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

[meandglen]

Just wondering if all that are posting this are women?
Maybe has something to do with menopause?
I get the same feeling every so often

[firstback]

Yesterday, I had a similar occurrence as you describe on Aug 02 104.  I was sitting at the computer.  I felt someone's hand on my back at my waist. I turned around and no one was there ( I live alone).  Then I felt someone massaging my right lower arm.  I looked down at my arm and I saw the tips of fingers massaging my lower arm.  I was horrified and I pulled at the fingers only to discover they were my own!  I was so surprised and horrified that I started to abruptly stand up from my chair while at the same time pulling on the fingers.  I then fell down on the floor. I tried to get up but had a difficult time with this.  Finally, I got up but now my right leg went floppy on me when I tried to stand. Also when walking I could not lift my foot.  My toes dragged on the floor.  I do not know if my leg problem is related to the arm issue which I described.  I also have spinal stenosis.  I went to the ER MD who did a full workup for  (cat scan and MRI & comprehensive blood work) for stroke & TIA but there was no correlation.  I have an appointment with a neurologist in a couple of days and hope to receive some definitive diagnosis and perhaps recommended treatment modalities .I would appreciate hearing from you if you have any further information to share on this problem.

[klewis0906]

just had another episode this morning.  Going to try to get into the Dr today.

[sudsie1949]

I was sitting at my computer when I felt a hand touch my chest.  I thought it was my husband behind me putting his arm around me.  I looked on both sides of me and there was no one there.  I looked at my chest and saw an arm on my chest, but it belonged to no one!  I was terrified, and then I saw that it was my arm!  I could not feel my arm but I could feel it touching me.  I had not consciously put my arm there, and I didn't know how it got there.  I stood up quickly, and my arm stayed on my chest, and I started to find my husband for help, when the feeling came back all at once and I could move my arm.  I have spinal stenosis in my neck and am wondering if that caused it.  Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

[Puds55]

Identical symptoms started about 3 weeks ago. a kind of aura followed by a rush down both arms from the armpit to my hands which then became so numb and heavy I could not hold a mouse or type. The key was that it was accompanied by a sharp pain half way down the right side of my back. My chiropractor knows me well. She lengthened the muscles holding the ribs on the top LEFT of the front of my body which were in spasm. This automatically released the rib half way down my back. One of these areas had been putting pressure on the nerve bundle controlling my arms. No more episodes. Get checked out by a chiropractor. P.S. the onset coincided with a 30 day abs challenge involving sit ups and crunches which put the rib muscles into spasm. STRETCH!

[goodnesskids]

I found something that has helped me with your identical symptoms. Once I identified that the bilateral pain comes on when I feel tired or hot (when my shoulders slump forward a bit), I decided to try a series of stretches. 1) I put my knees on the floor facing my bed, put my arms on top of the bed, push my torso down toward the floor, like a cat stretching, and hold. 2) a series of neck exercises: head up/down, look side to side, head to shoulder, head circles both directions, push head back, push head forward, push head/neck side to side. 3) a clavicle/posture brace that holds my shoulders back. 4) exercise the back muscles between my spinal column & outside shoulder by clasping my hands behind my back, raising arms up, and tightening the muscles in my back. 5) a visit to the chiropractor once/month. It's been helping. I sometimes feel like the pain wants to come on, but then it doesn't. So I still sometimes get that "maybe" feeling, but I do not get the pain/weakness episode. Hope this helps. Let me know if you discover anything else that helps you.