Essential Tremors

[Ostap]

Does anyone have any tips for managing essential tremors? In the last 12 months this has become a bigger issue for me than my really poor balance. Cups, tooth brushes, knives & forks, keyboards, scissors, sellotape & manually putting food in my mouth (sandwiches) have all become excruciatingly difficult procedures. There are plenty of other things too! I haven’t actually used a pen in 4 years! I have been diagnosed with Cerebellar Ataxia.

[Happydaffy]

long before I was dx with cerebella Ataxia I always shook and was diagnosed as essential tremor. I couldn’t carry a cup and saucer without it sloshing all over. However when my blood pressure went up I was put on propanalol ( a betablockers) to bring it down and I noticed my tremor eased dramatically. I mentioned it to the gp and he said it was quite often given for tremor and ive stayed on it ever since . It won’t cure it but it has definatly eased it for me. I cant say it will be the answer for you but it may be worth while discussing with your neurologist

[meicox in reply to Happydaffy]

Hi daffy. I can't take Propanalol but what can I do when the only effective medication is alcohol!

[klazien]

Instead of a normal mouse, use a rollerball which is in one place, liquids in a cup can be carried on ‘spill-not’ tray , even when using crutches. There are mobile phones with big buttons, and a key-guard for a computer.

[Ostap in reply to klazien]

I can actually use a mobile phone ok ish. As for the computer, it’s actually the keys that are very difficult to strike accurately. Thank you for your reply. Another example - putting a key into a keyhole is a slow 2 handed manoeuvre, as is locating a credit card into a slot!

[coat2003 in reply to klazien]

you are a doer, no moans and i love that.everything goes, but DIFFERENTLY.

[nigelrheath]

This might sound daft but I have found the way to deal with the need to take time or go slowly is to really take time and to see how slowly I can move. This gives me more control than if I try to move at what used to be normal speed.

Retirement is supposed to be a time for slowing down and smelling the roses and watching others scurry around in a perpetual hurry. Please try it and enjoy the new perspective.

Nigel

[Ostap in reply to nigelrheath]

Thank you for the reply. The tremors are action activated. Speed of movement makes absolutely no difference.