Why do tremor's come & go?

[zoefromsussex]

Hi everybody, I hope this finds you all well? Now then, I seem to have developed a hand tremor over the past few days. It's mostly in my left hand and is only really noticeable when my hand is at rest. I've noticed it before but it went away. This seems to be getting more noticable. Does anybody know why this happens? On a brighter note, my vision is the best its been since this ms lark first kicked off in Oct 2011! :D

[essdipity]

Sure. What's on your mind? It's a good idea to start a new thread, as this one is old and may not get as many responses.

ess

[VETALOU]

Is anyone there?

[zoefromsussex]

Hey everybody, thank you so much for your comments. I have been shake-free today, thank goodness! On the flip side, my vision is back to blurred & weirdly my knees and joints in general have been troubling me today. Seems every day brings something odd! I do believe my lifestyle hinders me as I have a very temperamental daughter & my youngest just does not sleep. I never get more than 5 hours a day and I literally do everything in our home. I think a rest or stress free time would really help but it;s not possible!

[supermum_ms]

agghhhh second time lucky lol lost connection so not me this time ;o)

I was thinking along the same lines as Mary but to add to the identifying and eliminating triggers, writing a diary sometimes helps. Triggers eg, times of day, during certain activities, how long before or after any meds, between meals or after etc. It might be an idea if the tremor comes and goes, to video it whilst your doing some of the activities where it shows its self, sometimes seeing it is easier than trying to explain it.

Oh a point if anyone is going to try the distraction tremor test, it will 'only' work if someone else is monitoring if you still tremor whilst distracted. Its impossible to do it your self, your suppose to be totally focused on the distraction. If it is psychological, because you are so mentally focused on the distraction, the tremor will cease but it will 'not' cease regardless of the distraction if its physiological.

Cheers...........JJ    

[twopack]

Sever shakiness could be tremor that is extending to larger muscle groups.  It can feel like weakness or balance problems, especially when if it increases as you stand.

It sounds like you might benefit from a weekend of quiet rest and relaxation.  Know any cool, stress-free environments?  A place where your mind can be distracted by something other than tremors?  A place with some type of water therapy would be ideal in my mind.

Nothing cures tremors but (like so many MS things) they sometimes tend to come and go.  Hey, it's better than coming to stay!  Whatever their cause, tremors can be triggered or become exaggerated when we're fatigued, emotional and/or experiencing stressors (physical, environmental, physiological, etc).

It might be nice (with little to lose) to see if you can decrease your tremors by eliminating a trigger.  If they are still interferring with life next week I think you're going to need to call the dreaded neuro.  You may need to get it documented and start some treatment early on rather than waiting -- unless you have a date to actually start with the new doc.

That's my thoughts anyway.
Mary

[zoefromsussex]

Thanks for your input everybody. Is severe shakiness the same as a tremor. Up to now it's stopped if I actually use my hands eg pick up a pen but today it's worse if I try to write or do buttons up etc. Tried JJ's test (hands out in front whilst counting) and still shaking. Kind of feels like all of me is trembling but it's most obvious in my hands.

[SarahL2491]

thanks JJ, didn't mean to run away with this thread but sure much of its also useful to others.  

the finger thing fits the postural tremor.  the only time it does it is when I am trying to type on the phone.  Am aware of the phone's ability to want to be my BFF and spell for me!  We often have one sided conversations about its inability to just let me do what I want!

[supermum_ms]

um i'm not sure if phones are good examples for typing errors caused by tremor, because phones are notorious (sp) for them. They usually have a built in spell thingy, that predicts the word the user is typing. As you type in the letters, the system automatically brings up the word it assumes you want, that has the combination of letters you've so far put in. If you ignore the word(s) the system picks for you, and keep typing your word, it should solve half this problem your having, i think you can actually turn off this function in some phones. :o)

The issue with identifying the types of tremors is that they are often interchangable when described in articles, research and even by doctors or patient, eg Intention and Essential and Action and even Postural gets in there too. I was just reading that Essential tremor is one of the most commonly missdiagnosed types of tremor, so if the 'experts' get it wrong so often, its got to be really difficult for patients to work out which way is up lol.

http://www.wemove.org/stayconnected/article.asp?ID=901

Trying to keep it basic, think Postural tremor happens when your holding a limb (up) in a position 'against' gravity and Intention tremor happens at the 'end' of the intended action so its more of a jerk or bounce off your intented target.

I'm not exactly sure what you've described is either "sometimes rising from a sitting position my right lower leg will jiggle for a few minutes and then stop" couldn't it also be describing muscle spasm or if the limb is more twitchy or bouncy, then possibly even in the myclonic realm. The reason that i'm thinking that way is that for it to be tremor related, it doesn't usually stop, it usually gets more pronounced but spasms and myclonic issues do eventually stop.

I have tremor, myclonic and spasms, they feel and look differently to each other. For me tremor is multifacited, I never stop moving now from head down to my toes, gravity is my enemy lol. Against gravity, my head and limbs move left to right, a constant bobbing but there is also a constant rythmic ripple almost like i'm vibrating. As I type, i have to hold my fingers close to the keyboard, because if they are elevated my right hand jerks off target and double or tripple bounce. I also stab my self with my fork, shove toothbrushes down my throat, throw things unintentionally and poke people in the eyes ROFL

Myclonic is more jerky not as rythmic as tremors, when i shiver my body jerks about oddly, startle reflex is about the same. I have clonus in my left ankle that affects the flow of walking so I bounce but i'm pretty sure its now in my right too, bummer! I often now also do full body jerks when laying flat, i'm nice and chilled out, and i'll feel strange for a second or two before my body jerks, limbs flay, sort of like what can happen when your falling asleep but i'm totally awake.

Muscles spasms, are different in their visual presentation, an individual muscle will be rippling in its spasm, whilst the ones near are stagnent or the spasm will sometimes set off other connecting muscles. Its rythmic in a fashion but more like hard pulls as the muscle contracts down before it releases. Luckily my spasms are mainly on the left side of my body and i only have one spot that is more a rappid vibrating feeling.

My tremors dont hurt, problematic to work around and get pretty tiering but there's no pain as such. Spasms more often than not dont hurt but when they do, ouchie ouch lol Myclonic is like jumping off a cliff, over quickly and your glad its over and your hopeful its not coming again too soon. LOL when they are all going at the same time, then sheeeesh just shoot me!

Anyhoooo, hopefully some of that made sense to someone, gosh its taken all day to write and i'm ready for my nap, again lol

Cheers............JJ              

[SarahL2491]

My finger that I type with on my phone will jiggle when I am trying to type and so I wind up typing the wrong words much of the time as is evidenced by my posts when I use the phone.  I don't seem to have the problem when using the laptop.  However when sometimes rising from a sitting position my right lower leg will jiggle for a few minutes and then stop.  Guess this is postural or intentional?

[maxthecat43]

JJ gave you some really great/useful information!  

It get the tremors too.  For me it is mostly an exaggeration of the vibrations I always have on my left side (weaker side of my body).  It only worries me when it happens in a new place.  Sometimes if I am very warm/tired/ or physically exhausted, the vibrations (usually only visible with the above "paper" test) become much more visible.  Sometimes during these intensified tremors, my hand or arm (or even occasionally a foot) will start jerking around too.   I'm starting to get to know what is normal for me, even when I overdo.  (Burnt toast!)  If the problems are in a new area, and they stick around for a while- then I call my neurologist.

I wish I could be of more help; but I think JJ is taking good care of you;o)
Tammy

[supermum_ms]

Um when you say "my whole arm was on the move" are you still meaning (1) its doing the rythmic ripples 'only' at rest OR (2) the rythmic ripples are constant so at rest and when used?

If its more jerky when you try to do something, eg you go to push a button and your hand isn't a smooth motion but a jerk that over reaches/misses the target. Thats describing "intention tremor" sorry lol its got me thinking [insert eyes rolling cause i'm always thinking lol]

A couple of different little tests you can do is hold your arms out and count backwards from a hundred, if whilst your consentrating your tremor stops, then thats a pretty good indication that its psychological, if it doesn't stop no matter what 'distraction' is used then thats a pretty good indication that its physiological.

The other one I accidentally discovered but Quix told me its a common test for tremors, lol place a peice of paper between your lips and if the paper moves in a rythmic fashion, its a sign of physiological tremor, sorry can't remember which one though but it'll probably come to me after i've had my nap lol i'll get back to you.

cheers...........JJ  

[zoefromsussex]

Thanks JJ! I'm uhmming & ahhingg as to whether or not I should mention this new tremor to my gp or ms nurse as I really don't want to go see the neuro (still under the horrible one atm as the ms specialist I'm transferring to has a huge waiting list) The only meds I take are antidepressants which I've taken for over a decade. I'm still waiting for my copaxone as the process takes months to set up here! Anyway, it's only mild this morning with a touch of pain in the affected hand but it was like having joke hands last night as they shook so much, my whole arm was on the move! Guess I'll wait it out and hope it just disappears soon. Thanks again. How are you doing??? x

[supermum_ms]

Good morning,

I like your brighter note!

The issue with a tremor is that it can be meaningful or meaningless, there are numerous causes, types, and they can even be a side affects of medications. Its wise for people to look at the medications they take to see if there is any possibility its being caused by medications. Here's some information for you.....

"What is tremor?

Tremor is an unintentional, rhythmic muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements (oscillations) of one or more parts of the body.  It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, head, face, voice, trunk, and legs.  Most tremors occur in the hands.  In some people, tremor is a symptom of a neurological disorder or appears as a side effect of certain drugs.  The most common form of tremor, however, occurs in otherwise largely healthy people......

What causes tremor?

Tremor is generally caused by problems in parts of the brain that control muscles throughout the body or in particular areas, such as the hands. Neurological disorders or conditions that can produce tremor include multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases that damage or destroy parts of the brainstem or the cerebellum.

Other causes include the use of some drugs (such as amphetamines, corticosteroids, and drugs used for certain psychiatric disorders), alcohol abuse or withdrawal, mercury poisoning, overactive thyroid, or liver failure. Some forms of tremor are inherited and run in families, while others have no known cause."

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tremor/detail_tremor.htm

This is one of the best web sites regarding movement issues, its very easy to read but simply chocker block full of information -  http://wemove.org/

Tremor at rest is less commonly associated with MS, action/intention tremors, postural and nystagmus are more commonly connected to MS. Over time depending on the level and location of damage, tremors can become quite prolific, though usually by that stage, its not limited to an individual limb but there entire self, though usually their tremor is at its most calm when at rest.

Personally, tremors have become a major problem for me, intermittent intention and postural tremors, started at least 3 years before my big bang in 09. Since then, its become more prolific, a constant, and weirdly i can actually feel it building from its finer constant rythm, to its uglier rumble and jerks. lol any tool that has a vibration within it, is a no no for me, you should see me trying to use the hair clippers on my son, i'm focused and well he's terrified i'm going to take his ear off ROFL.

Anyhoo, check out those web sites and hopefully you'll find something that resignates with you ;o)

Cheers...........JJ