3 months earlier, he said 'You still have the drug in your body for months after'. Shared Solutions even recommended me a drug holiday, so no I don't believe it's a result of the drug holiday.

Does sound like the hug, and a painful one at that. I went through a period (pre-diagnosis too, go figure!) where I actually had ultrasounds done because I had such pain in my right side under my rib. Everything checked out and my chiro worked on the muscle in that area, and it calmed down. I think stress caused mine.