Any one got helpful tips for tremors

[supermum_ms]

Hi there wonderful people,

I've hunted and hunted but cant find anything really informative or that helpful for dealing with tremors. This years episode has left behind continual tremors, they usually go along with everything else but this year they dont seem to be leaving me so instead of simply waiting until they stop because they just may not do that this time. I thought it time to get some advice on what to do, if there is something that can be done to reduce the tremors i would be back to a closer version of my normal.

I've mentioned this in other posts but to explain for those that may have missed them, i have 1 tremor that i feel when i am resting so not moving limbs, rappid left to right shaking of my hole body, i dont need to be doing anything, its just always there. Its almost the same as fever chills, you feel that type of tremor on and off, this one is always on but without the fever. Sometimes i really feel the need to hold my arms tightly across my chest, (self hug) to try and get a break from it, its still there when i lay down to sleep. I catch my self stiff, sometimes i can be lying in bed and my body is stiffening up, its involuntary, i even find my hands digging into my face as they stiffen, i'm sure its related to the never ending tremors.

The 2nd tremor is just my head, sometimes i notice i'm nodding from left to right, it happens everyday but not constantly, it does seem to happen at odd irregular times and its not something i think about but still it is abnormal for me to be doing this when my espisode is over.

The 3rd tremor is an essential tremor, never know when its going to happen, i over reach, knock things over, hit when i meant to gently pat (cat not impressed), its unpredictable, sometimes a little dangerous when i'm cooking, flame and sharp knives can be a bit of a problem when this tremor is happening.

The 4th tremor is probably the same as tremor 1 but i'm not sure, if I look at my fingers, hands or arms they are doing the rappid tremors as they rest but if i lift them into the air they go from almost invisible trembling to very noticable. I cant actually feel the difference though, other people see it, thankfully most are too polite to say anything, it just doesnt feel comfortable when their eyes shift from mine to stare at the hand thats noticably trembling.

I would appreciate some advice on dealing with this, i'm not on any drugs of any kind but realise this is getting to be a problem to big to ignore, my body is now aching from the daily shakes. I'm still stretching every limb to keep their flex, without stretching my limbs seem tight and more difficult to control, if i skip a day walking is more problematic but the tremors make it harder to keep up my much needed exercises.

Any ideas? I would appreciate any advice that you can think of.

Cheers.......JJ

[rudyhorse]

Hi,
I have tremors also, but undiagnosed as of yet.  We show rabbits and you pose them and lift there little heads, and the poor things shake so bad when I do it because of the tremors.  That is a big joke around my house now....
Anyway, I am on Mirapex and that is helping, not sure if you have tried that and I missed it in your post.
Best wishes
Tracy

[PastorDan]

Two and four sound familiar here, as does the thought of catching oneself stiffening up.  That's been kind of bugging me for a month or so, but the tremors have been around for years.  They have, though, worsened pretty dramatically since i developed all these other problems.

Nothing's ever been prescribed for either, but I have no credible dx at this point, either.  Doing a quick Google on Tracy's Mirapex, it sounds like there may be something there worth investigating.  Let us know what you find, please.

[supermum_ms]

Hi There,

I've been reading clinical neurological papers and books to locate something relating to treatment, interestingly there isn't much out there that delves into treatment options, a pleathera of how to dx via neurological exams and clinical lesion signs.

This is a pretty good at explaining in simplistic terms the different types of tremors, also gives cause and treatment options, very short and easy to read.

http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/200909/200909sirisena.pdf

I'm still looking for the holy grail, will let you know what i stumble across.

Cheers........JJ

[wadeheather]

I have tremors too. They are very new to me, and very disturbing. Much of what you described hits home.  I have an appt on Wed (hopefully a valuable one this time) with a new neuro.  If, by some strange stroke of luck, I get any info on the tremors I will let you know!

H

[supermum_ms]

Hi again,

I've read far too much for my own good, i wouldnt recommend trying to diagnose the cause of tremors persay but it makes for some interesting reading trying to work out if there is something you can do to reduce or remove them from your life.

I thought it funny that some types of tremors are relieved by 'minimal' amounts of alcohol, so a medicinal glass of wine with dinner is sort of ok (sounds pretty good to me) but alcohol abuse creates withdrawl tremors so there's the catch 22.

There are many many things that cause tremors, caffine, legal drugs, withdrawl from types of legal drugs,  lesions, hypoglycemia, MS, age, Parkinsons, psychological conditions eg anxiety etc etc etc. I think its one of those things that gets put into the no big deal catagory, if your tremors are not affecting your quality of life, too much.

I'm a coffee drinker, smoker for 34 years but thats it as far as the bad stuff i put in my body, cant say thats changed much in the last 10 years. I still find it rather coincidental that all my issues only ever visit me together, the tremors i've always dismissed them as being a bi product of having a bug. I dont have tremors unless i've been dealing with one of my episodes and they dont happen to me unless i've had some form of viral infection first. This year they are not leaving me like they usually do, i'm still stabbing my self when i eat and its starting to drive me batty.

Still in isolation there are many causes, together with all the other things that happen to me, not so many things to explain it, its like swimming in a fish bowl, i keep going around and around and still cant find my way out of the MS pool.

Cheers.....JJ

Oh if you want another good one to read...

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/neurology/tremors/

[Guitar_grrrl]

The only tidbit of info I can provide here is this:

At work, in the cafeteria, they only have plastic utensils, my hands shake with the food on the way to my mouth, and I either miss my mouth all together, or I drop my food!  I've gone to choosing finger foods, or If I bring leftovers from  home (better for me anyway), I pack real forks and spoons - the extra weight is really helpful!

HTH,
Guitar_grrrl

[CareBayer]

I also have the same tremors you described 24/7. Intentional, resting etc. You name it in the tremor catagory and I have it. My doctor gave me Zanaflex for my muscle stiffness this past month and my tremors have diminished a lot. Maybe that it can help you too.

I dont know if it is the Zanaflex itself or maybe with the combination of the Neurotin.

Hopefully soon you can get some relief. I know the terrible feeling all to well.

[summerluvr]

I have a really bad arm tremor that comes when my symptoms flared, but luckily It has disappeared on it's own months later (several years now off an on)  I have been told it is essential tremor.  It can be bad enough that I can not write well, hold things, reach for things, can't hold my arm up, do rapid movement etc.

Things that make it worse coffee, alcohol (the morning after a night of social drinking) asthma puffers, overusing the arm (ie carrying a heavy bag, scrubbing the bathroom), stress/ anxiety.

The doctor wanted to prescribe proponalol / Inderal (i think that is what it's called?) but because I'm asthmatic could not take it.  I have Xanax for when it's bad I take one at night, and the next day my arm is much better.  I do not have an anxiety problem but this is an anti-anxiety drug that helps calm my tremor.

My boyfriend recently told me that when I sleep my legs "go" and sometimes my arm.  He means they shake in my sleep. Not sure what's going on there, luckily I'm sleeping :P

He says "your legs were really going, what were you dreaming about?"  haha