Essential Tremor

[tfg]

Hi, I have a friend who has essential tremor of the hands, i.e. hand shakes when holding a cup of tea, I am looking for a way of helping to control it as the doctor hasn't an answer, has anyone suffered this and had any success controlling it, thanks

[Mamyalynne]

Well, depending on the severity of the tremor, there are various approaches to treatment - not sure why the doctor has not discussed them.Myabe they should go back and ask if it is causing distress.

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Essential-Tremor

[Mamyalynne]

^ maybe

[Sqad]

I am sure that your friend has had the diagnosis by a Neurologist and drugs prescribed.

I think that you are saying that the drugs do not control the tremor OR that your friend cannot tolerate the drugs.

Is this the situation?

[gness]

Sqad....before I start waffling to tfg, do Beta Blockers help with this condition?

[Sqad]

gness.......yes...they may well do....certainly worth trying.

[gness]

Thank you, Sqad....then I shall waffle, tfg. My late husband's family suffer with this condition so much that a get together with cups and saucers is deafening.

Two family members who were prescribed Beta Blockers for other problems found their symptoms improved considerably.

[tfg]

thank you for your replies, my friend has been told by the doctor that there is no treatment for the condition until it gets worse, I found out myself that beta blockers help, maybe we should get a second opinion

[theshedman]

Hi all, my son suffers with essential Tremor and the doctor told him that there was no treatment for it. His hands do shake quite badly and some days it is much worse than others. The doctor did ask him if when he has been out for a drink if he had noticed that the shakes often get a bit better. Not that he was telling him to go drinking to keep them at bay. Are you saying that there could be a treatment for this condition. If so I will get him to go back and ask about it again. Sorry for asking this on someone else's thread but I just noticed it. Thanks.

[pixie373]

I'm not sure the difference with "essential tremor", but i know someone on Parkinsons meds, to help his tremor, although he doesn't have Parkinsons. Sqad might be able to tell me what the difference is?

[Sqad]

pixie...my knowledge of neurology is basic and "trawled up" from the distant pass...BUT.

Essential tremor has no known cause...various theories, but no structural damage in brain or nerves. The tremor is brought on by movement and made worse by movement. Rigidity is absent.

Parkinson's Disease....structural damage to the cells in the part of the midbrain called the Substantia Nigra...demonstrated at post mortem. The tremor has a characteristic "pill rolling" movement of the hands and is more promionent at rest. Rigidity absent in essential tremor is present in Parkinson's....facial muscles (mask like facies)

That's my lot, if you want to know any more.......Google it.

[pixie373]

That's good enough for me. Thanks sqad x