Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Jan 23, 2024
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The middle finger of the right foot is not strong
The little finger of the right foot does not move
The middle finger of the right hand is not strong
The little finger of the right hand is not strong
The little finger of the right foot is not strong
Sudden weakness on one side of the body that lasted for a while
Muscle weakness after breathing too many times in a short time
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About the Symptom
Decreased muscle strength, where you try your best to move a limb but a normal muscle contraction doesn't occur. Muscle weakness is typically due to nerve issues or problems within the muscles.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Weakness in arms or legs
Possible Causes
Generally, Limb weakness can be related to:
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of diseases causing progressive weakness and muscle wasting. It is caused by mutated genes that normally allow healthy muscles to form. Different types of MD can appear at different ages, ranging from childhood to adulthood, and also present different levels of severity and clinical manifestations.
Lambert-Eaton syndrome is a condition where a person's immune system attacks the connections between the nerves and the muscles. This usually causes muscle weakness and fatigue. This condition is most often seen in people with small cell lung cancer, those with immune system problems, or rarely other types of cancer such as lymphoma.
Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAPs) are life-threatening, multisystem, inherited disorders where amyloid (an abnormal protein that can be deposited in any tissue) accumulates in nerve fibers and around nerves.
Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
Related serious diseases
Sometimes, Limb weakness may be related to these serious diseases:
Injury to the spinal cord at the neck level, often caused by falls or accidents.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
Do your arms or legs feel weak?
Are you experiencing an inability to move one side of your body?
Do you experience more weakness in one side of your body?
Is your speech slurred?
Do you see double?
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Developed by doctors.
Find Similar Symptoms
Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
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