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

[Stephen10834]

Hey I
Think it's MSG ...I went to subway today......trying out my theory.  The last episode I had was after dining at the fast food joint!  Guess what?  It happened again but milder. Check out all you can on the subject.........I'm really confident it's this or some other additive used with their breads.......steve

[RachelGJ13]

There seem to be many of us with episodes of extreme fatigue and paralytic sensations in the arms. I too have started to get these episodes. Prior to that I had seen a doctor about numbness in my left hand that seemed to be due to sciatic nerve being impinged.

Since so many people are having this issue, which seems to be related to nerves, could it be that it is a symptom for several different issues? Or could it be that we all have a temporary pinching of a nerve along our spines?

I experience the warning ripple sensation before the sudden paralysis sets into my arms and hands, and I am compelled to sit down and wait it out (1-5 minutes). There is also the residual weakness that follows. I have felt it coming on and have been able to stay still then straighten my spine a little to avoid the episode at times. However, I have been sitting down a lot today and tinkering around on the computer, and I have had lethargy in my hands and arms, but no episode for two days. My back has been niggly and knotted mid spine and when I stretch it, I hear a popping noise where it moves a little.

At any rate, mine seems to be related to this. I have a slight ache along mid spine that I think when I am being active or my brain is busy I don't seem to notice it.

I will go back to the doctor and follow up about sciatic nerve tingling in hand and tell her about the new episodic symptoms I am experiencing. It is likely she will order tests or refer me to a physio.

I have been quite sedentary as of late, working at a desk, in an office environment, so I am going to be starting a diet. If the doctor says to go ahead and start gyming again, I will start back with my workout.

I went for a long walk a couple of days on a stony beach for a couple of hours and my legs felt shaky and fatigued, like low blood sugar, by the by.

Anyway I will keep you posted as to what I discover. Thank you all for your informative and shared posts.

[seashorecarol]

Hi, I have experienced these same symptoms about 4 or 5 times in the last couple of months. The first time I was working and it was a very busy day, my arms suddenly felt very tired and weak. I had to sit down. The weakness was so bad that I couldn't lift my arms and I also felt very frightened. I sat down for a few minutes and it went away and I was able to finish the work day. I just thought maybe I was working to hard. It occurred a few more times lasting only a few minutes. One day it happened when my daughter was with me. I was writing something and I couldn't hold the pencil. Again just a few minutes. My daughter said I should contact my pcp. I had been on medication for my blood pressure for sometime. I thought perhaps it could be the medication. I was taking lisinopril and amlodipine. Sure enough both can cause muscle weakness. I called the pcp and he stopped the lisinopril, but I continued with the amlodipine and just a short time ago experienced the weakness in my arms again. I had to lie down and then in a few minutes  the feeling passed. So I will be placing another phone  call to the doctor and get off the amlodipine also.Its frightening and when it happens I get the feeling of dread. So I am hoping getting off these medications will be the solution.

[Stephen10834]

What about Alleve?  very common... Used by many and often abuse.    I take too many but have sworn off of them.....could it be something simple like that?  How many take alleve?

[Stephen10834]

I just had a stress test done.  Passes with flying colors. 196 hr
......so it's not heart related ....something else............doctor seems to
Think coffee could be related associated with a panic attack...........keep up the ideas......stephen

[TheCatsPajamas]

Have any of you taken a fluoroquinolone anti-biotic within the weeks, months or even a year before the symtoms started? These include Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox and some others. These are some of the most commonly prescribed ani-biotics but they are extremely dangerous and should only be given in life and death situations. http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/08/26/fluoroquinolone-antibiotics-are-you-at-risk/

Anyway I am 36 now. I took Levaquin 20 months ago at age 34 and I suffered and continue to suffer terrible side effects. Its called Fluoroquinolone Toxicity (Google it). I couldnt walk at all for 4 months because they deteriorated both my achilles tendons, nerve pain in my arms and legs, severe muscle cramping, legs turn purple and cold alll the time. I was in perfect shape and health before the drug.

The symtoms you all described started for me about 9 months into the other side effects. Feels like I lifted super heavy weights and my arms are just dead almost paralyzed. Both arms at the same time from shoulder through fingers...worst in my forearms. Sometimes they are very intense episodes that last for 1-2 minutes and other times its like 30% of that and can last for hours. Sometimes it will be gone for a week or more and then others it will be there everyday for long stretches of time.

I have to believe that these symptoms are also a result of the anti-biotics. Peripheral Neuropathy is one of the main side effects. Unfortunately they say the peripheral neuropthy from these drugs can be permanent. These drugs can also cause Parkinsons, ALS and some other terrible stuff so I hope its not the beginning of any of that.

The vast majority of people that suffer the side effecs from these drugs do not experience any of them for up to several months after they stop taking them, which leads most people and docs to not associate the problems with the drugs. For me, they started while I was taking it so it was easy to pinpoint.

I have no answer on a cure or exact diagnosis on what exactly this is, but thought I'd share what I believe to be the cause.