Sudden Weakness in arms

[Vasi]

In the last few months I have been getting a sudden weakness in both arms.  It comes on suddenly and lasts a maximum of 5 minutes.  When it happens I cannot lift anything.  I feel so weak that I have to sit or lie down until it passes.  This week it hit me twice.  Before these 2 incidents, the last time this happened was a month ago and before that was probably another month (2 times in a week).  The sensation is from the shoulders down to my hands.  Any ideas?

Thanks

[trinketress]

I agree with this. I have been experiencing this for years, and following a shiatsu session it disappeared for a long time, and now it is back again. I also experiment with raising my arms or lowering my arms to see if that makes a difference. I worked as a jewellery maker and weaver for many years, so lots of neck bending. I find that by doing upper body stretching / simple yoga and  focusing on spinal / nack  twists and arching of the body backwards / opening the chest etc makes the episodes go  away.
I am convinced it's a muscular skeletal / compressed nerve thing that can be addressed by strectching

[JRCC]

Just had the sensation this morning, after over a year without any.  The only consistent patterns I've seen are a combination of overuse of arms, stress, and not enough sleep.  A lot of guesses....and doctors seem to have their best guesses.  I'm now keeping a journal of when it happens and what I did the day(s) before. It may just be that each of us has an individual set of causal factors...just like a sore throat can be a result of many different causes.

[SharonVic]

stress and lack of sleep, that would be true for me too. didnt think of that.

[frannybee]

I sure wish I knew what is happening. Standing in my kitchen, a strange sensation came over me, felt weak, head floating but most alarming both arms from the elbow down became very heavy and weak. Almost felt like it was pulling me down. It passed but aprox an hour later the exact same thing. Doctors just say nothing's wrong and send you on.
Very frustrated, worried and don't know where to turn.

[Binney0802]

Holy cow! This happened to me for the first time today sitting at my vanity putting on my make up. Out of the blue, my upper arms and across my shoulders just went weak. I had to stop and rest. Lasted for maybe 2 minutes. Then about an hour later it happened at my desk at work. Obviously I started searching the internet because my daughter is a physician but I don't want to alarm her because she is leaving from JFK at 4:00 PM today for her first vacation in a LONG time. No other symptoms but the tops of my arms across my shoulders and lower neck area just go weak... I'm 57, about 25 pounds, overweight but fairly active.

[CJ7ole]

MUST READ THIS!!!

I was referred to a neurologist for my sudden arm weakness.  She asked that in my next blood panel, check the B12 level, it should by in the 500 range.  I did and it was 0.83!  I started a daily high dose B12 supplement and 4 months later it was up to 1407.  I backed off to an every-other-day B12 pill and no problems since.  Previously I wasn't a vitamin taker.  The real shocker?  My episodes happened shortly after beginning METFORMIN for a diabetic condition.  Even my internist wasn't aware of the connection.  He googled B12 vs Metformin on his laptop while I was in his office and his face lit up.  B12 is vital for nerve health.   No B12 and the nerve sheath begins to break down resulting is all sorts of issues.

[specialmom]

Wow!!!!  That's almost like a break through!  Would you mind starting your own post to share this so it can be seen by everyone besides just those follow this thread???  That is such important information!!!  Thank you for sharing it with us!

[CJ7ole]

Thanks, I reposted it in the diabetes section.

[Girleigh]

Does anyone else have any updates re: this as I’ve been experiencing the same? Sudden pain / numbness / feeling of dead (bilateral) upper arms for up to a minute. I had a spell several months ago but have experienced 3 episodes in last few weeks.

[Binney0802]

Yes, had 2 this morning.  Never had it before!  

[Robocop181]

9/2018...mine started last December.  I was reaching for the medicine cabinet. I felt it start & was confused at first. The sensation quickly became more painful as I tried to hold my arms up. As described, I have no strength & that lead weight feeling. It then spreads across my chest and down my arms. I've had similar episodes in January, February, April (2), August & one just tonight. As some have stated I can sense them now & sit or lie down immediately. I don't suggest trying to work through them. I find that will  escalate the pain. The one tonight was very painful....I'm an ex corrections officer  so I'm not a baby. I'm getting no answers from doctors. Maybe anxiety or my neck from a previous surgery. It's not a great feeling that doctors have no idea....no pun intended.

[Robocop181]

Comments
Likestrucks Sep 14, 2016
Sudden numbness, stiffness, pain, and a general inability to use both arms is typically due to Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), and is often seen in older individuals.  I have the "events" at random times, and the events can occur days apart from each other.  The pain/numbness comes on very sudden and usually lasts for a few minutes, say ten to fifteen.  When it happens, I am unable to lift or use my arms and have to quickly find a place to sit, or stand still, and wait for the initial pain rush to pass.
Robocop181 3 mins
Thanks for the informatio

[fatboyslimsmom64]

Me too! It seems funny that so many of us are having similar problems,  yet "nothing is wrong" according to traditional medicine.  I did notice some comments about posture and neck issues being their cause.  May have to go see chiropractor then for myself.  Only had 2 spells but has been during the last 2 weeks.  It's disturbing to get this feeling.  So weak and difficult to life arms, shoulders to elbows.  Wrists and hands feel fine.

[is_every_password_taken123]

Have your B12 checked. I suffer from low B12 and sudden weakness in the arms is one of the side effects along with sudden fatigue. It gets so bad that it's really unpleasant to look through clothing on a clothes rail (just an example). You can either take vitamin B12 supplements for this or if those don't work, regular B12 shots. Consult your doctor first though as a simple blood test will confirm or rule out B12 deficiency.

[joyrob227]

I have almost the same thing only it starts in my hands and moves up it subsides if I'm able to lie down.  It used to happen just once in a great while and for some reason lately more often , it's happened five times today and I have a headache and my neck feels stiff.

[Gorhunt]

I too suffer from this, totally at random from my shoulders to my elbows my arms feel like a lead weight and I cannot move them, I have to where possible sit down and bend forward resting my arms against my body until the pain disappears at other times I have to rest arms on anything handy even when I am out walking etc. and no doubt look silly holding my arms against a wall or litter bin etc.. These attacks take place very random every few months, twice in a day, just recently I have started to run a brief diary on when it happens and what I am doing when it happens and how long it takes to get back to normal. About 6 years ago I had Legionella and these attacks only started after the infection was gone from my body, my neurology consultant could not understand why this was happening and only now I am thinking of going back to the doctors to see if I can find an answer.....