Pain, weakness, severe pain in both arms

by jenmik
(usa)

Hello. I am 32 yrs. old. I do have rheumatoid arthritis. However, this new symptom, which seems to happen every time I am in bed, and when I wake up in the morning.

I will have numbness from my shoulders down to my fingers. The pain is so intense, and sometimes the numbness is so numb that there is no feeling in my hands/fingers.
When this happens, I try to move my arms, but its like I have no control, and its very very difficult to do. They feel very weak and there is alot of pain.

Sometimes, it will just be from the elbows to the fingers. (And it is the whole hand, and all of the fingers) And somedays, it is from the shoulders to the fingers.

And it is both arms, sometimes at the same time, just with different pain/numbing levels.

This is a very new symptom, which has started about 3 weeks ago, and is happening almost every night/morning. At night, I awake with type of numbing weakness pain. Also, the morning numbness, weakness and pain last for about 20-30 minutes after I am awake.


Any suggestion would be very helpful. Thank you for your time.


Hello Jenmik,
The fact that it's in both arms definitely suggests the need for a thorough examination.

What you describe - in all fingers - points to the strong possibility of a Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The nerve-vascular bundle are pinched by the first rib (st called the First Rib syndrome) often causing symptoms in all fingers.

It can occur bilaterally, but one is then always more concerned about missing something 'central' in nature. I would recommend a neurological consult. If they find nothing, then see your local chiropractor.

If it misses the pinkie, then Carpal Tunnel syndrome is also a possibility.