Tips About Essential Tremor

[EmmyJN]

Recently, my doctor diagnosed me with essential tremor. It's very common in my family on my father's side, almost 50% of that side of the family has it. My grandma has it so bad that she can barely hold things or write anymore, and my dad is getting to that point, as well.

I don't know how bad you can consider mine. I also suffer from mild anxiety, and so when I shake sometimes I get a little panicky (if that's even a word). I don't always notice the shaking, but if I've just exercised, written a paper, or I've been using my hands for a while, I can feel the shaking all the way up through my arms. Sometimes I feel the shaking in my torso, and it feels like I'm not breathing right--my neuro told me this is the anxiety reacting with the ET making me hyperventilate a little :/

I don't like when it suddenly "flares up" because I feel unfocused, and my legs shake so bad I can't move very fast and I walk funny. My head shakes sometimes, too, which is embarrassing. The only time I don't feel any shaking is when I exercise--my exercising is dancing, and when I dance I feel like I have control of my body. I dance for three hours every single day, but then when I'm done, the shaking is even worse. It's like I have to be in constant motion or my body rebels agains me. It's really annoying.

Basically, I want to better understand what's happening here. I don't know a lot about ET and Google hasn't been very helpful to me. My doctor just said, "You shake, it's not that big of a deal". *eye roll* So I'm in the dark. Could someone please explain to me what ET is, what it does, and if there's anything that I can do to help it? I know you can't stop it, but what about TENS or vitamins? Is there anything I can do to slow down the progression of the shaking?

Thanks so much guys!

[EmmyJN]

Thank you very much for your help! The only question I have is on the medication thing. I'm interested in a possible medication---as far as I was informed, there's nothing you can take, I was told I just have to deal with it. But if I can make it better then... I would like to. And it's better than surgery in my opinion, i would like to avoid that.

I have one concern: are these drugs addictive? My family is very suseptible to addiction. It's crazy how fast people on my dad's side get addicted to things, especially in medication. I already take amitriptyline for my stomach, and gabapentin for neuropathy. Will any of the drugs you listed mix weird with what i'm taking?

And how do I go about asking for the option of medication? Can I come right out and say "I'm interested in this medication I heard about" or...? Because last time I was told there was nothing to do about ET, to just live with it, so now I'm definately interested.

Thank you so much again!

[Dr Sharma]

Hello dear and welcome to the medhelp forum. I understand your predicament since these familial tremors can be distressing and can lead to lot of anxiety in anticipation.  These are kinetic tremors affecting both the upper limbs commonly. I understand that your quality of life has deteriorated and the anxiety due to this. There can be tremors in head, voice, legs and jaw also. There are medicines, which can give reasonable relief from symptoms. These are propranolol, primidone and topiramate. Consult a neurologist for appropriate therapy. The tremors can be Surgery has to be considered if medical treatment is unresponsive.  Wishing you all the best.