I have (attacks) times that i get a heavy feeling in my chest it starts under my left breast then turns into a very sharp pain that goes to the top of my left arm,up that side of my neck and around my jaw.It started shortly after all the other symptoms and was only in my chest but now has progressed to as explained above.When i told the Dr. it hadn't progressed to going up the side of my neck and around my jaw.The Dr. said it was muscle cramps beneath my breast on that one side.
I also have problems swallowing at times.I can take a drink of anything, hot or cold it feels like my throat tightens up.Some may go down,i will choke and the rest that didn't make it down i either spit it out or spew it every where while choking.I take nitrostat for the trouble swallowing.
Does anyone else have or has had any problems like these?
Multiple Sclerosis - Is chest pain common in people with MS?
Question posted by Anonymous on 18 March 2014
Last updated on 8 August 2020 by Lindance
8 Answers
MS HUG: I don't think it is very common but I have had that exact same MS HUG symptom. Mine began years ago as a very thin almost elastic band that wrapped around my chest where mu be strap would have been. After many years it progressed to a heart attack symptom, I even went to the ER several times convinced I was having a heart attack. I hate to share this with you, but (only for me, everybody is different) now that thin strap has widened to cover my entire chest cavity (I say it feels like my intercostals are all in spasms) wrapping around to my back. It feels like I am wearing a lead vest, it is very scary and it interferes with my breathing. The only relief I have ever gotten is with a massage. In fact, after the massage, I cried because it was the first time in years I was without pain (sadly, Medicare does not cover massages). My Neurologist does not offer me any medication for this other than the Baclofen and Neurontin that I am already on.
He has prescribed Xanax in low doses for when I can't take it anymore. I am not a good pill taker, so this is not good for me.
Yes, I have the same symptoms plus others. However, the pain in my bones in lower extremities is becoming intolerable. No, you are not alone. I am in my 37th year of battle with MS. Hold on..fight with faith.
Well, I am really curious about this. I am 39 and have had 3 actual MI's. First 2 in 2008 and the third one in August 2009. I haven't been diagnosed with MS as of yet, my appointment is next Monday. I've had all the tests, I have the lesions on my brain, my MG blood work came back normal, I got the crap zapped out of me while they tested my nerves, and had a spinal tap that came back protein positive. Chances are, I have MS. I just wonder how I'll be able to judge between a cardiac episode and an MS flare. If I go to the hospital every time I have angina, I'll be living in the local ED. Just wanted to get some opinions on this... any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!!!
Hi Kelly,
I feel your concerns.
After massive breast cancer treatment, the oncologist told me to be aware of any unusual pains. I told her I have an undiagnosed pain syndrome and it changes. How do I tell what's abnormal?
She kind of shrugged her shoulders and I didn't get an answer.
So as I reported unusual pains down the road, I got the diagnosis of anxiety and it wasn't investigated so I stopped going.
I guess the best I can tell you is that at least you know what an MI feels like, unfortunately.
If you feel it's similar I would treat it as an MI until proven otherwise. It's the safest way to go.
The swallowing is related to the MS so you have to separate those two.
In review, MIs can present other ways beside left sided chest pains. It can be left arm, jaw a toothache.
A good way is to check if you have chest pain with inspiration. If it does it's PROBABLY lung related.
If your chest hurts when you push on it, it's probably musculoskeletal-skeletal.
If there is shortness of breath related to the chest pain it very well could be cardiac.
I know it's a pain to go to the ER but it's better not to take any chances..
The best is to compare it to your previous MIs. There is also a feeling of impending fear that something is wrong. You know the importantce of not waiting to observe bc of the time limit on the meds that.break up a clot. Take a baby aspirin (unless told not to) prior to going to the ER and remember to tell the staff that you just took it.
Good luck to you...
Have your MRI's just been on your brain? If so you might want to have one done on your neck. I have lesions on my neck, and the MRI I had years ago on my brain was perfect. My Neurologist thinks if I would have had an MRI on my neck when I had my first episode we would have figured out I had MS sooner than I did. When I had my second episode my left leg didn't work, so I had MRI's on my brain and my neck ordered by my PCP. He sent me to a Neurologist, so i pretty much knew before I had the MRI of my brain that I had MS. He just wanted to make 100% sure.
I've had this pain for years, even before my diagnosis. I went to the ER thinking it was heart at least 5 times. It's called the "MS Hug". Sometimes the pain is so bad that I have trouble catching my breath. I also have the problem with swallowing. My husband and I have a standing joke that if I actually had a heart attack, I'd die because I wouldn't know the difference (if you can't laugh with your MS, you could start crying and never stop). A muscle relaxant might help. This being said, please watch your symptoms closely. If you think it may be heart, don't hesitate to go to your Dr or to the ER. Better to be safe than sorry. Good luck with your MS fight.
Hi there, I have he same Leon’s only I was the one that was actually walking around with blocked arteries and Angina resulting in progressive Heart Disease and Diabetes now just to to add to MS . I ended up with 3 ste ta and three months later a triple Bypass . It turns out my MS spasming was also Heart Disease.
I have exactly the same symptoms been diagnosed with MS 1 year
I had the chest pain even before I was diagnosed with MS. I went to the hospital 4 times for chest pain. I have heard it called the "MS Hug". Mine feels like someone is squeezing me around the chest and it gets tighter and tighter. As mentioned in a previous response you might want to talk to your Dr. about Baclofen. As for the swallowing issue, I had the same problem and it was determined that acid reflux was the culprit. One Omneprozol or Zantac per day has solved the problem.
Hello JJ- The posters above had said it all thus I have nothing further to add. Just wishing you well and all the best.
MS is a miserable disease to have. Everyone has different symptoms because it depends where the demyelization occurs. The choking however is pretty common. I would tell the dr about the fact that the pain goes further then before, perhaps he could do some blood work to see if your heart is ok. Just so you feel better about it. Are you on something for muscle spasms, like maybe baclofen?
I am currently taking robaxin 750 2xa day and klonopin 2mg. 2xa day.The Klonopin works really good for the spasms and all the anxiety that goes with always being miserable.The nitrostat (nitroglycerin) works well for the swallowing problem.I also have the eye problem.Wish i could end that when it starts.Seeing double,blurring,dark gives me a really bad headache.
I can't really say much about the robaxin.Does anyone know anything about the difference in the 2. Maybe that's a question for the meds group??
THANKS A BUNCH TO EVERYONE
I called my mother, she suffers from MS, and I asked her if this terrible situation had been present in any of her attacks and she told me "fortunately no", it was her eyes, her optic nerve was been the attacked by the myelin . Luckily Interferon shots helped her at that moment, and put a stop to it.
I empathize with you and wish I could do more , but MS is... , I rather keep it to myself.
All the best,
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multiple sclerosis, pain, breast, chest pain
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