MS hug *Dysesthesia) is a squeezing sensation felt around the torso similar to what is felt in your arm, when someone takes your blood pressure. The pressure can be so intense that it makes it hard to take a deep breath. Some people also feel it in their hands, feet, or around their head. Others describe it as a burning, stabbing or tingling pain, or something like an electric shock.

About 1 out of 4 people with MS experience the MS hug. It can feel different for each person, and can range from annoying to painful. Sometimes it only lasts a few seconds, but it can go on much longer.

When I experienced this hug a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t panic because I had heard about the MS hug. I was not in pain, I felt uncomfortable. I just tried to stay calm, and take deep breaths. The tightness lasted less than 30 seconds, then was gone.

Causes of the MS Hug: Lesions from MS activity affect the sensory pathways in the spinal cord, blocking or garbling the messages to and from the brain. The brain may respond to these signals with the sensation of the MS Hug. You may find that it helps to avoid tiggers of the MS Hug, such as fatigue, heat, infection,overexertion, and stress.