Pressure in chest and bilateral arm heaviness

[skygirl5]

Can someone please help me figure out what is going on with my body?  My symptoms are:
First of all, I suddenly feel a bilateral sensation in my arms of extreme heaviness (not numbness, not tingling) that starts at about mid forearm level and goes up my arms
At the same time, my chest feels like it is in a barrel and I am being squeezed completely around
These 2 symtoms last about 30-seconds to 1 minute and occur "out-of-the-blue", such as when shopping  or sitting on the couch.  It has happened at work and at home.
The last time this occured, for the first time,  I had a dull aching pain in the center of my back, between my shoulder blades, for about 5-8 minutes.  These "spells" concern me and this last one really scared me, thinking it might be a heart attack.  I chewed aspirin and tried to relax and eventually the aching pain went away.
I am a 58 year old woman with no history of heart disease except for familial history of my dad dying at 59 of heart disease.  I am only 5 pounds overweight and do not have high blood pressure or diabetes or any major illness.
Twice I have gone to the ER, thinking I'm having a heart attack.  The results are negative. I have been seen by 2 cardiologists and have had negative EKGs and stress Echos.  I do have a high CRP level  (about 5).  The cardiologists say I should check with my mental health professional since I have a history (controlled on meds) of depression.  Mentally, I feel good.
My psychiatrist says these are spontaneous panic attacks.  Then he says that I should make sure everything is okay with my heart.
One more part of my history that may be important - I have had herniated discs (C5-6-7) that have not bothered me for years.  I was in a carwreck and had MRIs.  I did physical therapy and was able to avoid surgery and relieve the pain. That was about 10 years ago.  I rarely have any neck pain now.
Does anyone have a similar experience or any ideas?  Thank you!

[nrscpa]

I am just reading this now but please don't feel this is limited to only women.  I am a pretty healthy male age 55 and I am getting the same symptoms. Random episodes of tightness in chest, bilateral arm heaviness, hands useless, goes away in a few minutes or earlier if I happen to burp.  It comes on when sitting down or after a shower or while brushing teeth or shaving.  Leads me to believe it is GERD, as another woman posted.  Causes of the GERD include fatty/fried food, coffee and chocolate and eating late at night.  
I had a stress test at the ER last year and it was perfectly normal.  Physical this year was done and that too was fine.
good luck to you all!
    

[Babydoll6977]

HI
I'm a 59 year old male. Active, I do work out. Try and watch what I eat. More so now. But notice more so when I'm in the heaver part of my work out,that my chest fell like presser is on it, and my lower arms feel very heavy. This has happen any where from 1 to 2 times a day for the last two weeks.
I have instantly taken my blood presser. Its fine  around 125/85---heart rate 92.    
I do watch what I eat. I try not to eat any process foods.

Thank-You for all the post here. I see I'm not the only one!!

[dogosmond]

Hi, have you had any more episodes and if so, have you had any diagnosis?

[dogosmond]

So glad I'm not alone.  Today I was finishing washing dishes and a pressure welled up in my body like a tightness, then shortly afterward moved to both arms and felt like someone had my elbows in a vice.  It lasted about 15-20 seconds with no lasting weakness that I can see, but of course now I'm worried about heart attacks.  Seems like everyone has experienced something similar, so I feel a bit better.  Thanks for letting me share, Dawn

[rudievalent]

Thoracic outlet syndrome sounds like an interesting possibility.  I had these episodes a few years ago and had cardiac investigation which of course was normal. A neurologist thought that I was possibly having silent migraines. I was supposed to have an MRI but the episodes disappeared so I cancelled it. They have come back recently and follow the same pattern. I get this "feeling" or an aura that something is going to happen, then I get the chest tightness and my arms go numb. It never lasts more than a minute. I am a 52 year old female.

[blondie313]

Everyone in this thread please find out if you have thoracic outlet syndrome, it may be the answer to all of your problems.I do not have the chest heaviness but definitely a spasm happens in the neck area and extends down through both arms into the hands, The spasms week in my arms for a couple minutes at a time. I was diagnosed a year ago with the Thoracic outlet syndrome. It is sinister and does affect blood flow. The cramping and spasms are real and the muscle tightness causes all sorts of weird sensations. My chiropractor thinks people who experience the cramping and spasms might also panic, maybe causing a slight drop in blood pressure that affects us all. I highly encourage you to get a referral to a physical therapist, they can diagnose this quickly and give you exercises to help loosen the muscles. The muscles can wreak havoc on your body giving us the sensations that everyone in this thread has described.