Functional tremors: Anyone had this?

Posted by Nemo @nemo, Dec 11, 2016

I've been diagnosed with functional tremors. Anyone else ever had this diagnosis.

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I am new to this site. This is the first I have heard of functional tremors. I have been treated for ET for about 30 years. I am currently on a small dose of Topomax which really does nothing. I have been to a Movement Disorder Specialist and she advised NOT to use the Topomax but I am unable to tolerate the other alternative medications.
The specialist has strongly urged me to have Botox injections. I just had some in the last week (1st try). Two in the neck and three in the right forearm.
This is all very bad timing for me because I just had a breast cancer lumpectomy in June, followed by radiation in August. But the Botox office said it was very difficult to get appointments so I went with it. We will have to see how things go. I just vibrate some days.

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If these tremors become hard to live with, Vanderbilt now has a surgery that eliminates them. I have two friends who recently had this procedure and are pleased. Granted, you may not be in close proximity to Nashville and I think two trips are involved. I can see this is not a good time for you(I had lumpectomy and radiation 23 years ago). Just keep on back burner in case of need. Don't know if other hospitals do this procedure.

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@bunny21

I am new to this site. This is the first I have heard of functional tremors. I have been treated for ET for about 30 years. I am currently on a small dose of Topomax which really does nothing. I have been to a Movement Disorder Specialist and she advised NOT to use the Topomax but I am unable to tolerate the other alternative medications.
The specialist has strongly urged me to have Botox injections. I just had some in the last week (1st try). Two in the neck and three in the right forearm.
This is all very bad timing for me because I just had a breast cancer lumpectomy in June, followed by radiation in August. But the Botox office said it was very difficult to get appointments so I went with it. We will have to see how things go. I just vibrate some days.

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Hello @bunny21 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like you have a few things competing for your attention at the moment but glad to hear you aren't neglecting treatment for ET.

What have you learned about functional tremors that intrigues you given your history with ET?

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What is functional tremors?

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My mother has them. She though was never diagnosed with them by her neurologist, at least that's what she told me whenever I asked about it. I asked if he had mentioned 'functional tremors' to her but she doesn't remember. I was always interested because I am afraid to get them as well.
With her it started slowly, she noticed it in her wrists.
It developed until she could no longer lift a cup without spilling, and the neurologist told her there was medication for it when she finally saw him. She asked if there were side effects and he explained them. She is quite proud of what she said next: "I said, 'Doctor, would you take them?' and he said 'Erm, no', so I said I would not take them either."
She has very, very strong tremors that slow her down. She has eye drops that she needs twice a day and she carefully prepares since it takes her time to get them in, but she manages. She still is living independently after my father died, and does not want medication against the tremors. I discussed multiple options including Botox, knowing she would absolutely not want those 😊 It can be helpful but she doesn't want them fixed, and feels it's too late now that she's getting on in life. She got used to living with these tremors, she can't use a smart phone for instance, or a bigger tablet, because her fingers mistype and mistouch or already touch while she says "No no I didn't touch anything." She sometimes presses a button without realising it (but I heard it), so yes, they can be difficult to manage but you can live with them if you're careful. But my heart breaks every time I see her trembling hands, I feel very sad now I think about them, but also glad that she is such a trooper.

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@ellamster

My mother has them. She though was never diagnosed with them by her neurologist, at least that's what she told me whenever I asked about it. I asked if he had mentioned 'functional tremors' to her but she doesn't remember. I was always interested because I am afraid to get them as well.
With her it started slowly, she noticed it in her wrists.
It developed until she could no longer lift a cup without spilling, and the neurologist told her there was medication for it when she finally saw him. She asked if there were side effects and he explained them. She is quite proud of what she said next: "I said, 'Doctor, would you take them?' and he said 'Erm, no', so I said I would not take them either."
She has very, very strong tremors that slow her down. She has eye drops that she needs twice a day and she carefully prepares since it takes her time to get them in, but she manages. She still is living independently after my father died, and does not want medication against the tremors. I discussed multiple options including Botox, knowing she would absolutely not want those 😊 It can be helpful but she doesn't want them fixed, and feels it's too late now that she's getting on in life. She got used to living with these tremors, she can't use a smart phone for instance, or a bigger tablet, because her fingers mistype and mistouch or already touch while she says "No no I didn't touch anything." She sometimes presses a button without realising it (but I heard it), so yes, they can be difficult to manage but you can live with them if you're careful. But my heart breaks every time I see her trembling hands, I feel very sad now I think about them, but also glad that she is such a trooper.

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God bless your mother and you. You are a good daughter.

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@gerry1

If these tremors become hard to live with, Vanderbilt now has a surgery that eliminates them. I have two friends who recently had this procedure and are pleased. Granted, you may not be in close proximity to Nashville and I think two trips are involved. I can see this is not a good time for you(I had lumpectomy and radiation 23 years ago). Just keep on back burner in case of need. Don't know if other hospitals do this procedure.

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Most Hospitals now do invasive procedures. they just don't know how
long it lasts. they can only do one hand, then you come back, not sure how long
and they do the other hand. there are side effects to this. I looked into it. I have
had Essential Tremors since I was 20; now it is worse. I am 81 and I lost my
writing, and I use the speaker to e-mail or text on my iPhone.

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@gerry1

If these tremors become hard to live with, Vanderbilt now has a surgery that eliminates them. I have two friends who recently had this procedure and are pleased. Granted, you may not be in close proximity to Nashville and I think two trips are involved. I can see this is not a good time for you(I had lumpectomy and radiation 23 years ago). Just keep on back burner in case of need. Don't know if other hospitals do this procedure.

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Am I understanding the DBS implant to be the cure but people still have to take meds to make it work? Maybe that is only for Parkinson's people like Ketterer and his wife??

I had heard of the DBS before but thought it stopped the tremors w/o medicine for tremors.

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I didn’t know that you’d still need medication. Do you know the medication?

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@ellamster

My mother has them. She though was never diagnosed with them by her neurologist, at least that's what she told me whenever I asked about it. I asked if he had mentioned 'functional tremors' to her but she doesn't remember. I was always interested because I am afraid to get them as well.
With her it started slowly, she noticed it in her wrists.
It developed until she could no longer lift a cup without spilling, and the neurologist told her there was medication for it when she finally saw him. She asked if there were side effects and he explained them. She is quite proud of what she said next: "I said, 'Doctor, would you take them?' and he said 'Erm, no', so I said I would not take them either."
She has very, very strong tremors that slow her down. She has eye drops that she needs twice a day and she carefully prepares since it takes her time to get them in, but she manages. She still is living independently after my father died, and does not want medication against the tremors. I discussed multiple options including Botox, knowing she would absolutely not want those 😊 It can be helpful but she doesn't want them fixed, and feels it's too late now that she's getting on in life. She got used to living with these tremors, she can't use a smart phone for instance, or a bigger tablet, because her fingers mistype and mistouch or already touch while she says "No no I didn't touch anything." She sometimes presses a button without realising it (but I heard it), so yes, they can be difficult to manage but you can live with them if you're careful. But my heart breaks every time I see her trembling hands, I feel very sad now I think about them, but also glad that she is such a trooper.

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What medication was recommended? I’ve tried 2 that are for epilepsy. They scrambled my brain!

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