Essential Tremor

My neurologist has diagnosed me with Essential Tremor and Cervical Spondylosis (with some osteophytes).  When I turn my head to the right it tremors quite noticeably. When my head faces to the front the tremors are not as noticeable.  This began about 2 months ago and I am a 49 year old female.

Does one have anything to do with the other? Will the tremor get worse?  He suggested Botox in the back of the neck to stop the tremors.

Thank You

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Essential tremors are usually seen on other parts of the body, too. Do you have hand tremors ?

Botox may help with the neck pain and the tremors for some time. Cervical spondylosis is not associated with essential tremors.

Regards

[Walden704]

I have minor hand tremors.  You say Botox may help for some time.  Will this get worse? Also, there is no pain.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

If they are Essential tremors, you can expect them to stay the same. If they become worse, the diagnosis will have to be revised.

Botox may not help always. After some time, the body learns to tolerate drugs.

Regards

[mikerobinson41]

hi, im a 19 year old male..i just thought it was odd that you have tremors too that started up 2 months ago..

mine started about the 7th of december and are everywhere..

..just thought i'd let you know your not alone

[soulwhisper]

In looking at the dates, this response may be a little late but I am hoping it reaches you. My hands shook from childhood, mildly and on and off. At 37 I woke up one day like a bobble head. I stayed in the house for weeks feeling like a freak but eventually sought medical help. I am now 52 and the tremors have progressed to my voice and tongue. I take xanax which helps but it is no cure. This after trials of other medications that could have killed me since I have low blood pressure and a history of asthma and I smoke. My Dr has to keep increasing the dose of xanax since my body becomes immune BUT...after much influence from other sufferers, I tried smoking pot, just a couple of hits. It worked, tremors were gone and still gone this morning when I actually could have a full cup of decaf and carry it to the table without a spill. In my younger days I never liked pot, it made me paranoid but now I think I will speak to my Dr about adding it to my regular med in a very weak dose. I know it helps others with MS and Parkinsons for their tremors and it helped me. The only other thing that has helps is alcohol, though it makes tremors worse the next day so I reserve that for social events to avoid embarassment, spills etc...I would not get the surgery, it is not FDA approved yet and even if it were, brain surgery is a lot more risky than spending life shaking. Katherine Hepburn was a classy role model and showed the world her beauty despite her voice and head shaking like hell. My sympathy and empathy are with you...Soulwhisper

[soulwhisper]

Botox is a poison that can cause worse problems than shaking. Leave that to the vain and beauty obsessed. Read about the injections and the horror stories. There is no known cure for what we have but swimming, lots of sunshine and a no stress environment, a glass of red wine here and there help a great deal. Tremors are exacerbated (made worse) by stress! Change as much as you can in your lifestyle to minimize stressors. Meditation helps too :-)  ~soulwhisper~