Are you experiencing rib spasms that cause your ribs to pull up and overlap?
What you're describing sounds incredibly painful, and I'm sorry you've been dealing with this since childhood. The sensation of ribs pulling up and overlapping where they attach with cartilage could involve a couple of MS-related issues.
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Are you experiencing rib spasms that cause your ribs to pull up and overlap?
What you're describing sounds incredibly painful, and I'm sorry you've been dealing with this since childhood. The sensation of ribs pulling up and overlapping where they attach with cartilage could involve a couple of MS-related issues.
The MS hug is a common symptom that causes tightness and pain around the chest or ribs. It's caused by involuntary spasms in the intercostal muscles (the small muscles between your ribs) or nerve pain from MS damage to the central nervous system. About 1 in 4 people with MS experience this type of nerve pain.
However, your description of physical displacement where ribs actually overlap and create a "shelf" feeling might also involve costochondritis. This is inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs, which can occur alongside MS symptoms. Some MyMSTeam members have experienced both the MS hug and costochondritis together, describing it as "horribly painful." What you should do:
It's really important to discuss this with your doctor, especially since you can physically feel the displacement. They can help determine whether this is:
- MS hug-related muscle spasms
- Costochondritis (cartilage inflammation)
- A structural issue that's been present since childhood
- A combination of these
Treatment options can include seizure medications that stabilize nerve signals, antispasmodics for muscle spasms, NSAIDs for inflammation, physical therapy, or in severe cases, Botox injections to the muscles between the ribs.
Tracking when these episodes happen and what makes them worse or better can help your doctor understand what's going on and find the right treatment approach for you.
March 1
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