Essential tremors: any ideas on coping and managing tremors?

I know, it can be frustrating and frightening. Try doing the best you can to manage your pain. My daughter who is in her mid-forties and has slight tremors too,says it’s a first world problem. For me it’s mostly frustrating. But it’s not life threatening and unlike some other people, it didn’t make me quit my job.

This didn’t make me leave my job but my small fiber neuropathy did. It can be a debilitating illness. These tremors are bothersome to me at times. I just take it one day at a time. Tomorrow is my appointment with the Movement Specialist at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC. I will post how I made out.

Update: I saw the Movement Specialist yesterday. It turns out I don’t have essential tremors I have functional tremors. It was explained that the “hardware at in my brain is fine but the “software” is malfunctioning. It’s more of a mental issue. A lot of people with major depression disorder, general anxiety disorder and PTSD are more likely to be affected. I have all three but most of the strategies they recommend I have now or had already did it. So I have no idea what happens next. We are doing a tele-health visit next month.

WHY are there are BETTER treatments for this? Do they even understand what causes it? I have heard it is genetic. Its the same story way too often. And often the "treatment" is worse than disease.

Has anyone in this group tried Tremadone? It’s an herbal supplement that keeps popping up when I Google essential tremors.

I was prescribed Valium in my 30s and became addicted. Be careful! And best of luck dealing. Keep us up to date. I've just joined this group (also in Neuropathy) so want to suck up all the info I can.

@jmb73 I've had essential tremor for many years. It's not been a disabling problem, but it's been getting worse, making my handwriting atrocious. Sometimes it helps to rest the heel of my hand on something. If I'm painting a building, doing brush work, I often have to steady my right hand with my left.

I also have restless whole body disorder, and Klonopin helps even out the involuntary movements.

I went on disability for mental health issues - major depression, GAD, PTSD, and suicidal ideation, but around 10 years ago, I became disabled by idiopathic small fiber axonal demyelinating polyneuropathy, for which there's no cure and is right now progressing quickly. I also have early signs of autonomic neuropathy.

This evening, I was having a hard time knitting - I'm making doll scarves for our granddaughters' dolls, on small needles with lightweight yarn. My hands were shaking more than usual, making it a slower job of getting the needles into the right hole.

I hope you're having some success coping with the tremors.

Jim

Folks, How ironic that I read this post as I was speaking with a friend last evening who has essential tremors and will be traveling to a hospital in Indianapolis, IN., to have laser treatment. Please check out the following: https://www.fusfoundation.org/diseases-and-conditions/neurological/essential-tremor

I have been diagnosed with essential tremors in my left hand and take 50mg of Primidone 2x a day. They are getting worse and starting in my right hand so my geriatric doctor increased my dose to 75mg 2x a day. It doesn't seem to make a difference and now I have occasional shaking on the right side of my head. I can't see my neurologist until August.. My sister also has them.
I am not sure what I can or should do.. I had a menginoma tumor removed 3 years ago but I don't think it is causing the tremors. I also take blood thinners so any changes in my dose or medication effects my levels. I use light weight utensils because of weakness inmy Hans I have a hard time controlling and lifting heavier ones .

Hi @purpleturtle. I found an existing discussion already on the topic of essential tremors so you will notice that I have moved it there so you can join members such as @rckleinsmith @jimhd and @dianecostella who have previously shared their experience with one another.

You can find your post here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/essential-tremors-1/?pg=6#comment-696756

Is finding the right Rx your biggest concern at the moment with regard to your tremors?