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Shaking/Tremors in my head for many years

Hi to all, I am a 30 year old male and I have been having this problem for many years now. I have some sort of shaking/vibration in my head and I am not sure where exactly it comes from. It severely affects my concentration and I have been unable to hold down a job. Sometimes it results in a crippling headache, other times I feel nauseous. I have tried to do some face exercises like clenching my jaw tightly and shaking my head but it wouldn't relieve the shaking.

Due to the shaking/vibration i my head, I find it very hard to focus and do even some simple tasks. I ever had a CT scan done many years ago but it showed nothing. Basically I just feel like I will just have to live with this all my life. The problem becomes more servere when I am subject to stress. I am really at a lost as to how I can find a way to allievate this incessant shaking in my head. I can't concentrate on doing something for any long period of time. I also have a history of depression/OCD but I don't think it is the cause of this shaking. I almost feel like there is something shaking/shivering in my head and I am sure its not psychological. Many people tell me it is but after suffering for 10 years, I am sure its not. I am a very light smoker and these few days when I try to stop smoking completely, the shaking comes back.

I sometimes feel so alone, and I know not many people understand what I am going through because I look normal on the outside. I also have problems doing some simple tasks at times like having enough focus to hold up a bowl of hot soup and place it properly on the table... It feels like there is this cloud over my brain that disturbs my focus...

The shaking/tremors stops when I sleep, lie down, or rest my head on something... I am not sure why this is so and I hope it may present a clue on my condition.... When my head rests against something, I seem fine and my brain seems to work....

Please share any ideas or suggestions that you may have. Take care.
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Avatar universal
Can Doctor please give some advice? Thanks a lot a lot
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180749 tn?1443595232
The Yog Pranayam (breathing exercises) will  help you relax and also help to improve the head shake. I have shown all the exercises to be done. Initially I want you to do anulom vilom(30 minutes) and Bhramri (upto 20 times), for 9 days and then do all the pranayams regularly. Keep your eyes closed and concentrate. Come back to report your progress when you feel the difference. Also I want to know, when you feel fine without smoking, as this is the point when you will be able to stop smoking.
Your feedback will help someone else.
Build up your timing gradually. If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.

Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose. Duration upto 5 minutes.

Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.

You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and hold your head steady. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Do this for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through the nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 12  times

Once you are better, continue the pranayam once a day.
Be patient, as the benefits will show over a period of months.Only by doing you will benefit and feel good because you are helping your body.




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Avatar universal
Thanks I will try..... I will update you in a few days
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Avatar universal
Can Doctor give me some feedback???

And hava, do you think nootropil and gingko biloba will help?? Will taking these consistently help?? What other drugs could help?? Kindly advice
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Avatar universal
Can the doctor give me some advice
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Avatar universal
Can Doctor give some advice??
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Avatar universal
Can doctor please advice..
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Avatar universal
Can the doctor please give some advice..
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Avatar universal
I am considering going to see another neurologist but I am afraid that nothing will come out of it again...The first neurologist I saw about 9 years ago just did a CT scan and then sent me packing... he did not even do anything else...
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Avatar universal
The shaking doesn't seem to subside..... Nowadays I am also very stressed because I have been out of a job for many months....Can someone give some advice
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Avatar universal
Well, it's hard to pinpoint what might be your problem based on what you've said, but could be you've got a simple tremor, plenty of folks have it, like Kathryn Hepburn had it and her head wobbled.  That would be something drugs would help.  Also could be a pinched nerve in your neck is misfiring, producing these shakes, because you said it didn't do that when you rested your head.  Could also be you have a type of seizure going on.  You should indeed go to a new neurologist group, they should do a CAT scan of your head and neck, and they should also do a 24-hour EEG on you (tests brainwaves), and they should also do an EMG for you (tests neuromuscular activity).

In the meantime, you could get a soft neck collar at the drugstore, and if they don't have any there, ask the pharmacist where you might get one.  If you'll wear one for, say, a week or so, could be it will help those tremors until you see your doc.  That way you'll know it's probably a spinal nerve doing this.  I'm thinking in this case of how you said your head doesn't shake when you lay down or otherwise support your head.

Another that comes to mind is perhaps some sort of vertigo, where you think things are moving around you when they aren't.  Usually people feel like they're going to fall over, they become unbalanced, and it's kind of scary.  If you think this makes a little sense, you can go to an ear nose throat ENT doc, and he can diagnose and treat you for this sort of condition, he'll check out your ears where the balance system is located.  In the meantime, if this seems possible, you can take motion sickness tablets, you can buy them over-the-counter at the pharmacy.

Lastly, it's also possible a medication or aspirin or some vitamins you've been taking has the side effect of causing this sort of palsy thing, or maybe it's "brain zaps" that SSRIs can cause, that sort of thing.  You can go to a general doc and have him review your meds for any problems they may be causing you.  He can also draw blood and see if you're deficient or overdosing with any vitamins or minerals, as that can also cause some strange symptoms in people, with the lack B vitamins causing some neurological sorts of problems, altho lack of minerals can also also do a number on a person's nervous system, and also an imbalance or too much of vits and mins can do this to you.

Hope this helps a little.  But get thee to a doc and get a checkup, at the very least, if none of this rings a bell.  He can refer you to a neurologist if he thinks that's what's going on.  
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Avatar universal
Maybe it isn't neurological..... Sometimes I feel that my jaw has internal tremors,..... Or could it be the neck that has a problem....... When I feel the tremors in my jaws, I would just tighten my jaw and try to fight the tremors...

Is it possible the jaw has a problem that could be causing this
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Avatar universal
Dear Mic,
That is sounding even more like medication... go to a regular doc and have him check you out, review any drugs you're on, draw blood, and do a preliminary look for many neuromuscular problems (nerves fire and make muscles move).  The muscle tightening could be from a variety of medical issues, some of which I pointed out before, like a pinched nerve in the neck, and if you've torn up your jaw somehow, the family doc will also want to check out how that feels and works.  He can then refer you to a specialist, or modify your meds, and in general begin to come up with a diagnosis and thus treatment.
GG
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Avatar universal
I can only get an appointment to see a psychatrist and hopefully he can refer to a neurologist.... I went to see a neurologist and that dude was totally clueless.... Did a CAT scan and thats it...... Refused to do anything, no medicine, no nothing.... Under the subsidised healthcare system, I must wait till September to see a specialist and the GP who attended to me at the polyclinic refused to refer to neurologist..... He said go back to see a psychatrist...... You realli sound more knowledgable than the doctor dudes I saw... Most of them look clueless.... And they would refer to psychatrist once they decide they don't know......
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Avatar universal
You didn't say if you were on any drugs at the moment, but you did say you have a history of depression and OCD.  If you're on SSRIs, you'll get brain zaps when you're not getting enough medication, which might be what you're having.  And it looks to me like if your head has been shaking for ten years, and your last scan was nine years ago, well, could be you need a new one to include the neck, and also could be they need to look at you in relation to having a type of seizure or tremor by running a 24-hour or longer EEG.  I agree, I think your psychiatrist will know what specialist to send you to, if it's not a drug-related situation.  Well, I hope that doc will help you.
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Avatar universal
All the specialist I have seen seem to want to save trouble... They just want to rush to discharge you... I am not on any medication...... The specialists may not be willing to send me for additional testing and insist the CAT done 10 years ago is enough.... That is the state of healthcare here.... thats why I have almost given up on finding a cure......
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Avatar universal
No medications...hmmmm.  I think it's a nerve problem if it hurts anywhere around your head, neck, and jaw, or if a "special" feeling happens when that tremor starts up, sort of deep in a muscle.  And do a search online for "tremor," and read all about that, see if any of that fits with you.  Also, if other people close to you can visually see this tremor, then next time you go to any doc, take them with you.  Explain to that doc any pain, and/or strange feeling in a muscle, AND how it goes away when you lay down, when you go.  

This, I think, needs a clinical evaluation by a neurologist, possibly a new scan, and a 24-hour EEG, and you might need to be on medication for this tremor or pinched nerve or whatever it is.  However, if your GP and psychiatrist don't see the need for you to go to a neuro, perhaps you can talk them into sending you to an ear nose throat ENT doc, or you might could go on your own since seeing an ENT is fairly routine.  He will be schooled on head shaking type stuff and might can help you out.

I hope this finally helps you with a sort of plan to go at this.  And in the end, it could very well be that if you don't have pain, and you don't have a feeling in a muscle when you have this tremor, and if no one else sees it, well, the psychiatrist can prescribe you perhaps some sort of tranquilizer with anti-spasm in it, like Klonopin.  It may soothe you enough to stop that tremor sensation you have, so be open to that kind of drug.
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Avatar universal
Thanks , you have been very kind... I will keep you updated on my condition...... My head feels shaky again.. Day and night, never goes away.......... I am seeing the psychatrist in Spetember... Hopefully he can refer to a neurologist.... Or else I really don;t know what can be done....
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Avatar universal
I seem to be quite alone in the shaking type of symptoms..... I am actually hoping its psychological because at least I can find a solution..... I will give psychological medicine another try...... All these problems started since I got unemployed...... From 2004-2007 I was studying and the symptoms were mild at best, with only a handful of relapses..... So I do believe that part of the problem is psychological as well..... However I am not sure if psychological reasons explain the physical symptoms I experience.....At times, the tremors are really bad and I can't do a single thing right....
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Avatar universal
I am now thinking the problems are not with the brain... I often feel a stiffness/tremors in my jaw and I am increasingly thinking the problems are related to that.... But I am unsure which specialist to see for this problem?? The problems could also orignate from the throat or neck area.....
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Avatar universal
Well, like I said in my last post, you ought to be able to go to an ear nose throat ENT doc, that's something you do not need a referral for, look one up in the phone book and go over there.  In meantime, you could go to a health food store, ask one of the clerks to direct you to some herbal stuff that relaxes muscles or acts as a tranquilizer.  Also, while you're in there, get you a multivitamin.  Listen, I know what it's like to be a little crazy, but not to worry, you're in good company.  But I think you have a physical problem, not mental, becuz the tremor goes away when you lay down!  That tells me it's a nerve thing.  But go to an ENT, would you plez!  It's not fair that you have to deal with this on top of everything else that worries you.  Keep us posted, sorry I was away for a while. GG  
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Avatar universal
I have a psychatrist appointment from a government hospital but I don't really feel like going... Government doctors are very conservative, there are only a handful of drugs that they will prescribe me, and I'll bet its prozac again.... I also do not think he will acceed to my request to be referred to a neurologist....I basically have no faith in government doctors..... I am considering going to a private specialist but I am very worried about the costs involved....It might cost me a lot of money...... I don't have a job now and I can't afford the medical fees....

You are right, a lot of issues are bothering me..... I feel so sad at times.....
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Avatar universal
Have you considered the possbility of Tourettes Syndrome, A good deal of what you describe some what fits that catagory. I myself have Tourettes the majority of my symptoms are above my shoulders. I have met a lot of people over 40 who don't know what it is, mostly because thte doctors they have seen aren't familiar. One key trigger for me was that it is worse with Stress, anyway, do me a favor and look it up as a possible. Hope you get it figured out.
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Avatar universal
Dear Mic,
Oh, go ahead to the psych doc, who knows, maybe they'll give you something to relax the muscles and/or numb the nerves, like Neurontin.  I really like the above poster's suggestion, Nealmed, they may be onto something about Tourette's, you could mention that to the psych doc, it'll put your tremor thing into larger focus for them, and you might even get a neurologist referral out of it!  If prosac helped you before, go ahead with it, unless you didn't like it last time you took it.  If they want to give you that and you don't want it, say so and tell them why, and hopefully they'll come up with an effective alternative.  But really and truly, somebody has got to address this tremor thing, THAT'S what's making you feel so awful, and prosac would really only be a bandaid, in my opinion.  But if that's all they'll give you is a bandaid of some kind, by golly take it.

Next time you go to your general doc, see can you get him to order a plane black & white X-ray of your neck and head, to see if a nerve is jammed up and causing this, ordinary X-ray is inexpensive and they ought to at least do that for you.  It won't show the nerves, but it WILL show if your vertebrae are not aligned properly, or may show if your jaw is out of joint, and thus may be pinching on a nerve.

And I still think you ought to see an ear nose throat ENT doc, can't you just go to one of those?  They can check out your jaw area, since that's where you're sort of pinpointing the origin of your discomfort.

Let me bring this up.  I clench my jaws a lot because of stress and tension.  You could try some "head exercises," where you open your jaw wide, and then relax it and keep your mouth open for a few minutes.  Breathe in very deeply a few times while you're doing that.  Also rub the joint where the jaw meets the skull and simultaneously concentrate on relaxing your mouth open, breathe deeply.  Then reach around to the back of your neck at the bottom where the bone sticks out, and rub all around it, work your way up the cervical spine to the base of your skull, and then rub the back of your lower skull, might feel a little uncomfortable so go easy whenever you push on your skull like that.  Then lay down when you're done, which you said gives you relief from your tremor.  Think the most pleasant thoughts you can come up with, like "go to a place" in your imagination that you really like, use all your senses to be in that place for a while.  Could be if you do this daily, it might decrease the discomfort a little.  

You could get a hot water bottle and put it on the side of your neck and jaw where it hurts, and just lay there and watch TV or whatever, until the bottle cools down.  By the way, to lift your spirits when this annoying symptom is going on, getting outside and walking around the neighborhood for a while, or any exercise outside, will release endorphins in the brain, the best feel-good "drug" around.  Also, try to get enough protein and carbs in your meals, fresh fruits and vegies, even tho you might not be hungry.  And drink plenty of water, maybe get some vitamin supplements.  Those things will help fight off the sad feelings you get from all this.  It's the pain and constant aggravation of this tremor that is making you feel blue, so if you fight it off the best you can by the lifestyle tips I've given you, could be it'll help balance you out a little better.

Like I said, go ahead to the psych doc, you really need to do some lengthy talking with them about how you're feeling, and this constant tremor thing that is driving you nuts.  I know that a disabling nerve problem like you got can wreck your whole life.  The docs have GOT to either figure out what nerve is goofed up and/or they've got to give you medicine to make it stop, maybe Tourette's drugs or seizure drugs!!!

As a last resort, you could go to a dentist, there's a thing called TMJ which is when the temperomandibular joint gets painful and doesn't work right, it's where the jaw attaches to the skull, and the dentist will know exactly what to do about that for you, if he figures out that's what it is.  He'll take X-rays of it and sometimes they can even do a little operation that will correct that.

Well, keep us posted with what's going on.  You are not alone, even tho you feel alone.  Go to places where other people are and socialize, get in touch with relatives and acquaintances and try to make better friends with them, so you'll have someone in real life to share with.  My back was fractured in a car wreck, and the pain sent me right around the bend, and were it not for my husband, I'd have ended up in a mental hospital.  Thankfully, after pleading with so-called experts about how much it hurt, it was, of all things, my PSYCHIATRIST who prescribed the Lyrica I take now that gives me relief from a tore-up back that needs an operation but I cannot afford it.  Best wishes to you, I've been to that lousy place you're stuck in right now, and I don't wanna go back, that's for sure!
GG
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