Hi Ralph! Welcome to NT!

Like both Lady's (Lady Express and Lady), I get the hug too, only I don't call it a hug at all. I dubbed it the MS Vice Grip. It is pretty much a daily thing for me but to varying degrees. Catching a good deep breath can be difficult and I have found that putting my arms over my head helps.

In addition to what Lady said, I also show evidence of nerve damage in the rib cage area when they do a neurological exam. Some areas on my left side are hypersensitive to a pin prick and other areas I don't feel anything. My reflexes vary from have no reflex in my stomach to being hyperreflexic. This varies as well but during a spinal lesion flare, it can be full on. Neurontin helps quite a bit.

I will keep you in my prayers as you go through all of this and hope the chest X-ray comes back negative.

BTW - Mine is on the left side.