Sudden wobbly legs going down stairs?

[Wobblylegs1]

I know that I need to get medical advice, but just posting here in the meantime because I am curious.

I am 40, perfectly healthy as far as I am aware, no meds etc.
I am in a very sedentary job and have poor muscle strength generally (improving my strength will be a new year resolution) but I am normal weight, go out for a daily walk - my legs normally work fine!

Anyway today I was walking downstairs and suddenly my legs felt incredibly shaky and like they were going to give way from under me. Like I had just run a marathon (I hadn’t, I’ve been sitting at my desk all morning.) I have had this sensation twice before since the summer, once when standing up from crouched position, and another time coming down stairs. This time I was carrying boxes down stairs, so I wonder if maybe I was using slightly different muscles to usual, and that might have something to do with it? It was such a strange feeling, like my legs were just drained of all their strength.

Has anyone else ever had this happen?

I would go to the GP really - there are a multitude of reasons for muscle weakness and the doctor will want to do an examination and possibly tests. It's frightening to feel like your muscles are going to give way - I'm sorry you had this!

I regularly get this - same thing - coming downstairs carrying something. Like you need to immediately sit/lean against the wall in case your legs crumple under you. I always assumed it was some kind of weird nerve/funny bone type thing. It’s been since my late twenties and has never got any worse. I would be interested to know if anyone knows what it is.

Thanks, for replying, that’s reassuring! yes it does feel like it might be to do with my nerves, it was such a sudden feeling, and after sitting down my legs felt a slightly hot/cold tingly inside, like my arm does when I lie on it funny in bed.
If it happened regularly or if I felt ill or faint I’d be more worried, but as it was so random and I feel totally well in other ways, I mainly just feel curious.

As above might be best to get checked out by your GP

but also why wait for news year resolution to improve your strength. Just do 10 squats, 10 lunges, 30 sec wall sit and 30 sec plank twice a day today and every day til you get a proper plan in place.

Low blood pressure, particularly from standing up quickly can make you feel wobbly, but nothing to do with your legs. But could be lots of other things.

Thanks, yes I do have the low blood pressure thing too, my vision goes dark and my head a bit swimming for a few seconds. But this is definitely different, my mind is sharp as anything, it’s just my legs that give out. So weird.

Please go and see your GP as soon as you can. It's probably nothing sinister but muscle weakness in your limbs can be a sign that something neurological is going on so best to get it checked.

That’s how I found I had sepsis

Exactly this

Thanks for the advice to get it checked out- I will call my GP.

Just bumping in case anyone else has experience of this?