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What Causes Weakness And Unsteadiness In The Left Arm And Hand?

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Posted on Wed, 18 Jul 2018
Question: What would cause my left arm and hand to be very weak and unsteady?
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Stroke, local neurological problems

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

localized weakness can be caused by either a local neurological problem (like compression of a motor nerve for example when passing through narrowed interspinous spaces) or a central neurological problem (like stroke). The same applies for unsteadiness. If these symptoms occurred just now, you should visit a neurologist or the ER for immediate assessment. A CT-scan and MRI of the head would exclude most central causes (including stroke, tumors, hemorrhage, etc). MRI of the cervical spine may exclude nerve compression. A less likely cause is neuropathy.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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What Causes Weakness And Unsteadiness In The Left Arm And Hand?

Brief Answer: Stroke, local neurological problems Detailed Answer: Hello, localized weakness can be caused by either a local neurological problem (like compression of a motor nerve for example when passing through narrowed interspinous spaces) or a central neurological problem (like stroke). The same applies for unsteadiness. If these symptoms occurred just now, you should visit a neurologist or the ER for immediate assessment. A CT-scan and MRI of the head would exclude most central causes (including stroke, tumors, hemorrhage, etc). MRI of the cervical spine may exclude nerve compression. A less likely cause is neuropathy. I hope you find my comments helpful! Kind Regards!