dysesthesia

In the mornings, and other times too, I sometimes feel a tickle-twitch-minispasm-tightness on my side, right under my ribs. It doesn't feel bad exactly — but slightly uncomfortable + good + weird all at the same time. It makes me think of a Beatles* song, and I raise my elbow and call down (in John Lennon's voice), "Hey Junior, behave yourself!"

It might be the "MS hug," a combo of muscle spasticity and dysesthesia or misfiring/confusion of signals and sensations due to nerve damage. Dysesthesia causes the feeling of tightness across the torso that is the typical MS hug, but may also cause the tremors in my legs, or the icy feeling in my friend's face (who otherwise had no other symptoms).

Often I can chase Junior away with blankets & heat, exercise, or muscle-relaxant baclofen. But if it's winter, I know that rascal will probably find his way back again.

* US singer Larry Williams wrote and sang the original.

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