Neck pain and weakness in arms or legs

Many people with neck pain say their arms feel weak. If weakness is related to neck pain, you will be able to make your arm muscles work, but it will probably hurt.

True weakness means you are not able to use your arms or legs normally, no matter how much you try to push through the pain. This may be caused by a problem with the structures in the neck, such as a herniated disc.

Pressure on the spinal cord itself rather than just on specific nerves connected to it can cause weakness in one or both arms as well as in the legs. Weakness is a sign of a more serious problem if it is present in both arms or both legs rather than one arm or one leg. It also is more serious if it affects both the arm and leg on one side of the body at the same time.