sudden weakness in arms

re: arm weakness. I have had this same problem for years. The first time it happened I went to the hospital, and ended up spending the night for observation. They put me through stress tests - to rule out heart attack. Prognosis: panic attack. It's very scary!
but usually it comes and goes - and then I forget about it. I have a lot of stress in my neck and shoulders, and feel "tight" there quite often. So I think the tightness is pinching a nerve somehow. Sometimes a year goes by with no recurrence. But right now it's happened 3 times in the last 2 weeks. I'm scheduled for surgery(unrelated) - so I think I'm feeling real anxious about that. I'm going to a massage therapist - see if that helps!
It helps me just to know that I'm not the only one this happens to. I've talked to a few doctors about it; but never found any answers!

I am having these episodes now where my neck and arms are on the verge of numbness a good bit of the time. When it reaches the extreme, a weakness sweeps through my whole upper body and I feel light-headed and have to stop what I'm doing until it passes. I did a bunch of yard work with a leaf blower, so I'm wondering if the repetitive motion of moving the blower with my arms had stressed my wrists and arms. Also I have not gotten a lot of sleep so I'm rundown. I also have been having trouble regulating my thyroid meds and I thought that was what might be causing the symptoms -- that combined with lack of sleep. My neck is not in good shape so I may have a pinched nerve or something there. It is scarey when this weakness sweeps over me as it feels as though I'm going to pass out.

My dad has these same symptoms of sudden weakness in his arms that usually lasts less than a minute. He has been on statin medications for cholesterol for a few years and I'm wondering if it could be a side-effect of that. Anyone else with these symptoms that is on a statin medication (Crestor, Lipitor, Zocor, Vytorin,...)?

I just had a fourth episode of the weakness and heaviness across the chest. This one was stronger and lasted longer than the others. I have been having these about every 3-4 weeks, since November 2009. The latest episode I was standing, cleaning out a drawer in my night table at about 11 AM.

My blood pressure is normal, I take no medications, I do have severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both hands and will get a surgical release soon. I am scheduled for an EKG prior to the surgery and will mention the episode to the physician.

I've had a few episodes where it feels as if both arms beginning with the upper arms and moving downward feel very heavy and numb--as if the blood drains out of them. It only lasts a few seconds. Recently I was standing when it happened and it was more pronounced and very unnerving. I went to the ER and had an EKG and blood tests but everything was normal. I've read all of the comments on this blog and would like to comment that I do take Lipitor. I've read on a couple of other blogs that people who take Lipitor say this happens to them. But I also get the occular migraines. I'm seeing my doctor in a few days and plan to take a copy of these comments to her.

I'm glad I found this site! Yesterday morning, I woke up and was trying to prop myself up in bed when my arms when completely weak. I was able to push myself up to a sitting position, but the feeling lasted a minute or so. After the brunt of it passed, it was like I had a risidual feeling for at least an hour. By mid-morning, I was totally back to normal. This after noon, I was on a phone call for about 20 minutes and holding the handset up to my ear with my right hand. When I hung the phone up, my upper right arm was extremely sore - as if I did 200 push ups, as well as tingly and kind of numb. About 2 hours have passed and the feeling is still present but has faded in intensity since the phone call. I've also noticed that if I completely outstretch my arm, I get a tingly feeling on the inside of my elbow (where my arm creases) and in the palm of my hand. I wonder if this could be the same thing that is going on with everyone else on this board although it seems like a slightly different situation. FYI... I'm an Executive Admin, so my job requires me to sit and be on a computer all day. Could it be the beginning of carpal tunnel???

I've had 4 episodes of sudden aching arms since Xmas. 1st time grocery shopping, 2nd just standing at the stove, 3rd bent over the bathtub cleaning and last time sitting on the edge of my bed pulling my pants on. Symptons last about 10 to 20 seconds but stop me in my tracks and freak me out. So far I've had a neck exray and a neck CT scan but nothing unusual showed up. Next I'm going to see a
Neurologist (sp?) and hopefully will find out what it is all about. Over the years I have also had occular migraines, the last about 10 months ago. I'm glad I found out that I'm not alone with this arm thing.

To followup, my dad stopped taking Crestor 10mg a couple months ago and started taking CoQ10 100mg 2xDay and his symptoms of sudden weakness in his arms have improved greatly (along with having more energy and a clearer mind and no longer having too low of blood pressure). There is plenty of medical research describing why statin meds deplete CoQ10 in the body and why statin users should take at least 100mg CoQ10 a day.

I found your comment interesting. I've been on Lipitor for about 12 yrs. (very low dose), but the same thought occurred to me. I often feel very anxious, but have a stressful job. I've been experiencing the same thing, and when I saw my Dr. for a regular checkup this week, he just kind of shrugged his shoulders and ignored the inquiry. But I was pumping gas today, turned to the pump, and it started so quickly, I had trouble finishing putting the gas in the tank. My hands were so weak, I could hardly hold onto it, but there was no pain in the chest. I've had this happen several times, and very scary. It happened 2 days ago after I bent over to put some files in a drawer. I've been very stressed, it's been very hot, and I haven't had a lot of sleep in the last week, so potassium loss, tension in the shoulders, or statin drugs all seem likely explanations. Like the rest of you, it would be nice to know for sure. It just adds to the stress, not knowing what's causing it! Thanks to all who have shared - it helps to know that others are searching for the answer, as well!

I just recently had two episodes of this while sitting at a table at a restaurant. No explanation. Have had them in the past. I recently also had a spell of just suddenly becoming dizzy...had that several times in the past as well. Am not on any cholesterol meds.

I mentioned earlier that after getting off statin drugs (Crestor) and taking CoQ10 supplements, my dad's symptoms of sudden weakness in arms/legs and low blood pressure improved. His symptoms did return however. It appears that his symptoms are associated with low blood pressure or orthostatic hypotension and the main thing the doctor recommends for keeping blood pressure up is avoiding chronic dehydration by drinking plenty of water. Increasing his water intake to 2 to 2.5 liters a day helped some, but it wasn't until he added some salt back into his diet that the improvement became more consistent (he had been on a low salt (<2000mg/day) diet following his triple bypass). In addition to salt from food, he adds some sea salt to his drinking water (about 1/8 tsp per liter) though I've seen recommendations of getting 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp of sea salt per day. If he gets too much salt, his blood pressure gets too high.

So sufficient water and sea salt can help keep blood pressure up to avoid his symptoms, but I've been trying to determine the source of his lower than normal blood pressure. The best explanation I've run across so far is "adrenal fatigue" which also fits with other symptoms he has which tend to come in cycles: body aches and pains, decreased strength and energy, fatigue, inability to sleep well, loss of lean body mass, poor memory and concentration, need for meds for depression, osteoporosis. Adrenal fatigue is common for those who have lived a high-adrenaline lifestyle: work long hours because it is stimulating, constantly create own stress, wake up in the middle of the night worrying about things, etc. When adrenal fatigue occurs, the adrenal glands don't make hormones as well as they used to (though not down to the level that most doctors would diagnose as a true glandular problem like Addisons disease). So, for instance, the low blood pressure can be caused by insufficient cortisol hormone.

Typical treatment is a combination of stress management, balanced diet, supplements, and sometimes hormone replacement therapy. (Drinking plenty of water and some sea salt is part of the treatment). The main problem is that after healing starts to occur, you're tempted to immediately go out and use up the new found energy which returns you to the burned out state. My dad is starting with some stress management techniques like deep breathing, listening to music. Some resources I've looked at are "The Schwarzbein Principle II" by Dr Schwarzbein and ***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed. It's difficult to find a medical doctor who treats this and I'm just passing on what I've read.

If you notice these symptoms along with the heavy, rubbery arms, look into Multiple Sclerosis. : headaches, feeling lightheaded, fuzzy thinking, periodic blurred vision,occasional tingling in arms, legs, feet or face, spasms in muscles, strange, indescribable, general weakness, fatigue, memory trouble, strange feelings, periodic, sudden shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, leaky bladder, lower jaw pain..there are more symptoms, but those are most common with ms.

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM OF SUDDEN WEAKNESS IN BOTH ARMS AT SAME TIME. IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, THOUGH NOT WHAT I'D CALL EXTREME PAIN. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THERE MAY BE A PINCHED NERVE IN MY NECK OR UPPER SPINE. THE ARMS BOTH FEEL LIKE THE FEELING ? S AND BLOOD FLOW IS CUT OFF. THE VEINS ON THE BACK OF MY HAND LOOK PRONOUNCED. I START TRYING TO RELIEVE THE DISCOMFORT BY STRECHING MYSHOULDERS FORWARD TO STRECH OUT THE SPINEI MOVE MY HEAD IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS TO TRY TO GET RELIEF. I MOVE MY ARMS UP AND AROUND AND FORWARD AND BACKWARD FEELING LIKE IT WILL HELP ME. IT ALL PASSES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AND I FEEL FINE. BUT IT IS SCARY BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. HOWEVER I FEEL REASONABLY SURE ITS A PINCED NERVE.

An orthopedic specialist is the way to go on the possible pinched nerve. You may have a bulging disc or something. I injured my back..t8..years ago and had tingling in my left hand for a while. He sent me through physical therapy and they worked with it and taught me movements I coiuld do myself. I also took Chondroitin Glucosomine for a few years..it helped a LOT.

i already take those meds. i have disc problems in lower back, and i have arthritis in both knees, but this is something newer i think. i have had this sensation of pinched nerve and my arms going weak and aparently pinched off for about a year. lately it has been more often and more severe. i will talk to dr about it in a week when i see him .it comes, lasts a minute or two, is very uncomfortable and then goes away. i do not know if my moving them all around and trying to stretch out my spine and take pressure off disc is helping or not, but i do it anyway because it seems the thing to do at the time. thx for comments.