General Information

What causes it?

The most common causes of arm weakness are stroke, spinal stenosis, and brachial neuritis. Other possible causes, such as fibromyalgia, are more rare.

What symptoms are related?

Within all the people who go to their doctor with arm weakness, 71% report having leg weakness, 55% report having arm pain, and 55% report having loss of sensation.

What might my doctor prescribe?

Common Tests and Procedures

Patients with arm weakness often receive radiographic imaging procedure, hematologic tests, complete blood count, plain x-ray, electrocardiogram, x-ray computed tomography, electrolytes panel and glucose measurement .

Common Medications

The most commonly prescribed drugs for patients with arm weakness include oxcarbazepine (trileptal), riluzole, aspirin / dipyridamole, tolazamide, loxapine, diethylpropion (tenuate), rasagiline (azilect), selegiline, bismuth subsalicylate (pepto-bismol), pyridostigmine (mestinon), fluorescein ophthalmic, interferon beta-1a (avonex) and piroxicam .

Who is at risk?

Groups of people at highest risk for arm weakness include age 75+ years age 45-59 years.