Hi Day, I have a similar feeling in my left rib cage (right below bra line) around to the middle of my back. That was my first symtom of MS and it has not gone away. I had my first flare last spring. Somedays it is worse than others. I occasionally use baclofen (10 mg) in the evening. I have also found that a low dose of clonozepam (.25 mg) sometimes helps. I am lucky in that the pain I experience recedes when I am laying down. Weird, huh?

Hi Day,
Just wanted to offer some
Hope the zanaflex helps til you get to the doctor

Sorry to see that you're experiencing this, Day. It does sound like nerve/muscle spazzes and/or the hug to me too. The hug does not always bother your breathing, sometimes it's in a smaller spot, or a few spots.

I also feel like I'm bruised all over sometimes. It isn't unique to when I'm having the hug, and I don't always get that with the hug. Isn't this disease a hoot?

Feel better soon.

I think the others are right, it sounds like The Hug.

I usually only feel the hug on the right side of my rib cage, from just below my...uummm...chest, to the bottom of the rib cage. Usually only lasts a day or two for me.

The Hug is caused by the intercostal muscles spasming (The intercostals are muscles that hold the ribcage together and helps the ribs expand and contract)

It's annoying and a bit distressing at times, but it's another one of the (I think...so far...) harmless MS symptoms that have been sent to torture us all. (who did we tick off in previous lives to get tortured with these freaky symptoms anyways? I must have been some horrible dictator or something)

Looks like it's gonna be a sleepless night tonight. I cannot lay down in the bed and this recliner is not as comfortable to night as it was last night.

lol and because I couldn't sleep I decided to see how my son's cell phone usage had been online. Imagine my surprise when my cell phone bill is over $400.

So I sat here looking at the details of the bill. Of course it's all my son's doing.
Yes, he will have to pay the $340 that is his part.

Now I'm stressed and awake. I just called my son. It's his lunch break at work. he works nights. I told him he had better not send or recieve 1 more text.

My husband is gonna hit the roof when he finds out.(so not my fault)

So now I'm awake and still hurting.

DAY

Oh Day! I was going to commiserate with the rib pain, 'cos I get that too, only I'm sure mine's not a hug, because it's there when I wake up every single morning without fail. Now I feel I should direct my sympathy to the pain in your wallet, and that "sick' feeling in the pit of your stomach.

I am so glad mobile phone's hadn't been invented when our family were teenagers....they're 29 & 31.

I do hope you get some sleep tonight.

Skelaxin is pretty wimpy. I used it and wondered if there was really any med in it?

Flexeril helps for a lot of muscle stuff (even skeletal muscle) - I take 10-20 mgs. Caution though, it may knock you out and you might want to try that at bedtime.

Zanaflex - I take 4 mgs, and I don't know if it makes me sleepy because I have only taken it at bedtime. But it does seem to hlp for most of the next day.

If muscle relaxers do not work though it could be other things.

Already mentioned to get heart and gall bladder checked, and you don't have the gall bladder. Also check lungs and look into stomach problems - could be ulcer even if you don't feel pain the way you'd think you would.

People with ms often feel pain in weird ways.

Good luck with this, hope you get some relief.

Well, I finally took a zanaflex around 2:30am last night. I couldn't lay down in any way. Was so miseralbe, I thought "take the pill or go to the ER"

I took it. Feel asleep sitting up, leaning over the recliner arm. I could not lean the recliner back.
I went to sleep around 3:30am. Woke up at 6am when DH's alarm went off.

I sat up and thought WOW!!!!!

I was stiff from sleeping like I was, but the ribcage pain was not there. I had some soreness, but nothing like it had been.
I went and got in bed and slept till 10am.

When I woke up, I felt fine. Then decided to get some stuff done around here. Didn't take me long to realize I have to take it easy. I'm hurting again and I really didn't do too much. Just unloaded and loaded the dishwasher. Started a load of clothes and took the trash out to the barrells.

I'm going to call the doctors office when they get back from lunch. See if she will call me in some zanaflex. Can't use to many of my daughters.
Some how I have the feeling the PCP will want to see me. I honestly cannot afford to go to the doctor right now.

It will cost me $84 just to go in. Then if she wants to make sure it's not major and orders an xray, I'd have to pay for that too. I know I wont get out of there without paying $200. Then have to buy the zanaflex.
(house payment week, can't do it)

At least I do know it's a muscle thing. lol Doesn't help the pain, but at least I know.

Thank you all so much for the help. This was really starting to scare me.

DAY

Oh Day,
I've had those nights in a recliner from my back pain. See how quick the zanaflex worked? I've found myself in situations where DD and I share a script (prozac, Adderall) because of financial issues. As soon as I have the cash, I buy more, and ultimately, share more. As long as we have what we need at all times, I feel less guilt. If we are low, I always let her have it. So I say, if you have enough, get yourself through this time, and see a doc on payday.

Relax and take a nap...I hope you get back to your normal self soon!

So sorry you are having so much pain, Day. This is weird, but my DD just had an Ultrasound for left side bottom rib pain. We don't have the results back yet. But, it felt better yest, so she ate some nacho's (against my advice) and the pain was back.

I feel so bad for you both. She has been miserable too. Altho, I don't think her pain is as bad as yours. Hers hurt to lie flat also. take care ~

Keep us posted OK??