For some it can feel like a tightness in the ribs or an overall tightness all around. Make sure to talk with your doctor about this as not everything is MS. I say that because I thought I was dealing with the hug for over a year in and out of the hospital and finally I asked the doctor to check my gallbladder. Sure enough of that was my problem. But it had the same pain as the MS hug for me. So it can be tricky. 🧡

I usually describe it as being like an elastic band being tightened . When I experience it I'm always leaning forward (looking like folded like a taco) sometimes is worse than others .. and alaways irritating..

For me, it appears as what my parents used to call a "stitch in the side". A strong pain in my right side (usually) right under the ribs. From there, it expands to full tightness and I can't take a breath in without the pain in the side. Key is to remain calm until the spasm stops.

I'm afraid what I thought was MS hug actually turned out to be congestive heart failure. So I can't answer but would definitely askyour Dr about it!

Feels like someone is hugging you real tight around your chest area & sometimes for me my breathing is laboured because of the thightness.