Arm/Hand Tremor Following Shoulder Surgery

[klwr1009]

My husband was injured at work in April 2010.  The MRI showed a partial rotator cuff tear and bicep detachment.  He was put in physical therapy 3x a week and on light duty at work.  After six week with no results, he had arthroscopic surgery to reattach the rotator cuff and bicep in June 2010.  He was placed on medical leave of absence.  During surgery a nerve block was used.  He began physical therapy the next day and continued 3x a week.  When the nerve block wore off and was removed on the 3rd day post-surgery, the tremor in his arm and had began.  The orthopaedic surgeon had no idea why the tremor was there and referred my husband to a neurologist.  The neurololgist performed nerve tests and another MRI of his brain - thinking that he had Parkinson's.  He prescribed Mysoline, which had no effect on the shaking, and made him feel like he was on speed.  He was then prescribed 1mg of Valium - again no change.  My husband got a second neurology opinion and was given Sinemet.  Of course the Sinemet has no effect because my husband does not have Parkinson's.  We believe that the shaking was caused by the nerve block, but no one seems to agree, and no one can help him.  It is now February, and he still has not been given any answers, has not been released by the orthopaedic surgeon, and cannot return to his previous job.  He has diminished strength, is not able to lift the weight required for his job and the shaking makes completing the paperwork impossible.  We feel like the doctors don't want to deal with his case anymore.  Is there anything that can help him?  Is there a way to correct the shaking in his arm and hand?  

[conpope]

I had rotator cuff surgery about 15 years ago  and 3 years ago i started to have rest tremors in my arm and hand, stiffness, some shoulder pain,decreased coordination  .
neurologists think it's parkinson's although i have no other symptoms and i don't react to anti parkinsonian drugs, neuro surgeons think it is due to a mini stroke but i think / hope it is connected to the surgery on my shoulder so i am contemplating seing an orthopedist

constantin

[Marilynb4k]

February 2015 I had right shoulder surgery. A nerve block was given -I was told it would wear off in eight hours.It did not wear off until 30 hours later. The tremor was apparent right away. I was told it was not a normal post surgery symptom. Two neurologist said it was not Parkinson's they suggested essential tremor but thought it was odd that showed up after nerve block . Still right arm tremor exist not consistent but apparent long term battle ahead it is now January 2017 still waiting on MRI appointment from insurance company from workman comp original injury - they claim I may have had a stroke during surgery in February 2015.  This struggle to find answers and fix the tremor is never ending.  Doctors seemed to be unconcerned with this complication from nerve block use.

[Marilynb4k]

Still working with workman’s comp Gallagher Bassett-October 2017  MRI show no abnormalities and they will not respond to lost blood work. They have stated I can change primary Doctor but will not authorize appointment.  This is a nightmare I now have tendentious in left shoulder terrified to go through surgery and end up with tremor on left side.  

[Soncar]

Concise, interested in your story if you are still on this site.
Did you see an Orthepedist and have your medical issues been resolved?

[Soncar]

conpope sorry, not concise

[seedpop]

I had rotator cuff surgery on my left shoulder and within two months my left hand started shaking.The family doctor said it was essential tremors. I went to a neurologist and he said the same thing.I went to an internalist doctor and he thinks I may have Parkinson's. I feel it has to do with the surgery and nerve block. Now I am having depression do to not being able to work. There has to be a connection to the surgery.if anyone finds a cure , let me know. Thank you Michael Cook

[WelshTaff]

Hi
I am in a similar position to your husband. I too was injured in work, June 2010. Underwent surgery June 2011. They used a nerve block (injection into the top of my shoulder) and since I have suffered from tremors and muscle wastage to the same arm. My surgeon cannot explain the tremor and has referred me to a Neurologist.
I find the tremor worse if I use my left hand to perform tasks my right hand/arm  shoul be doing ie using a computor mouse etc. If I place my right hand by the mouse the tremor stops!!! Strange. Watching sport gets the arm flapping like a flag in the wind.
I have tried varies stretches and physio on myself (I'm a sports therapist) without success. The only thing to keep the tremors at bay is to keep said arm/ hand active a squeeze ball (not always possible I know)
If I come across a treatment that helps I will post you the information
good luck to you both
Welsh Taff

[Sammiemc11]

I can't believe your post about your husband's tremor. I had shoulder surgery in October 2019 (right side) but still had pain and weakness afterwards. Last year I noticed my arm was hanging down and not swinging when I walk. Then it started to shake. The beginning of this year the tremor became worse and shakes whenever I am sitting in certain positions i.e. driving or on the couch. If I lie on my left side in bed and place my right arm backwards the shaking stops. I have just been put on Parkinson's medication: so depressed. But even the neurologist says that he thinks it is 'unlikely' that it is PD as I don't 'look like someone with Parkisons'. I've had MRI of brain and neck (which shows a compressed C7 nerve).

Yet with all the history of the shoulder pain/arm pain/surgery all the doctors seem to think it is Parkisons! I am so relieved to find these posts as it gives me hope that it is shoulder not my brain.

[Soncar]

Sammiemc , I’m so sorry to hear of your story along with the other people who are on this site sharing their story.
Its somewhat calming to read each ones  story, but your story is somewhat similar, especially knowing that your surgery was a few years prior to you experiencing symptoms.
I have been freaking out about my hubby who has developed a rest tremor in his right hand after having rotator cuff surgery in NSW around 2017. He also had a nerve block which I believe took around 4 days to fully subside.
His tremble developed as a very minute shake in Oct 2022. I noticed he also had minimal swing with his right arm showing similar resemblance to Parkinson’s symptoms (Bradykinesia/ridigity)
The tremble has worsened overtime to a more frequent aggressive type tremor and appears more a resting tremor.
His arm can feel extremely tired/weak with intense use, along with stiffness in the shoulder area.
I fear the worst case scenario as there is PD on his mothers side, but after reading these comments I hold a shimmer of hope that it could possibly be the result of the surgery.
It’s obvious that there is a resemblance of symptoms that could mimic PD, thus the health physicians are strongly seeing the resemblance of  symptoms & are possibly making assumptions along these lines from what they are observing.  Unfortunately there appears to be minimal  data available regarding possible consequences of the techniques being used in this type of surgery.
The health system is also letting us down as hubby cannot see the neurologist recommended by our GP until Feb 2024. Booking made June 2023.
As his tremble has become more intense in past weeks the long wait raises concerns of any progression that may occur in the months of waiting.
Have you been prescribed PD medications?
sonicar 13 Aug 2023

[Soncar]

Sorry sammiemc, I re-read your message and can see that you have started PD meds. I would be very interested to hear if they are effectively relieving your symptom's.

[FWESTPHAL]

I just got my sling off a week ago massive tear in the rotator cuff and I have the uncontrollable shaking in the lower arm and my hand really bad and this is something that came on after I take the sling off my physical therapist told me that I should go get a test for Parkinson's which scared the daylights out of me because if I would've gotten Parkinson's or what it came from a mistake the surgeon made and believe me I'm ready to make a trip to Iowa in the morning to visit

[FWESTPHAL]

The surgery I had what is called the Mumford clavicle where The tissue used came from a cadaver and when I was told to get check for Parkinson's I thought maybe I caught something from what was given to me from the donor

[eddie7777777]

I to have same problem.  Just hard to believe everyone had surgery and nerve block now has shakes.  Is there a link?  We all cant suddenly have Parkinsons after surgery.  Any updates would be appreciated.

[Pmt2014]

Same problem here. Had rotator surgery last year , arm started shaking , now diagnosed with Parkinson s! What is going on here ?

[carguy1110]

I am in a like position shortly after a slap repair my head and arm began to shake not violently just enough to be bothersome, it has been two years and the shake remains.

[lordjonesy1]

I have just had surgery to my right shoulder for rotator cuff injury I to had nerve block injection ! And I think you no what's coming? You right ! My arm and hand shakes so severe I cant use it the pain is so bad I am having to use morphine patches ! I have returned to the surgeon who performed the operation he sent me for xray suspected dislocation? It wasn't  ! He then sent me for mri which is in 4wks time end of may ! The pain and shaking was so bad I had to have emergency appointment with GP who was shocked at the enormity of the shaking and pain ! He is a good and professional doctor but couldn't give me a diagnosis but his guess was either severed nerve or something has gone wrong with my procedure? After reading all of the above I think there is a strong link and its the nerve block ? I cant live the rest of my life without the use of my right arm its only been a month or so and I'm losing faith in any recovery ? Maybe nerve block should not have been used ? I'm going to fight this have I any one with me ?  

[808HAWAIIAN69]

Aloha, I had my rotator cuff and collarbone surgery on apr 4th 2017. A little over 2 weeks ive been getting alot of tremors on my right side. Im trying to find out what to do. Im 100% with you.  Good luck.

[Jm7796]

I had rotator cuff bicep repair and a few other repairs in my right shoulder. Every now and then I get tremors in my righthand. I also had a nerve block. My surgery was October 27,2022

[CollinsLaura]

I’m with you too! I had rotator cuff surgery Nov 2021 with a nerve block that took like 3 days to wear off. After I completed my recovery I started noticing hand tremors and they are getting worse. So many reports of this with a nerve block, we need to figure this out! Thank you!

[Anlra3]

Very light weight lifting to strengthen weak muscles.  No Parkinsons.  

[TitchLex]

My Dad had shoulder surgery to replace a joint and he has subsequently developed a tremor in the hand and arm on the same side. He said the Doctors mentioned Parkinsons but said there was no test to confirm this. I said there must be a link to t he surgery and I googled and found this, "Thoracic outlet Syndrome" (for which there is a test). Have a look at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002406/

It is worth asking for the test to rule this condition out if nothing else. Good luck & I hope you find out what it is soon.

[sharhart]

Gino,

     Any update?  I had shoulder surgery to repair torn subscapularis, SLAP tear, and "shredded" bicep.  Within a year of surgery I developed a resting tremor in my right hand/arm.  I was just to a neurologist yesterday and was diagnsed with Parkinson's but just can't get it out of my mind that this happened after healing from my surgery.

Steve

[heygino]

Hi,
I have the same problem as your husband.  Back in 2009 I had rotator cuff surgery and I went back to work too soon.  I didn't do all the rehab I should have done.  I now have a shake in my left hand.  Kaiser sent me to a neurologist who told me I have Parkinsons, I don't feel I do since this all strted after the surgery. I have not taken any meds at all but my problem is really getting into my head and affecting my life.  I noticed your post was from a couple of years ago and I was wondering if anything has changed?
Thanks
Gino

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

He cannot have a long term complication of tremors due to the past nerve block anaesthesia he had undergone. There can be some other pathology which has to be diagnosed properly.

Many neurological disorders or conditions can produce tremor; few examples are stroke, traumatic brain injury, and 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 and thyroid or liver pathology. Some forms of tremors are inherited and run in families, while others have no known cause.  You have to get a proper diagnosis by going to a multispecialty centre with an endocrinologist, neurologist and a medicine specialist to come to a proper diagnosis.

Take care!

[Acehack1]

I am 74, I had shoulder surgery over a year ago, very successful reattaching tendon and biscept tear.  But they used a nerve block on me, and I still have tremors in my left hand.  Drives me nuts!  They also said the nerve block couldn’t have caused it, but their ar so many cases of arm and hands shaking after people that have had nerve blocks.  Why is no one doing research on this?  I take no drugs, am in great health only take an Advil and have a beer maybe once a week.  Everything great except for my hand shaking on the side of the surgery.  I truly believe myself these nerve blocks are doing permanent nerve damage.

[specialmom]

Well, what you are writing Acehack makes sense. There does seem to be some literature to support your theory.  But doctors are not agreeing with you?  The nerve block can not be undone?

[Bstuckey5371]

This all sounds so familiar. I had rotator cuff repair with Conexa graft and major debridement including biceps tenotomy in 2013.  An interscalene block and sedation was used and surgery was performed in a beach chair positioner. Following surgery there was severe hoarseness for several days. A month later there is still numbness in the arm and hand. Seven months later I had a nerve conduction test and was prescribed Lyrica. The test showed right ulnar sensory neuropathy at the wrist. A visit to a hand specialist suggested compression of the median and ulnar nerve at the wrist. Seven years later there is still numbness is the ring and little finger and palm.  I am eighty-one now and two years ago I started having a resting tremor in my right hand. I saw an orthopedist who could not figure it out and sent me to a neurologist.  The orthopedist did not think it was Parkinsons because there were no other symptoms. The neurologist would not listen to anything that didn't point to Parkinsons and to go on medication for that. I'm going to try another doctor because I don't think it is Parkinson. It is a resting tremor that goes away with movement.  The nerve block thing sounds realistic.

[specialmom]

Ugh, I agree that it doesn't sound like parkinsons. I'd definitely try another doctor stating that your primary doesn't think it's parkinsons and describe the past situation. https://n.neurology.org/content/69/13/1381  That link is an article on nerve injury after surgery that could appear years later leading to tremor.