Why am I so weak I can barely walk?

Author: Madge Cruickshank  |  Last update: Monday, April 14, 2025

Muscle weakness is commonly due to lack of exercise, ageing, muscle injury or pregnancy. It can also occur with long-term conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. There are many other possible causes, which include stroke, multiple sclerosis, and depression.

What is extreme weakness a symptom of?

Medical causes– unrelenting exhaustion may be a sign of an underlying illness or condition (such as flu, glandular fever, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid disorders, heart disease or diabetes). Lifestyle-related causes – alcohol or drugs or lack of regular exercise can lead to feelings of fatigue.

Why am I feeling so physically weak?

Short-term weakness may occur because of overwork, stress, or lack of sleep. You may also feel weakness after overcoming an illness, such as a cold or the flu, or as a symptom of a more serious underlying condition.

Why are my legs so weak I can barely walk?

Weakness in the legs can happen for a variety of reasons. These can include DOMS, spinal problems, neuropathy, ALS, stroke, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Weakness in the legs may affect one leg or both.

What causes extreme weakness in legs?

Weakness in the legs is a common symptom of many health conditions and injuries, including autoimmune diseases, spinal conditions and injuries, and stroke.

Fatigue: Why Am I So Tired? And What Can I Do About It?

Why do my legs feel like they are going to give out?

What Would Cause Your Leg to Give Out? Weakness in the leg can arise from three principal sources: nerve problems, muscle weakness, and SI joint dysfunction. Weakness in the legs may indicate a significant nerve problem. In many cases, it may be the first indication of a nerve problem.

Why would someone suddenly not be able to walk?

Problems with the joints, (such as arthritis), bones (such as deformities), circulation (such as peripheral vascular disease), or even pain can make it difficult to walk properly. Diseases or injuries to the nerves, muscles, brain, spinal cord, or inner ear can affect normal walking.

What disease starts with muscle weakness?

Overview. Myasthenia gravis (my-us-THEE-nee-uh GRAY-vis) causes muscles under your voluntary control to feel weak and get tired quickly.

When I get up from sitting, I can hardly walk.?

Sitting too long can make your muscles and joints stiff, so when you try to walk afterward, they may take time to “wake up” and work properly.

How can I make my weak legs strong again?

Some good leg strengthening exercises include:
  1. Squats — Squatting is one of the best resistance workouts you can do. ...
  2. Lunges — Lunges are a great way to enhance strength and stability in your legs since you are forced to balance all of your body weight on one leg for a short period of time.

What disease makes you feel weak?

Chronic fatigue syndrome (also called CFS or myalgic encephalomyelitis). Fibromyalgia. Kidney disease. Type 2 diabetes.

What deficiency causes weakness in legs?

Potassium Deficiency (Hypokalaemia)

Hypokalemia is a medical condition that occurs when you have minimal potassium in your blood flow. Potassium deficiency can lead to leg heaviness, leg weakness, leg cramps, constipation, fatigue, and numerous other symptoms.

Why am I not getting any stronger?

Insufficient Volume and Frequency. Not doing enough sets or training frequently enough can limit your strength gains, as muscles need adequate volume and consistent training to grow stronger.

When should I be worried about my body weakness?

Muscle weakness that is slowly getting worse needs to be checked by a doctor. Sudden muscle weakness and loss of function in one area of the body also needs to be checked by a doctor right away. It can be a sign of a stroke or of a problem with the spinal cord or a nerve.

What deficiency causes extreme weakness?

Deficiencies in folate (vitamin B9) can result in megaloblastic anemia, which produces symptoms of weakness and fatigue, headache, palpitations, and shortness of breath.

What blood tests are done for weakness?

A body test for weakness typically includes a complete blood count (CBC) test, thyroid function tests, and vitamin D and B12 tests. These body tests for weakness provide vital information about deficiencies or imbalances that may cause weakness.

Why can I barely walk all of a sudden?

Difficulty walking may arise from problems with the feet, ankles, knees, legs, hips, or back including: Arthritis. Back problems, such as herniated disc. Broken bones and soft tissues injuries, including sprains, strains and tendonitis.

Why do I feel so weak I can hardly walk?

Muscle weakness is commonly due to lack of exercise, ageing, muscle injury or pregnancy. It can also occur with long-term conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. There are many other possible causes, which include stroke, multiple sclerosis, and depression.

Why is my body stiff all the time?

Muscle stiffness often arises after changing exercise routines, overusing muscles, or being physically inactive for long periods of time. Otherwise, muscle stiffness can be caused by an underlying condition, including myopathy, neuromuscular disorders, and neurologic disorders.

What disease makes you lose the ability to walk?

Lasting ataxia usually results from damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination, known as the cerebellum. Ataxia describes poor muscle control that causes clumsy movements. It can affect walking and balance, hand coordination, speech and swallowing, and eye movements.

Can a blood test detect muscle weakness?

A blood test will let your doctor know if you have elevated levels of muscle enzymes, which can indicate muscle damage. A blood test can also detect specific autoantibodies associated with different symptoms of polymyositis, which can help in determining the best medication and treatment.

Why does my whole body ache and I feel weak?

Body aches can result from tiredness or exercise and commonly occur with infections such as the flu. However, they can also be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, or lupus.

Why am I losing mobility in my legs?

The most common risk factors for mobility impairment are older age, low physical activity, obesity, strength or balance impairment, and chronic diseases such as diabetes or arthritis.

What neurological disorders cause inability to walk?

Sensory ataxia caused by polyneuropathy, parkinsonism, subcortical vascular encephalopathy, and dementia are among the most common neurological causes. [4][5] Hip and knee osteoarthritis, causing pain and limited motion, are common non-neurological causes of gait disorders.

Could barely walk meaning?

“i could barely walk home” means you got there with difficulty.

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