An MS hug is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) that causes a tight, squeezing feeling around your ribs. This temporary symptom can cause discomfort that can last for a few minutes to a few hours or longer. In addition to MS, certain inflammatory conditions can cause this symptom.
An MS hug is the painful feeling of tightness around your, chest or stomach area. Unlike a friendly hug, this symptom feels like a very strong person is forcefully squeezing you. During an MS hug, you may feel chest and rib pain that’s:
An MS hug can affect all around your chest and stomach area or only one side of your body. It’s a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS).
An MS hug is a type of dysesthesia. This is a broad term for symptoms that are unexpected, unpleasant and painful. It happens when part of your nervous system isn’t working as expected.
Studies suggest that blocked nerve signals from your brain to other parts of your body cause an MS hug. This sensation is usually caused by demyelination (or damage) affecting your spinal cord. Specifically, the muscles between your ribs (intercostal muscles) spasm or twitch. This sudden contraction of your muscles leads to symptoms of pain and discomfort.
An MS hug can last for a few seconds or minutes. As with other MS symptoms, some people experience an MS hug that can last for hours or longer. Each person’s experience with this symptom is different. After the symptom goes away, it could come back again in the future.
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is usually the main cause of an MS hug, which is where it gets its name. MS is an autoimmune condition that affects how your nerve cells communicate. In addition to an MS hug, other symptoms of MS include muscle weakness, spasms and numbness in your arms or legs.
Yes, multiple sclerosis (MS) isn’t the only cause of an MS hug. If you have a condition that causes inflammation, like transverse myelitis , you can also experience a hug like sensation.
Triggers are things or events that cause a symptom to happen. Common MS hug triggers include:
Triggers vary from person to person.
There isn’t one solution to stop an MS hug. Like other symptoms of MS, you may need to try different things to manage the symptom until you find one, or a few, that works best for you. Some ways you can treat an MS hug include:
Due to the short-term nature of this symptom, it doesn’t always need treatment.
An MS hug is a temporary discomfort. It doesn’t lead to long-term complications and doesn’t always need treatment. A healthcare provider usually recommends treatment if the symptom interferes with activities of daily living.
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While you can’t prevent all cases of an MS hug, you can reduce your risk by avoiding things that trigger this symptom like:
Triggers may be different from person to person. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need help identifying triggers of this symptom.
If you feel sudden, unexplained chest pain and/or difficulty breathing, contact a healthcare provider right away. While an MS hug doesn’t require emergent treatment as other forms of chest pain, like a heart attack, you still need to seek medical attention. A healthcare provider can closely examine the symptom and its cause to make sure you’re safe.
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An MS hug may feel similar to conditions that include:
If you experience sudden chest pain or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention or contact emergency services immediately.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
While a hug is usually something that makes you feel good, an MS hug feels like the opposite. You may experience this symptom if you have multiple sclerosis or an inflammatory condition. It can come and go throughout your life and usually starts due to a trigger like stress or a lack of quality sleep. A healthcare provider can help you find out what triggers this symptom and offer treatment options if it’s uncomfortable.
Last reviewed on 07/25/2023.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy