This is *exactly* what I have. And this is my official first flare. Mine's been going for 3 hours today, with no sign of letting up. Someone suggested using a TENS unit and since I have one, I decided to try it. it does seem to help a bit (and I might have it in the wrong position too). But at least I'm not on the verge of crying anymore.

My mom has a TENS Unit, somewhere in the house...not sure where it went, but if I can find it, I'm going to try it the next time I have a bad Hug going on.

I considered trying it (if we could figure out where she put it...she forgets things) when I had bad pain in my hand from the numbness I've got going on right now. I wish we could find that TENS. I know it's in the house somewhere. My mom actually doesnt even remember ever having it. (like I said, she forgets a lot) but she used it for 10 months.

Hi Laurie! Welcome to NT! I have a TENS unit and it does help. Long story short, several years ago (before MS dx) I went to physical therapy to help with the pain along my ribcage. This is the routine that helped me the most and I still do now when the hug gets worse. Most days I just tolerate it; it's part of my everyday life. It used to come and go in phases and I have been dealing with it since 1996?? '97ish? Only now it is constant and never stops and I now know what it is.

1. Apply warm (not hot) moist heat for 10 to 20 minutes or take a warm bath (Epsom salt helps a lot).
2. Do the TENS unit for 10 to 20 minutes.
3. (Optional but helpful) If you have some who can give you a massage, have them massage your back.
4. Apply ice for 10 to 20 minutes.
*Give yourself a few minutes between each one. Don't go straight from the warm to the TENS to the ice.

I have permanent severed/dead nerves in my ribcage extending in to my stomach (no abdominal reflexes on my left side). If you have something similar, don't apply the TENs lead to that area. You can burn yourself without realizing it.

I have spent many, many nights sleeping with an ice pack to help me sleep through the night/take some of the pain away. This usually happens during a spinal lesion flare. During those times, I know I will be down for a good week and it will take up to 8 weeks or more to feel better.

Hang in there Laurie!!! We all can relate to how you are feeling. Try different things and see what works best for you.

Yep, Laurie, we can all relate. I've been having a lot of trouble with the Hug this year. Like a lot of my symptoms, it just comes and goes, sometimes for hours, sometimes days, but never long or bad enough to be a full-on flare. For me, it feels like I've got a giant fist squashing my diaphragm vertically. I don't get any tapping, though. I also forgo the bra, and I take baclofen. It helps somewhat, and when combined with medical mj, I get better relief. Best thing for me is lying down. It feels so good when it ends and I can take a real deep breath again!

Lots of fun symptoms with this illness But then, I haven't heard of one that's "no so bad" just days that aren't so bad. They're like Fridays, and I live for them!

Hope you get relief soon.