Shakes

[Heavychunky1]

Just noticed as I was about to start filling out a form that when o hold the pen in my hand I develop bad shaking from hand and fore arm just curious and wondering if anyone else has suffered anything similar after brain injury encephalitis

[Gandalf2]

Hi HC1, when I first came out of hospital I couldn't remember all sorts of everyday things, shaving, eating, walking etc. All had to be remembered/relearned which although disconcerting seemed to go fairly smoothly.My writing was a difficult situation. It was all tending to be scribble, even my signature. Nevertheless after a few weeks at home, picking up the threads I had to sign a cheque for £500 worth of plumbing work. Lo and behold my signature was back to normal - big relief all round.

It seems the recovery from ENC is steady but slow and most of the brain although jumbled is still intact - just waiting to be sorted.

[Heavychunky1 in reply to Gandalf2]

Hi . Hope you are well, I think the shaking kind of took me by surprise if I’m honest was not something I was expecting that’s for sure .

[Gandalf2 in reply to Heavychunky1]

The Enc Society has lots of info but we didn't even get a three-fold leaflet from the hospital. A 6 week wait for support if you are lucky! If I'd had a pistol I would have shot myself.

[Heavychunky1 in reply to Gandalf2]

The only info I really got from hospital was my partner who chased the doctors for it, was still discharged only with the info on my discharge papers. Then 6 weeks for a review mri scan had occupation health out within 3 weeks and he has been consistent. But lack of any info is shocking glad I’m not the only one who has noticed this, google is a no go for info all that increases is stress but sites like these have been a god send for sharing info from others who have been through the same or similar,

[Tuesando]

It used to happen to my partner as well. Especially around eating. A slight nervousness would trigger it. It seems to have gone now.

[Paula-38 in reply to Tuesando]

I agree with Tuesando, that anxiety or tension can trigger it.

I have experienced this when I was having a anxiety attack many of times.

I am an anxiety and OCD sufferer.

Stop whatever you are doing while you do some deep breathing exercises in a quiet room, put one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen, breathing from your diaphragm breathe in through your nose to a count of 5, hold it for a count of 4, then slowly exhale through your mouth to a count of 5 and focus on the word relax. It takes some time to get it right but it requires regular practice and with time it DOES get better believe me.

[Wygella]

Definitely. I couldn’t use my right arm much at all at first and I’m right handed. Also struggled holding a knife and fork. I had to almost relearn how to write again. I started keeping a journal so I could practise writing and also see how far I’ve come. I still keep it and although it sounds a bit tedious actually it’s been brilliant. It’s so encouraging to look back and really see progress. Don’t worry. Shakes and writing will go back to normal. Even my signature is back to my usual scrawl! And this is a brilliant forum to ask those questions that to everyone else sound silly but really really aren’t! They are crucial to us.

[GreenBamboo]

Hi Heavychunky1,

I am 6 months in to my recovery of viral meningeoencephalitis.

Initially I had the shakes in both hands/forearms; cutting food & holding a glass was near on impossible. When I tried to write approx a month into recovery, the realisation that I couldn't really, was scary.

Now I only get the shakes when I am really tired, hungry or a little anxious. I have learned to live with it but hope it continues to improve.

I think back to the early days and I am grateful for how far I have come so far.

[AliBBeerDrinkerSing]

I’ve always had shaky hands- hereditary thing, but it’s interesting to think it could be related to encephalitis (am the only sufferer of that in my family, but my Dad and sister get the shakes!)