Overview
There could be several reasons why you feel hand weakness or a feeling of “heaviness” in one or both of your hands. Sudden arm or hand weakness is alarming and could be a symptom of bilateral foraminal narrowing. Here in this blog, we will share some interesting insights on Losing strength in arms and hands.
Summary
- Arm weakness is a loss of arm strength and the inability to move an arm or hand due to decreased muscle strength.
- Symptoms accompanying the signs of arm weakness include a severe headache. Muscle pain, numbness, reduced mobility, and swollen joints are also among the symptoms.
- Trauma, repetitive strain injury, de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, tennis elbow, and bilateral foraminal narrowing are some of the most common causes of losing the strength of arms.
- You can effectively treat your grip weakness at home through exercises. Over-the-counter medications also help alleviate the pain.
- A complex interaction of muscles, joints, nerves, and bones allows smooth movement and agility for the human hand. About 35 muscles present in hand and forearm are responsible for the movement of hands. These muscles allow your hand to move and perform tasks such as gripping an object.
- When the hand’s muscles or nerves are infected, it can result in overall hand weakness. Besides muscles, joints also play a vital role in providing flexibility to the hand. Thus joint diseases can also affect hand movements adversely.
Common Accompanying Symptoms of Arm Weakness
Some other symptoms may also appear along with the arm weakness, depending on the severity of the condition. Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Numbness or tingling
- Vision trouble in one or both eyes
- Reduced mobility
- Pain in shoulder, arm, hand, or finger
- Swollen joints
- Dizziness, loss of balance, and difficulty walking
Why Am I Losing Strength in My Arms and Hands?
Some of the most common causes of hand and arm weakness include nerve dysfunction and certain skeletal or muscular diseases. Sometimes joint infections and bone, skin, or blood vessel diseases could be responsible as well. The problem may also arise due to a temporary lack of blood flow to the hand or fingers. Some other primary causes of arm and hand weakness include:
1. Trauma
Trauma due to a fall or an accident can cause localized nerve or muscle injury in the arm. If you have recently had a hand, wrist, or arm injury, your grip strength may have weakened. If these symptoms do not go away after a while, you should see a doctor or physical therapist help you recover from your injuries.
2. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
A repetitive strain injury, also known as an overuse injury, can become persistent if not treated timely. It appears due to long periods of exercising the arm, which damages the nerves, muscles, and tendons in the arm or shoulder.
3. Carpal tunnel syndrome
It is a form of overuse injury that leads to numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand or arm. Repetitive actions, such as typing or other wrist movements, might be a cause of this.
4. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
The tendons on the thumb side of the wrist are affected by De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, which is a painful disorder. Rotating your wrist or grabbing something will cause you discomfort and pain.
5. Tennis Elbow (lateral Epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow, also known as Lateral Epicondylitis, is a condition related to the forearm muscles. It causes tendons connecting the forearm muscles to the elbow to become inflamed. It can affect anyone who engages in activities that strain the elbow tendons. Sharp discomfort outside the elbow, the forearm, and the wrist is the most common symptom.
6. Inflammation
The inflammation of the joints caused by arthritis is one of the most common reasons for decreased grip strength.
How to Prevent and Treat Bilateral Foraminal Narrowing
You can treat Bilateral Foraminal Narrowing at home through over-the-counter medications and exercise.
1. Immobilization
Reducing the activities responsible for the damage is a key to good health. If you are suffering from repetitive stress injuries, such as a carpal tunnel or tennis elbow, this technique might help.
2. Over-The-Counter Medications
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen may help with hand weakness induced by bilateral foraminal narrowing. You can use these medications to treat the symptoms of inflammatory disorders, but they don’t fix the underlying problem.
3. Exercise
Doing the regular exercises, the right way is one of the simplest and most effective solutions for losing grip strength. You can use hand exercisers to enhance their grip and recover from injuries more quickly.
If you are experiencing hand or arm weakness, it is time to see a professional specialist. Schedule an Appointment at Complete Medical Wellness With Our Board-Certified Pain Management Specialists today.