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Pressure in chest and bilateral arm heaviness
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!
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!
Im a 62 yr old MALE, so I don't think this is a 'woman' issue.
I experience the very same things, the numbness or what ever it is completely deletes all mussels from working in my arms, for about 10 to 30 seconds, and it travels up to my neck. It is painful, I can't even pick up a piece of paper.
What I have noticed is it always happens when I'm in a recliner.
I experience the very same things, the numbness or what ever it is completely deletes all mussels from working in my arms, for about 10 to 30 seconds, and it travels up to my neck. It is painful, I can't even pick up a piece of paper.
What I have noticed is it always happens when I'm in a recliner.
I've been having similar symptoms to what you all have been describing. Has anyone gotten diagnosed?
Wow, happy to find this thread. Same exact thing happens to me and it is scary. I am a 47 yr old woman, just started menopause and have stenosis of the spine, bulging disk at L4 and L5. Went to ER the 2nd time I had it, got hooked up to an EKG and was normal - of course it wasn't happening then. From what I am reading it seems either back problem related or hormonal?? I am going for a physical soon and will let you all know if I get an answer. Going to try the stretches.
I started having some of the same symptoms mentioned here just prior to turning 50 this October. I began to research and self-diagnose in hopes of avoiding costly tests that often result in no answer. Two friends of mine who had similar symptoms were advised to have their gallbladder removed. After the surgery, their symptoms went away. I don't want to have surgery if it can be avoided, so I began to focus on my diet in order to deal with a possible gallbladder issue. There are multiple websites with good information on diet changes to affect better liver/gallbladder function.
However, what I found to be an immediate help to alleviate the symptoms was GINGER ROOT. This herb is well known for its relieving of nausea, but it also seems to have a healing affect on the entire digestive system. I eat raw organic ginger root on salads, chew on a small piece when symptoms appear to be coming on, and grate some into herbal teas (I especially like roasted dandelion root tea, grated ginger root, and maple syrup. I drink this two to three times a day and it has helped tremendously). I also add ginger root to my home made kombucha. Of course, I've also made some good changes to my diet overall by staying away from processed foods and focusing on eating more uncooked vegetables and fruits (as well as naturally fermented foods). My symptoms have all but gone away, but completely healing my digestive system will likely take time.
However, what I found to be an immediate help to alleviate the symptoms was GINGER ROOT. This herb is well known for its relieving of nausea, but it also seems to have a healing affect on the entire digestive system. I eat raw organic ginger root on salads, chew on a small piece when symptoms appear to be coming on, and grate some into herbal teas (I especially like roasted dandelion root tea, grated ginger root, and maple syrup. I drink this two to three times a day and it has helped tremendously). I also add ginger root to my home made kombucha. Of course, I've also made some good changes to my diet overall by staying away from processed foods and focusing on eating more uncooked vegetables and fruits (as well as naturally fermented foods). My symptoms have all but gone away, but completely healing my digestive system will likely take time.
I have the exact symptoms, arm pain with weakness and chest pain. Does anyone here have raynaud's syndrome or very poor circulation to hand or feet?
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