Aug 04, 2009
"Chest hug" is not life-threatening
Many people living with MS were concerned to hear Dr. Mehmet Oz’s comments about “chest hug,” suffocation and suicide during an Oprah show featuring Montel Williams on March 17 (and re-aired on August 4).
“Chest hug,” also known as “MS hug” or “girdling,” is actually a burning or aching neurological pain in the chest. A chest hug is sensory in nature and is unrelated to someone’s ability to breathe, said Nancy Reitman, MA, BSN, RN, MSCN, of the National MS Society’s Professional Resource Center.
Chest hug is not life-threatening, and MS does not commonly cause suffocation among people living with the disease, she said. While people living with MS are more likely to experience depression than the general population, depression is treatable, and suicide also is not a major cause of death among people living with MS. In fact, people living with MS generally have normal life spans.
The National MS Society provides the following information about treating chest hug at nationalMSsociety.org:
Burning, aching or “girdling” around the body are all neurologic in origin. The technical name for them is dysesthesias. These pains are often treated with the anticonvulsant medication gabapentin (Neurontin®). Dysesthesias may also be treated with an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil®), which modifies how the central nervous system reacts to pain. Other treatments include wearing a pressure stocking or glove, which can convert the sensation of pain to one of pressure; warm compresses to the skin, which may convert the sensation of pain to one of warmth; and over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol® and others) which may be taken daily, under a physician’s supervision.
Living Well with MS
Montel has written a series of books about living well with MS. Registered dietitian Denise Nowack, RD, executive vice president of Programs at the Southern California Chapter recently reviewed Montel's book that focuses on diet, "Living Well: 21 Days to Transform Your Life, Supercharge Your Health, and Feel Spectacular." Read Denise's book review in Momentum online. Scroll down to the "Healthy Living" section to find the review.
Learn more about local programs and services to help you live well with MS, including the Chapter's unique 12-week "Living Well with MS" and "Optimal Living with MS" programs.