Essential tremor vs Parkinsons?

Posted by kjaffee @kjaffee, Dec 29, 2023

Over the last several years I have developed jaw tremors, my hand tremors have worsened. My left shoulder shakes and I stutter with the jaw tremor. I am exhausted. Balance is not good. Having my annual Medicare exam after falling twice. What questions should I ask my primary doctor?

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I was diagnosed with essential tremors in my hands, occasionally my mouth twitched and eye twitch.
My neurologist sent me to a motion specialist after she did an mri to rule out tumors, strokes or seizures. The motion doctor sent me for a DaTscan to rule out Parkinson. Thankfully I do not have it. He did not think I had essential tremors because of how it presented itself with my symptoms.
He tried me on 2 different anti seizure medications. O
I was allergic yo Propanadol and had to stop taking it. He put me on Primidone which helped some. He also did botox injections in my worse hand which helped.
I also have balance problems and had 2 strokes, seizures and brain tumor surgery in 2019. I continue to see my neurologist also for routine brain scans. I have had physical therapy and occupational therapy which helped.

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Thank you @purpleturtle for your thoughtful reply. I hope the new year brings you better health!

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I Have Parkinson’s and I don’t know what to do

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Hi anitaxblack339,
I empathize with you since neither my (former) neurologist nor my Movement Disorder Specialist provided me with ANY information about PD other than a diagnosis. My survival instinct kicked in immediately and I began online research for several months. You must advocate for yourself and learn as much as possible about PD - ask your doctor(s) for information too. It's a complex disease that you must manage yourself and it manifests differently for everyone. My current neurologist is a die-hard scientist and doesn't believe in any treatment that hasn't been proven. I accept his education and expertise, but I search beyond his narrow view. I've found too much useful information to list here, unless you'd like it. For starters, exercise is very important! On YouTube you can find many quality exercise programs geared for those with PD. I take Tai Chi, Chair Yoga and Water Aerobics. BTW, I was diagnosed with PD March 4 and I don't take medications (yet).

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@anitaxblack339

I Have Parkinson’s and I don’t know what to do

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Please take a few deep breaths, and exhale slowly! Do not panic! It is not the end of the world! I’ve had diagnosed Parkinson’s for a long time, and I felt the same way, when I first got the diagnosis. Over the years, my Parkinson’s has slowly progressed. The good news is that help is available to get you through this! Here are 10 tips that may help you to actively help yourself, going forward! First of all, it’s important that you have a supportive medical provider, preferably a bosrd certified Movement Disorder Specialist Neurologist! Second, you would be wise to have a supportive internist, or family Doctor, that can guide you with symptoms, like constipation, loss of taste/smell etc. should you have certain specific symptoms, other than the motor symptoms, addressed by the movement disorder specialist. Thirdly, please contact The Parkinson’s Foundation Society. For me, they provided a hospital instruction kit, and exercise routine programs, written out and on You Tube. Fourth, try to find out if there is a local branch of The Parkinson’s Foundation, where you can get local support and information, about Parkinson’s. Fifth, EXERCISE! Because of stiffness, and rigidity, I have found that a regular exercise routine, is absolutely essential to maintaining mobility! Sixth, maintain sufficient hydration, and a lean diet program, that you can live with! I use the Mediterranean diet! Nutrition is important. Seventh, Try your best to maintain a positive attitude, in spite of fluctuating symptoms. Eighth, importantly, if you are prescribed dopamine replacement medications ( levadopa/Sinemet etc ), it’s important that you take these medications as prescribed, and if you experience down times, it’s important that you let your neurologist know about that! Ninth, when I started having walking, gait problems, where I was shuffling, slowing down, seemingly almost involuntarily, my neurologist assigned me physical therapy, which I did for six months, practically learning how to walk again. Due to brain neuroplasticity, I regained my walking ability, overcoming much of the. slowness, and shuffling stiffness, that had been discouraging and plaguing me! I regained my mobility, after having Parkinson’s for about 15 years. Finally, my 10th tip is to buy Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog’s latest edition book, The Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book! J. Eric Ahlskog MD, is a MAYO CLINIC Parkinson Specialist! Dr. Ahlskog is one of America’s leading experts on Parkinson’s disease, and his book has helped inform me on how to deal with symptoms that occur, and it is very informative, both for patients and their caregivers! i got my copy of this valuable book, from Amazon. The book is easy to understand, for patients, and is not all written in medical terminology terms! When I have many questions, this book gives good practical answers. A bonus tip, that has helped me immensely, is that I contacted the Michael J. Fox Foundation. They are very supportive of me, and enrolled me in their case study program, where they used my DNA, for testing and research! The Fox Foundation paid for my DNA testing, and I’m in a research study at Indiana University School of Medicine, as a result of DNA Parkinson’s Research. Good luck on your journey, of living with Parkinson’s!

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@foundryrat743

Please take a few deep breaths, and exhale slowly! Do not panic! It is not the end of the world! I’ve had diagnosed Parkinson’s for a long time, and I felt the same way, when I first got the diagnosis. Over the years, my Parkinson’s has slowly progressed. The good news is that help is available to get you through this! Here are 10 tips that may help you to actively help yourself, going forward! First of all, it’s important that you have a supportive medical provider, preferably a bosrd certified Movement Disorder Specialist Neurologist! Second, you would be wise to have a supportive internist, or family Doctor, that can guide you with symptoms, like constipation, loss of taste/smell etc. should you have certain specific symptoms, other than the motor symptoms, addressed by the movement disorder specialist. Thirdly, please contact The Parkinson’s Foundation Society. For me, they provided a hospital instruction kit, and exercise routine programs, written out and on You Tube. Fourth, try to find out if there is a local branch of The Parkinson’s Foundation, where you can get local support and information, about Parkinson’s. Fifth, EXERCISE! Because of stiffness, and rigidity, I have found that a regular exercise routine, is absolutely essential to maintaining mobility! Sixth, maintain sufficient hydration, and a lean diet program, that you can live with! I use the Mediterranean diet! Nutrition is important. Seventh, Try your best to maintain a positive attitude, in spite of fluctuating symptoms. Eighth, importantly, if you are prescribed dopamine replacement medications ( levadopa/Sinemet etc ), it’s important that you take these medications as prescribed, and if you experience down times, it’s important that you let your neurologist know about that! Ninth, when I started having walking, gait problems, where I was shuffling, slowing down, seemingly almost involuntarily, my neurologist assigned me physical therapy, which I did for six months, practically learning how to walk again. Due to brain neuroplasticity, I regained my walking ability, overcoming much of the. slowness, and shuffling stiffness, that had been discouraging and plaguing me! I regained my mobility, after having Parkinson’s for about 15 years. Finally, my 10th tip is to buy Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog’s latest edition book, The Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book! J. Eric Ahlskog MD, is a MAYO CLINIC Parkinson Specialist! Dr. Ahlskog is one of America’s leading experts on Parkinson’s disease, and his book has helped inform me on how to deal with symptoms that occur, and it is very informative, both for patients and their caregivers! i got my copy of this valuable book, from Amazon. The book is easy to understand, for patients, and is not all written in medical terminology terms! When I have many questions, this book gives good practical answers. A bonus tip, that has helped me immensely, is that I contacted the Michael J. Fox Foundation. They are very supportive of me, and enrolled me in their case study program, where they used my DNA, for testing and research! The Fox Foundation paid for my DNA testing, and I’m in a research study at Indiana University School of Medicine, as a result of DNA Parkinson’s Research. Good luck on your journey, of living with Parkinson’s!

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I want to die

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@foundryrat743

Please take a few deep breaths, and exhale slowly! Do not panic! It is not the end of the world! I’ve had diagnosed Parkinson’s for a long time, and I felt the same way, when I first got the diagnosis. Over the years, my Parkinson’s has slowly progressed. The good news is that help is available to get you through this! Here are 10 tips that may help you to actively help yourself, going forward! First of all, it’s important that you have a supportive medical provider, preferably a bosrd certified Movement Disorder Specialist Neurologist! Second, you would be wise to have a supportive internist, or family Doctor, that can guide you with symptoms, like constipation, loss of taste/smell etc. should you have certain specific symptoms, other than the motor symptoms, addressed by the movement disorder specialist. Thirdly, please contact The Parkinson’s Foundation Society. For me, they provided a hospital instruction kit, and exercise routine programs, written out and on You Tube. Fourth, try to find out if there is a local branch of The Parkinson’s Foundation, where you can get local support and information, about Parkinson’s. Fifth, EXERCISE! Because of stiffness, and rigidity, I have found that a regular exercise routine, is absolutely essential to maintaining mobility! Sixth, maintain sufficient hydration, and a lean diet program, that you can live with! I use the Mediterranean diet! Nutrition is important. Seventh, Try your best to maintain a positive attitude, in spite of fluctuating symptoms. Eighth, importantly, if you are prescribed dopamine replacement medications ( levadopa/Sinemet etc ), it’s important that you take these medications as prescribed, and if you experience down times, it’s important that you let your neurologist know about that! Ninth, when I started having walking, gait problems, where I was shuffling, slowing down, seemingly almost involuntarily, my neurologist assigned me physical therapy, which I did for six months, practically learning how to walk again. Due to brain neuroplasticity, I regained my walking ability, overcoming much of the. slowness, and shuffling stiffness, that had been discouraging and plaguing me! I regained my mobility, after having Parkinson’s for about 15 years. Finally, my 10th tip is to buy Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog’s latest edition book, The Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book! J. Eric Ahlskog MD, is a MAYO CLINIC Parkinson Specialist! Dr. Ahlskog is one of America’s leading experts on Parkinson’s disease, and his book has helped inform me on how to deal with symptoms that occur, and it is very informative, both for patients and their caregivers! i got my copy of this valuable book, from Amazon. The book is easy to understand, for patients, and is not all written in medical terminology terms! When I have many questions, this book gives good practical answers. A bonus tip, that has helped me immensely, is that I contacted the Michael J. Fox Foundation. They are very supportive of me, and enrolled me in their case study program, where they used my DNA, for testing and research! The Fox Foundation paid for my DNA testing, and I’m in a research study at Indiana University School of Medicine, as a result of DNA Parkinson’s Research. Good luck on your journey, of living with Parkinson’s!

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Where ?

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I would suggest that you call your doctor ASAP, and tell him what your reply was to me, and ask him yo help! I’m sorry you feel that way. Feelings are neither right or wrong!

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In reply to @anitaxblack339 "I still wanna die" + (show)
@anitaxblack339

I still wanna die

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@anitaxblack339, I agree with @foundryrat743. Please talk to your doctor about how you feel. That you are depressed. That you are struggling and that you no longer want to live like this.

Anita, if you need to talk to someone, please call 988 the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (https://988lifeline.org/).
Cousellors are available 24/7 whenever you need someone by text or phone.
- Call or text: 988
- Chat & text: https://988lifeline.org/chat/

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