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

[Jandana]

This is exactly what has been happening to me for 3+ years now, and haven't found out why. Did you ever find out the reason for yours?

[1toy2many]

I have had the sudden bilateral arm weakness that lasts only minutes several times and a strang buzzing feeling throughout body that would wake me.  I didn't realize I was dropping things alittle more frequently until  my dr inquired. An Mri was done on my neck and I was diagnosised with cervical stenosis .  When I would do certain head movements, I was pressing on my spinal cord and bruising it.  You do not have to have neck pain to have cervical stenosis . I elected to have a 2 level fusion to prevent further bruising and permanent damage to my spinal cord.  Non surgical treatment are available if diagnosised early but a lot of times , cervical stenosis is not diagnosised until late because the symptoms come on so gradual, you just dismiss them as getting old.

[1toy2many]

First episode I was removing a sheet of cookies out of oven and could barely lift to top of stove because bilateral arms went weak. I just stood there waiting and the  strength came back within minutes. A year later , same problems with arms numb.  Sometimes vibrating sensation through out body woke me at night. I didn't realize I was dropping things alittle more frequent which can be a symptom.My dr did an mri and diagnosised me with cervical stenosis. My spinal cord was still intact but when I did certain movements with my head, he explained it ....that I was pinching and  bruising my spinal cord.  I just had a 2 level cervical fusion to prevent injury to my spinal cord and progression on my stenosis and myopathy before it became permanent.

[kiiksmom]

I've been having these same episodes for a couple of years now.  One doctor suggested they were caused by a restricted blood flow, another that it's related to drop in blood pressure, but no one seems to really know for sure.  My chiropractor has been adjusting a part of my back that is very tight so I'm guessing that, since it hadn't happened in months for me, it's related to needing and adjustment.  OR what someone said about a virus that is attacking us when we are weaker.  I am coming down with a head cold and definitely am feeling a little bit under the weather.

[SharonVic]

This happens to me too - waves of weakness that affects the upper arms and lasts only for a few seconds. my family doctor said she doesnt know what it could be. i plan to ask my orthopedist and maybe a neurologist. i assume it's connected to a back problem but who knows. maybe from statins that i take? i would feel better to know that i am not having a stroke.

[Schm2854]

One should also consider a possible syringomyelia if it is bilateral or something called t4 syndrome.

[Schm2854]

Has anyone seen a chiropractor? My first thought was possible polyneuropathy however everones lab work is fine and no one has history of lymes disease or diabetes mellitus. So i may be TOS which is thoracic outlet syndrome. It can be caused by tight muscles in neck, chest, or ever a cervical rib. It can casue neurological problems like you are describing and vascular ones as well. This can result from poor posture and it seems like alot of you are sitting at your desks for long periods of the day. Symptoms are insidious and can happen more often with over the head activities. Just a though