Severe tiredness in both arms, shoulder and sometimes chest

Question

I have an indescriable pain usually in both arms and shoulders and sometimes it seems to generate mid sternum and rise up into my shoulders and go down both arms. When this happens, it's almost like an attack and it's very intense. When it happens my arms are very very tired and I have a tendency to want to exercise them and I think moving my arms around seems to lessen the severity and shorten the attack. It is very hard to describe it other than a severe tiredness to the point that it's very painful, it's very short in duration, and I have not been able so far to associate anything to bringing it on, there is also no rhyme or reason to when it may happen. Once it happened when I was getting out of the shower so I leaned both arms on the counter and that seemed to help by applying pressure to the arms. I've asked several doctors about it and they seems baffled. I am under a Neurologist care for Degenerative disk disease, I had surgery 12 yrs ago and since have had 2 rounds of epidural blocks,even he said it sounds like nothing he's ever heard of. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

This discussion is related to Shoulder, Upper arm pain, upper mid back........pinched Nerve.

sujoo · Answer

hey can u help me
i'm having tiredness in my left arm after it was brokon, bt  now it got healed bt till tiredness in there.

MrsP2U · Answer

I just experienced the same thing -- only in one arm.  It was like an attack - I was sitting at the table and all of a sudden I just felt it.  I have this severe tiredness in my arm (something like when you hold your arm in the air for a very long period of time until it is so tired you need to bring it down - only more severe).  I keep twisting, stretching and waving my arm - trying to get it in a position to relieve the tiredness/pain.

nonnie1040 · Answer

i have similar symptoms although mine last for about 10 hours.  first time i went to hospital they thought i was having a heart attack.  Did alot of test (angi) to find out i had great arteries.  the pain i have is in both arms, shoulder and pain ABOVE my chest.  heat seams to help.  it is extremely painful and i don't know what to do.  i have been taking pain medicine when i get the pain so it won't hurt so bad. recent pain also include itchy skin?  anyone with any thought please write

neicybaby · Answer

Thank you for responding.  As I mentioned previously I have discussed this with several physicians including my PCP, Neurologist, Orthopedic and Cardiologist.   My Orthopedic doctor suggested some type of nerve condition so I went back to the Neurologist who stated it didn't appear to be a pinched nerve because it wasn't localized.  My degenerative disc disease started in C4 and C5, at which time the disc was ruptured and there was a bony spur compressing my spine,  I had somewhat similar symptoms in the right arm only, but the pain was more intense, I had surgery in 1996 and had immediate relief. I purposely did not mention what these other doctors are saying because I wanted a fresh perspective and opinion. Several yrs ago, I had a protruding disc and spondylosis in the same area or possibly C5-6 (can't remember exactly). I don't believe it is fibromyalgia as this is what my doctor initially diagnosed but it turned out to be a ruptured disc with the bony spur, and I honestly don't believe in fibromyalgis as a true dx...in my opinion, it's a cop out dx used when doctors can't figure out what it really is (no offense).  I was told by the Cardiologist that it sounds like Gerd???  (By the way I do have Gerd but I am very in tune with my body and it doesn't feel like Gerd). It was also suggested that it could be Anxiety??? Honestly when this thing happens, it is very painful and tiring and very scary because I don't know what's going on or what to do, so I'm sure I do panic. So, if this is a pinched nerve, what can be done to definitively dx the problem?

DrNoopurMD · Answer

Hi,

How are you?
Your symptoms could be due to a pinched nerve in the cervical region. Where exactly do you have the degenerative disc disease?
Another possibility appears to be fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. In both these conditions there are crampy achy muscles with tiredness.
I would suggest you to make sure you get sufficient physical exercise during the day maintain hydration and eat healthy. In the meantime you can discuss these possibilities with your doctor.
Take care!