I'm having the exact same problem!!!

Either one of two things may have caused it for me:

1. I downloaded SoulSeek and Shareaza, and when I went back to Limewire I noticed this issue. So maybe something in those programs caused it???

2. Also, this is the first time I am connecting to Limewire direct connect and not through my router, and I am noticing this. As odd as it may sound, maybe my router fixes the issue??? BTW I have a USB ethernet port and not a built in one, so MAYBE in some outside way that explains why I am having less problems with my router than without???

Either way, pausing and resuming seems to work for now.