sudden weakness in arms

EDIT: In the last paragraph, I meant to say, "Try to EXPERIMENT with your upper back posture when you feel the attack coming on."

Wayne

Recently as I was sitting quietly on the couch I got a severe pain across my upper back and then both of my arms from the shoulders to my fingers got heavy as though I couldn't even lift them. This was the first and only time I have had that sensation. I am 74 years old. It scared me a lot, but I haven't been to see a doctor about it. I also have fibromyalgia and am bi-polar (which is controlled by meds) but don't know that either of these could be the cause.

Sudden muscle weakness can be a symptom of thyroid dysfunction. It happened to me after my baby was born and I too didn't know what it was- it would only last for a minute but would come on suddenly I was afraid I would drop the baby. There are many obscure symptoms with thyroid disorder - learn as much as you can before you go to your doctor. Many people seeking help for thyroid symptoms have to be strong advocates. Your doctor will do a TSH test but make sure you ask for the number. the normal range is .3 - 3.0 but some doctors think a result of 2.0 should be treated if you experience symptoms. Also if you have many symptoms and the TSH comes back in the normal range there are other tests. Ask for a full thyroid panel. T3, T4, rT3 and antibodies. If thyroid disease is in your family you should get tested - thyroid disease runs in families. Good luck!

Hello everyone! My first 2 postings as a Guest are on the bottom of page 8 and the top of page 9 above. Now that I'm registered, I would like to add a few more thoughts.

First off, in the first page of this thread, I think that Suprabha's post is correct. 

I think this experience we're all having is not vascular. If so, it would feel like your arms fell a sleep and they would be completely numb and as the blood returned you would feel pins & needles. We're not complaining of numbness or arms falling a sleep. It think it takes more than a few minutes to loose blood flow as in sitting in one position for a long time, or sleeping on your hand and then have the blood return. Plus, skin color and temperature would change if the effective areas temporarily lost blood.

This whole experience/ flush/ attack only takes a few minutes tops ("sudden weakness") and it's more related to motor control or nerve related. And this effects both arms EVENLY(that's the hint- "EVENLY").  So what area effects both arms evenly in terms of motor control with no other outside symptoms? So I think it's caused by a disruption in the spinal cord in the area where nerves are branched to the arms. When that area is effected because of vertebrae being out of alignment or compressed, this is what happens. So again, Suprabha is correct.

My attacks always come in spurts. In '07, I got the first one, and that evening I got another, and the next day I got one, and two days after that, I got one. And then I didn't get another spurt for a couple of years. As mentioned in my other post, I have bad posture- rounded upper back, rounded shoulders, and head tilted forward. I think it's genetic as well as from high levels of gymnastics where top form is to hollow your body(round your upper back) Do any of you have bad posture? Another thing I'm noticing, and I may be wrong, but I always remember having these attacks during the mid-late summer. 

 

As Hormonesoup mentioned, it's possible that hypothyroidism (as well as adrenal insufficiency) could cause sudden muscle weakness. Do any of you have low or high thyroid or adrenal issues(low cortisol)?  

I'm not a healthcare professional and of course I could be wrong in my thinking. Just trying to help you all and reason this out :)

Any input what so ever is greatly appreciated.  Wayne

 

Have source for potential cause of symptoms.

I recently had experience of a wave of intense heaviness in both hands and arms. It felt as if I could hardly lift my arms or make my hands or ams operate and it lasted about 1 to 2 minutes. I found helpful information about TOS Toracic Outlet Syndrome which many doctors are not aware of.  I was glad to see that there could be a good explanation for what I have been experiencing. I am overall healthy and do not have risks for heart problems but have had numerous visits to emergency rooms between the ages of 36 and 55 due to hard, cold pain in chest that went up into left side of neck and down into left shoulder. Each time tests came back normal. TOS may final offer an explanation. TOS can have different clusters of symptoms that reflect what is being impinged (nerves/artery/vein). Please explore this for some possible explanations and solutions.

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I have experienced the same symptoms i.e. sudden feeling of even weakness in both arms - blood draining sensation - no pain and lasting 1 to 2 minutes.   This has happened only once (this evening!) so far and was scary enough for me to google my symptoms.   I think I will visit my Dr just in case something useful comes up and will post again in that case.   I do have bad posture.

I also have these episodes.  Stops me in my tracks. Sit down andafter the rush ,heavinessthru my arms  feal weak for a few hours after. I am 60,female & very active.  Its been going on for 6 months, just every now and then, but seems to be getting more frequant.  I am glad Im not alone with this. Lookin for answers just like you?

I have been having same occassionally for the past couple years. I have been to the doctor but not gotten any info. related to that. I do have degenerative disc disease and narrowing of the spine and I believe it is related to the nerve/s being pinched. I also have a bone spur in my neck that causes tingling, numbness. The feeling to me is awful and just about the time I feel like I am going to scream from it, it stops. Very weird. Not a pain per se as you all have said, but very uncomfortable. I also had a nerve killed to stop pain in my neck so maybe its the nerve growing back? I need to ask the doctor again.

I hope you have found a solution by now. But just in case you haven't ---look up shoulder impingement--
mine was in my right arm and I had to get an xray and a shot of cortizone and the orthopedist also
prescribed a steroid prescription for a couple of weeks. Now I am doing exercises at home for physical
therapy on that arm. Also a rolled up towel in the armpit of the arm that is giving you pain will reduce
the pressure at night (for sleeping.)

I have had the same symptoms of weakness, tingling and a heavy sensation in both arms for over a year now. i have been to the doctors on many occasions the last one being today but they have no idea what it is. It is starting to get me down now as the freguency and length of these attacks are gretting worse

--yes, the mercury in amalgam fillings is completely inert. If a dentist tells you to change your amalgam fillings , hang on to your wallet , because that's really what he is interested in !

I have had this for years off and on and it is really bad again. WHen my arms get weak it is is a nightmare.. I feel like my whole brain is shutting down and my arms are so severly weak can not hardly lift them... It lasted 7 hours yesterday.., Mine does not go away in a couple minutes..

just want to add that a strong session of shiatsu put an end to this problem for well over a year and now it is creeping back intermittently. I therefore believe it is a skeletal muscular issue perhaps pressure on the nerves// exacerbated by stress

Could these symptoms also be from a tick bite?

I have this exactly as you have described. I sometimes have a racing heart for a few minutes afterwards, but not all the time.