sudden weakness in arms

At this point anything is possible Jerry. I do get the occasional migraine (a couple per year) but with all the signs of a typical onset. With my arm weakness symptoms however they always begin in the central body core not the head. The tingling radiates from main body mass to shoulders and down both arms to the hands and quickly in reverse as the sensation recedes. Which seems contrary to the silent migraine theory. I was on a holter monitor a few years back when I had one of these and nothing showed on the monitor history that the techs could discern thus ruling out heart. I had noted the time and duration in the logbook. I go for my MRI in two days, the EEG was negative so hopefully the MRI will point to something.

I have had these same symptoms. Its sudden and then gone

I've had complete cardio workups, corotid, ultrasonic scans of my arms - I take a small dose of Crestor, perhaps that's the culprit - I get a sudden/instant numbness and weak/heaviness in both arms and shoulders - My Cardio Dr. prescribed Nitro patches. I cut the first in half, the second and third in 1/4's, they seem to make me feel terrible and exhausted so I stopped - I can't believe so many of us are having this terror and no one seems to know what is causing it -

I am a 57 year old female in good physical shape and exercise 3-5 times per week.  A few months ago I had my first episode of weakness in arms, which felt similar to what others are experiencing, i.e. like the blood is just leaving my arms leaving them almost useless for a few minutes.  This is now happening several times a week.  I have not sought medical attention as I do not have faith that they will find anything and I would be put through numerous tests in vain.  I have found that I have it most often after I get up after sitting for awhile.  I wonder if it has anything to do with blood pressure.  My blood pressure is on the low side; usually about 107/70 and I usually get dizzy if I get up too quickly. 

I have been experiencing this for a few years now...on and off. Can't seem to find a pattern. Yesterday I was talking to someone about this, and i suddenly remembered how as a child, and very occasionally as an adult, i would sometimes experience a sudden sensation in the back of my neck, whcih felt like a blood vessel had suddenly burst ..followed by an explosive sensation ..like a rush of hot blood / energy which rushed up the back of my head and then disappeared, lasting a matter of seconds. I am now wondering if this is related and would like to know if anyone else on here recognises these symptoms ...perhaps as a child or even later on...or now  as I am wondering if it might be related?

Happened to me for a long time. Last episode as you describe over 6 months ago.

Experienced same feeling to a lesser degree in mornings after I was up for a while. Measured blood pressure and got low readings 90/50. 85/48. Doc couldn't figure it out. blood work, EKG all ok.

I work out and am an avid cyclist for 40 years (3000+ miles/year), 62 yr. old male. I also experienced severe cramps in legs.

Found this site and these posts and many described the same or similar symptoms.

Many posts suggested dehydration, low potassium. low magnesium levels. Started drinking electrolyte (gatorade and such) and started taking potassium/magnesium supplement. Symptoms pretty much gone. don't know if its placebo effect or not. Nothing I read described adverse affects from potassium or magnesium supplements, so I figured what the heck. Nothing else has worked.

So far, so good.

I'm adding to my own post of last week about the sudden numbness in both arms - I have a county well and found
some frogs had gotten into the aerator tank -- I took water samples from the well, RO system, inside fawcett and the aerator -- Guess what, the aerator tank had eColi bacteria in it -- Remedied the situation and myself as well as my wife have ceased to have the stated health problems and other awful symptoms -- Conclusions: question everything you put in your mouth, even like washing vegetables to make a salad -- We were putting eColi onto the vegetables from our washing process --

I just came from a GYN appoiintment and mentioned the same symptoms in addition to having similar symtoms in my upper legs. He said that he has seen those symptoms before and that it is a vascular problem. He called it a pre-faint or a steel failnt. Most of the post that I've read have said that when the symptoms occur, they have to lie down or at least sit down and in a short time the symptoms pass. He said that lying down allows the blood to get to the limbs.

@Mackie

that is very interesting.  I just googled "steel faint...and found nothing. Can you elaborate please ? Does this suggest you and the rest of us on here are suffering from vascular problems ? you have intrigued me, but cab't find any more info on this.

Pre-syncope is most often cardiovascular. While some of the previous posts suggest the sufferer needs or feels better laying down, many like myself have experienced the symptoms while laying down. The symptoms do in fact go away just as quickly whether you lay down or not. I think that laying down is more of a response to the fear/dread of what just happened. The first few times, I also sat down thinking I was having a heart attack but I have had it happen so often now I simply stop my work , allow it to happen and go on with what I was doing. In one of my previous posts I explained I was wearing a heart monitor while I had an episode and it did not register on the monitor.

I  am still really confused by these last posts. Does this mean there is some cardio-vascular irregularity, or arterial  disease ? I haven't been checked out for any of these things. I am diabetic however and arterial problems are common for diabetcis.  Should I be getting myself checked out ?? I am not sure wether to start worrying or not ?

Weakness in arms & tingling in the hands or feet

The flight or fight response is an intense reaction and causes many systems of the body to react. Circulation, blood oxygen and blood carbon dioxide levels change and muscle tension is altered in preparation for action. All of these bodily changes have a profound effect on bodily sensations, feeling week in the extremities, (arms, hands, legs or feet) is one of these sensations.

Tingling is usually caused by the pooling of blood carbon dioxide in the limbs, shaking the hands, arms, legs and feet can help increase circulation to these areas. These symptoms are not harmful and will return to normal. Light exercise is very helpful in reversing these sensations. THEY DO NOT MEAN YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A STROKE OR ANY OTHER NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION!

hi there my name is calum and i am 23 Years old and for the latest 2 years I have suffered heavily from anxiety although didn't realiwas this was the issue as I was having so many physical symptoms.yet after spending a lot of time with my GP and  counselling for this problem came to realise that what I have pasted above is very true and I hope by reading his you calm down and realise your body is very sensitive to Change in feelings wether they be of fear or excitement or anything in particular. The best way to describe this is like for example myself .my body is extra sensitive like eg. A smoke detector for your home.when the battery needs changed it will beep at Anything because it's just warning you and is on high alert.this is like your body in anxious state.physical symptoms are frightening.i thought I ad a rain tumor or a neurological problem but this was causinanxiety health anxiety

 please don't worry and speak to someone about it wether it be your doctor or a family member .there may be something your sub consciously worrying about.

 

i really hope ths helps and when the symptoms come just relax for a moment things positively then get yourself together your body just needs a quick recharge. Take care folks

 

hello everybody. I had a shiatsu session this week whereby i was a voulunteer for a final year shiatsu student in a training session, being monitored by a shiatsu teacher of 30 years experience. I told him about my experience with the sudden weakness, and the student worked on the back of my shoulders quite intensely for a while. The session lasted an hour, and when i stood up at the end I had an immediate episode of sudden weakness. The teacher said it was probably a response to the treatment. He seemed to think it was structural problem,  and a result of repetitive strain, and told me that I absolutely must take breaks every 20 mins when on the computer and when working (I make jewellery so am often slightly hunched over)  and get up, move about and rotate my shoulders. He looked at me very very seriously and told me that if i did not follow this procedure, I was looking something "very very nasty" in the future. I am now doing what he says, and i will report back if there is any improvement.

 

With regard to the previous comment by Calum, please don't take offence but i think you are talking about something different. I had something similar years ago, but it is not the same thing. this is very sudden and very physical and passe very quickly, like a wave washing over you....here intemsely one moment and then gone !

@ Rosesky One of the previous few posts had suggested cardio-vascular involvement. I can assure you it is not cardio-vascular. If you re-read my posts I was in fact wearing a holt monitor which records cardio activity over 24 hours and the wearer writes down any and all activity and sensations during the 24 hr period....everything. I had an episode of what we all seem to be describing here and the recorder showed nothing. The doctors told me IF anything heart related had happened, the holt monitor would have alerted and recorded the episode. I think you can relax your worries about heart/arterial involvement.

@jadeacres thanks for the reassurance. Ihave been following all these posts for some time and read your post about that and did feel relieved. I think the nastiness the shiatsu teacher was referring to was not heart related...but possibly more along the lines of nerve compression. If you've ever had a trapped nerve as i have Ifrom my neck all down one arm) you will know how excrucitaing painful that can be. I suspect he was thinking more long those lines.