Essential Tremor

My hands began shaking some 3 years ago, and I've diagnosed as having testimonial tremor. It reached the point where, you know the walking and holding your leg up tests they do for a roadside DUI check - ha, can't do any of that as my balance is affected as well. Even my mouth will shake during a dental exam... check writing, keying in passwords...

But, at least it's not Parkinson's and my shakes only happen when I trying to do something requiring certain motions...

I wonder how many here experience this?

My hands began shaking some 3 years ago, and I've diagnosed as having testimonial tremor. It reached the point where, you know the walking and holding your leg up tests they do for a roadside DUI check - ha, can't do any of that as my balance is affected as well. Even my mouth will shake during a dental exam... check writing, keying in passwords...

But, at least it's not Parkinson's and my shakes only happen when I trying to do something requiring certain motions...

I wonder how many here experience this?

You described essential tremors well. I don't have this, but have seen many patients who do.

The tremors do occur only when you are trying to do something, which is what makes them so annoying--like signing your name or writing in general, but usually worse when signing your name or doing other fine work, eating soup with a spoon, drinking from a glass, pouring water from a pitcher into a glass, and so on. Women will find it difficult to put on eye makeup or do other fine detail work, men might find it difficult to shave. Artists and musicians will also have difficulty. In some patients, when it becomes severe, their speech becomes affected, sounding very choppy.

My first wife was an ER/Trauma nurse, and she had essential tremors that affected her hands. However, it did not interfere with her starting an IV. In fact, she was the "go to" person for starting difficult IVs, and she got PISSED on the rare occasion she missed the first time. I don't know what the patients thought when they saw her hands shaking...

I asked her how she did it, and she always responded, "I just stick them between the shakes."

Happy to read this. I had a parts salesman whose writing was terrible and watching him try to write my order was painful. This was in the days when we actually fixed TVs and there was enough business so I had 4 salesmen from different parts companies who came to my shop once a week. He was after me from the age of 16 to start my own shop and the company he worked for would even assist in the financing. He was a volunteer fireman and I often found him manning the station at the local fair. It was terribly painful for me watching him write, I can only imagine what it was like for him. I never knew what the problem was.

Was hoping to see if others here have this affliction... Also if any have used any of the medicines that can be prescribed... Also, no one in my family has ever had this affliction, so interesting to read on the web "inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of an altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder, although no genes that cause essential tremor have been identified. In other families, the inheritance pattern is unclear. " https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/essential-tremor

I was diagnosed with an essential tremor some 15 years ago, after going to my GP fearing the worst.

I was told I had 3 treatment options:-

a. Steroids

b. Alcohol

c. do nothing

Needless to say, I drink "purely on a medical basis" but have yet to have it stop me spilling my beer 😄

On a serious note, I opt to do nothing, as it has minimal effect on my career (barista).

@ohohseven thanks for reply. Good to know that it appears it has not gotten worst or really bad in 15-years - I okay with it now, but worry it will get really worse over time. I've heard about alcohol helping; unfortunately, having severe fatty liver disease I've been advised not to touch any booze...

My wife tried 1 or 2 medications (I don't remember which), but the side effects were worse than the tremors, and didn't help all that much anyhow.

@reddevil Not sure of your age, but during the 1980's there was a professional snooker player (Bill Werbeniuk) who drank almost to excess to counteract his essential tremor. Whilst it helped the tremor, it also led to his early demise in 2003 at 56 through associated drink issues.

@ohohseven I'm 74, to answer question (not sure if it's in my profile).

@ohohseven I'm 74, to answer question (not sure if it's in my profile).

I can't find a way to get it in my profile. I'd like to have it in there because I think it's pertinent to why we think the way we do. I messaged Susie last week to see if she could tell me but she isn't answering me. I must be on her bad boy list again. I wish she'd just spank me and get it over with.

HERE IS HOW TO PLACE YOUR AGE IN THE PROFILE:

Go to your PROFILE

Click "MY"

Click "ACCOUNT" in the drop down menu

"BIRTHDATE" is in the middle of the page below NAME and above SECURITY

Click SAVE when you are done

After making that setting, you will be shown as being in the 70+ age group.

I also have essential, or primary tremors. The degree to which they occur vary considerably, based on factors I can't figure out.

I've taken propranolol, which is taken on an as needed basis, but currently am on a very low dose of primidone, which is taken every day. I'm also on metoprolol for blood pressure, and while it supposedly does help the tremors, it's not as effective as propranolol. Both the beta blocker and primidone are in fairly low doses, so it might be worth talking to your doctor about. As I said, the propranolol you only take when you need it.

At times my handwriting is embarrassing, but I ignore it. Other times I can tell people notice the tremors. I ignore that too. I also seem to have balance issues, but the dr. hasn't said if that's part of the same disorder or not. I imagine it is; at least the symptoms correlate in time with the increased tremors.

Stupid/funny story: I was writing out a receipt for a cash payment of rent from a tenant and my tremors were moderate then. My writing was shaky, but legible. He said "I can see you're scribbling it so it can't be read" and some comment about that leaving the door open for me to do something dishonest. I handed him the pen and receipt book and told him to write it and I'd sign it. Ignorant fool. The irony is, he wanted to leave me the cash in an envelope. I insisted we meet in person and I give him a receipt. Ignorant fool. Oh yeah, I already mentioned that lol.

I did once go to an occupational therapist who specialized in movement disorders. There are some techniques you can use to mitigate the effects. Also, some special items, like a heavy pen or heavy fork/spoon. The weight acts as a ballast, which supposedly reduces the tremor. I didn't see much effect myself, but as they say, YMMV.

I just recently read about some ultrasonic treatment for it. I have no idea what that's about.

Good luck with it. Lots of us have it; you're not alone.

@countrysquire said

I did once go to an occupational therapist who specialized in movement disorders. There are some techniques you can use to mitigate the effects. Also, some special items, like a heavy pen or heavy fork/spoon. The weight acts as a ballast, which supposedly reduces the tremor. I didn't see much effect myself, but as they say, YMMV.

Another method you can use to improve your handwriting is to always write on a pad, never on a single piece of paper on a hard surface. The softer surface will greatly improve your handwriting.

I was diagnosed with an essential tremor some 15 years ago, after going to my GP fearing the worst.

I was told I had 3 treatment options:-

a. Steroids

b. Alcohol

c. do nothing

Needless to say, I drink "purely on a medical basis" but have yet to have it stop me spilling my beer 😄

On a serious note, I opt to do nothing, as it has minimal effect on my career (barista).

d. Beta Blockers - non-selective

e. Beta Blockers - selective (less sedating, but not as good for tremor

f. Topamax - keep the dose low

g. Neurontin - again, keep the dose low

h. Clonazepam - and other benzodiazepines. again, keep the dose low

There ARE a bunch of different approaches to decreasing the tremor. Steroids don't work worth crap for tremor.. by the time you reach an effective dose you're WAY over what is safe to take on an ongoing basis. Alcohol can be effective, it works on the same pathways as the benzos and Neurontin, but tastes a heck of a lot better.

I turn 60 this week, and have over the last year developed a tremor. It's slight but VERY annoying for someone who uses their hands and expects a certain degree of precision when trying to do things. So far Neurontin is keeping it at bay, for the most part.

Doc

Another method you can use to improve your handwriting is to always write on a pad, never on a single piece of paper on a hard surface. The softer surface will greatly improve your handwriting.

I herniated two discs in my forties. My handwriting went to shit after that. Never had tremors, but right hand coordination was compromised as I have a lot of numbness between my right thumb and index finger. Writing on a pad of paper vs a hard surface makes a big difference in legibility.

Don’t know if anyone else has handwriting issues as they age , but this helped me.