Ask a doctor on the topic of Neurology

Sudden weakness in the back.

May 30, 2014 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello,

for about 3 months now, the strength in my back has been decreasing. I first noticed it when I wanted to do barbell curls for my biceps. I realized that I could no longer keep my upper body straight.

It has become so bad that I have to tilt my pelvis forward and my back backward in order to stand without it causing me any effort. As soon as I extend my arms in front of my body, a strong feeling of weakness starts and I hunch over. When I lean against something and stretch my upper body backwards, I feel like the vertebrae in the middle of my spine are meeting and causing a pressure pain.

I have been doing fitness sports for almost my entire life, with periods of both longer and shorter breaks. But I have never experienced such sudden decreases in performance before. I have already been to two different hospitals because I felt so weak whenever I stand. Once I was told to try heat therapy and the other time I was told to train my back more. However, I feel like the back muscle from the middle onwards is no longer being activated.

What could this be?

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good evening,

One must consider neurological causes in the area of the spinal cord, but also for example, muscle dystrophy. This is mostly an inherited muscle degeneration (which can also occur as a new mutation, without affected family members).

Hospital colleagues, often young assistants, are overwhelmed in the emergency department with such a question and have given the wrong advice. You urgently need to see an experienced neurologist in private practice, who can measure both the muscles (electromyography) and their neurological control.

Please contact your primary care physician immediately so that they can schedule an appointment faster than you would be able to without a referral.

I wish you all the best!

Sincerely, Dr. Höllering