Anyone else have a tremor like Katherine Hepburn??

[icnmgrjill]

The "other" thing going on in my life is that I now have a name for the "tremor" that I've had for as long as I can remember. It's a genetically inherited essential tremor that I've inherited through my father. My grandfather had it bad but was still flying at the age of 92. His hands shook crazily while on the controls. When my father eats, sometimes his hand shakes. I'm not that bad.. but it's there.

What I thought were neck twitches from a sore, tight neck are actually those Katherine Hepburn type tremors. I'm afraid that I'll be the same way 20 years from now. I also have a tremor along the inside of my legs and in my right hand occasionally and, I think, in my back.

I will confess to being very upset about it. It's like I've passed the age of good health. Having IC, IBS and that host of characters is hard enough... but I've been doing pretty well with those. But to now be told I have a completely incurable nerve disorder that, mind you, many people develop after 50... is, well, just overwhelming right now.

Most of the time, noone can see it but I can feel it. My hairstylist first pointed it out to me ten years ago and when I saw her two weeks ago and told her, she said "Well, Jill, we've seen it for ten years now." My response was... "I know, I know. I just didn't have a name for it so it was like it wasn't real." When I'm under stress and not feeling well, I feel it when I'm lying in bed. When I use my right hand too much (i.e. using gardening shears or playing tennis), my ring finger will shake for a few hours.

Soooo.... anyone else out there have tremors too?? Any tips??? No, it's not parkinson's. I've had a heart to heart with the neurologist and he told me NOT to worry about it. :confused:

Jill

[megancolleen]

Jill, I have an "internal tremor"...feels like there is an earthquake going on inside me, but it's rarely externally visible. I have it most of the time, whether I'm anxious or not, but the doctors don't know what it is other than stress.

I was recently diagnosed as hyperthyroid, and my doctor says tremors can be a symptom of that. I doubt that has any connection to your tremor, but maybe?

I really relate to how you're feeling. In the past month, I've been told I have both Graves' disease and Eustacian Tube Dysfunction, as well as possible asthma. I'm only 22. Like you said, IC is hard enough on its own! I know there are many here who deal with multiple diseases every day and still manage to love life, and I draw strength and comfort from that.

Anyway, I hope there's some way to treat your tremor problem. ::hug::

[Trishann]

Jill I am so sorry that you have another health problem. I know this must be very upsetting for you. I know my grandmother and my mother have a disease that scares me very much and I know it does plays with the mind.

I know Jill that whatever comes your way you will learn to cope with it. I know you said that you see signs of it now but maybe it will take a longer time before it gets bad, and maybe it won't get that bad hopefully.

Just want you to know I care and my prayers are with you,
Sending hugs, Trishann

[TerriT]

In the last year or so I have had muscle spasms that cause an arm or leg or whole body to twitch. I have also had a few occurances of tremors in mostly my right hand. It lasts an hour or so then disappears for long periods of time. It happens when I am trying to hold something, not necessarily heavy. If I put the item down it usually stops. My doctor is not worried about it now since the tremors are so sporatic. The twitching happens regularly.

[ICNDonna]

I occasionally get on in my right hand. Yesterday I was painting woodwork around a window and had one --- I ended up with a huge paint streak to clean off the window. I let my hand hang loose for a few minutes and I was okay again.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[verdicries]

i've had a slight tremor (not painful)/spasms since age 14, coming and going. lately (past few months) they have gotten out of control and often painful. i drop things (broken numerous glasses) and sometimes my right leg/foot goes numb for hours? i'm being mri'd as we speak for ms and to see how much toxoplasmosis is still left in my system...sheesh.

but anyway, yes i have them too. makes me very self-conscious!

[catlover2]

If the tremors really start to bother you, talk to your doc about trying a Parkinson's drug like Mirapex. I have tremors and I have tried Mirapex. I had to stop taking it because of the side effects.

[DaniBelle]

I noticed with the MS Contin, my left hand jerks a couple of times per day. Also, when I tried 'Lyrica', I shook like someone with Parkinsons. Needless to say, I discontinued it and the shaking stopped. My neurologist told me I cannot take those types of meds (Lyrica, Elavil, etc.). I have epilepsy and the med. I take for it has kept me seizure-free since 2000. I hope you find out what is causing this and it can be treated as easily as possible. You've been through so much pain through the years. You don't deserve to have to deal with anything else!!!

Hugs and Prayers,

Danita

[MerryBerryMoose]

I have a tremor in my left hand related to some nerve thing. It comes and goes and is only a bother when I'm tring to do something delicate or important.

I got it from cracking my neck (like people crack their knuckles...I crack my neck). Turns out every time I did it, I pulled 2 major nerves. About 2 months ago, I gave my neck a hard and quick snap (causing me to pinch a nerve and herniate a disc). Needless to say, it was and still is painful. So I have numbness in both arms and the tremor in my left. I have to have various tests and scans done.

The only tip I could give you is to try not to stress (especially if it makes the tremor worse). Also, have you tried to rub whatever is tremoring (might be hard in some places). If my hand starts to shake sometimes I gently rub it for a little while and it seems to help.

Best wishes,
gabby

[Annie2]

My father had this same tremor all of his life. It was most noticeable when he was eating and if he held a coffee cup on a saucer, the cup would tremble and rattle against the saucer. I, too, have essential tremor, mostly in my hands. It played a major role in my career choice. I entered college as a pre-med major. It was at this time the tremor became noticeable. The hand tremor made delicate lab work and dissection difficult for me. It was obvious any field involving surgery would be out for me. It was then I realized my heart was really in education and, though still very interested in medicine, my contribution could best be made through teaching others and I went into science education. I have a cousin (on my father's side) who's daughter was diagnosed with essential tremor and hers is manifested very much like Katherine Hepburn's tremors. Obviously, this inherited condition was passed through my father's side of the family.

I'm so sorry, Jill, you are going through this. I wish I had helpful tips to pass on. The one thing my 2nd cousin's neurologist suggested might help her was drinking a little red wine. That's not very helpful for those of us with IC, however, as the bladder pain would likely outweigh any benefits. Wish it were more, but the best I have to offer is a warm :grouphug:

[icnmgrjill]

Wow... thank you all so much. I can see that I am definitely not alone and that means the world to me. It's just so weird to have this random twitching/tremor every now and then.

Jill

[Trishann]

Jill glad you don't feel alone and glad to see you more at ease.

Sending plenty of hugs, Trishann

[Hollyd]

I'm so sorry, Jill. This can't be easy news to take. I hope they come up w/ something for it that will work for you so you won't have to progress to be the way your relatives were. In the meantime...well it certainly doesn't change who you are as a person.

I have a tremor in my right hand which seems to have developed from the Trazodone I take (at under the therapeutic dosage) for sleep. But it seems to be quite a bit worse so maybe the Tramadol affects it. I forget about it unless I'm drinking a glass of water and it's so obvious, even then I'm so used to it I don't think of it but I imagine it must be quite noticable to other people. I'm able to be out so little now it doesn't matter:-(.

Katherine Hepburn was a great role model for going on despite it. Not to minimize it's impact on you. Easy for me to say of course.

[LKL]

My grandfather and all of his siblings, and all of his children, including my mom, have this. It is hereditary. The interesting thing is, while it seem to be dominant, the degrees to which all of these people have tremors varies widely. My grandad is the worst out of all of his siblings, and his older sister, who know is worse than she has ever been, only has a minor tremor.

I do know that there are some medicines that help my grandfather, I dont know the name, but know that if you have high blood pressure they wont let you take it. Also, there are weighted utensils that can help this condition. We have also noticed stress seems to affect my grandfather's shaking.

I hope the best for you.

LKL

[Vicki]

My mother-in-law got one when she went on Paxil. She went off the Paxil and it went away -Vicki


The "other" thing going on in my life is that I now have a name for the "tremor" that I've had for as long as I can remember. It's a genetically inherited essential tremor that I've inherited through my father. My grandfather had it bad but was still flying at the age of 92. His hands shook crazily while on the controls. When my father eats, sometimes his hand shakes. I'm not that bad.. but it's there.

What I thought were neck twitches from a sore, tight neck are actually those Katherine Hepburn type tremors. I'm afraid that I'll be the same way 20 years from now. I also have a tremor along the inside of my legs and in my right hand occasionally and, I think, in my back.

I will confess to being very upset about it. It's like I've passed the age of good health. Having IC, IBS and that host of characters is hard enough... but I've been doing pretty well with those. But to now be told I have a completely incurable nerve disorder that, mind you, many people develop after 50... is, well, just overwhelming right now.

Most of the time, noone can see it but I can feel it. My hairstylist first pointed it out to me ten years ago and when I saw her two weeks ago and told her, she said "Well, Jill, we've seen it for ten years now." My response was... "I know, I know. I just didn't have a name for it so it was like it wasn't real." When I'm under stress and not feeling well, I feel it when I'm lying in bed. When I use my right hand too much (i.e. using gardening shears or playing tennis), my ring finger will shake for a few hours.

Soooo.... anyone else out there have tremors too?? Any tips??? No, it's not parkinson's. I've had a heart to heart with the neurologist and he told me NOT to worry about it. :confused:

Jill

[charmedx3]

[QUOTE=megancolleen;322531]Jill, I have an "internal tremor"...feels like there is an earthquake going on inside me, but it's rarely externally visible. I have it most of the time, whether I'm anxious or not, but the doctors don't know what it is other than stress.


i also have that feeling! i explain it as a vibration and everyone ( drs,nurses, physical therapists) looks at me oddly! i think it is a muscle spasm but that is just taking a guess

[icnmgrjill]

My brother described having an internal tremor too!

Jill

[Judith56]

Jill, the name for what you have is called "essential tremor". My mother has it,and my grandmother had it. My husband has it, his father has and one of his sisters has it. So it was inevitable that our children woudl get it too. In our families it seems to start up arouind puberty and gets worse as we age. The big joke in our house is that at big family dinners certain people are not allowed to pass out hot soup, lol. Both my husband and one of my sons have it bad enough that people really notice it and they automatically assume that they are shaking from being nervous, which is frustrating for both of them. My son used to take propranolol for it, but he got tired of taking and felt it did not do that great a job of controlling it anyway.They both find that beer helps, but that is not practical to do on an every day basis, especially before going to work! It was thier doctor who told them to try it. They also both find that hard physical labor can make it worse, so if they need to do something that involves fine motor skills they have learned plan around it and not do things that make it worse. There are certainly lots of meds out there to try and my husband has been keeping track on advances in deep brain surgery that they do for people with Parkinsons to control tremor. I feel really bad for my husband as his has gotten much worse over the years and when we go fishing and hook a fish, it can be very hard for him to get the hook out of the fish to throw him back. We try to work together on getting it out. He is afraid that at some point it will totally disable him. When we go to a restaurant he does not to sit where other diners can possibly see him shaking when uses his fork, so we "case out" the place and I sit strategically to shield him. I also have it at times, usually wehn I am not feeling well or very tired. Sometimes it just comes on me out of the blue. Spills in my house are the norm- my son is famous for his hand spazzing out and having things, especially liquids go flying. So you are on good company! By the way my son is an artist- illustration and he has found ways to cope with it. Judith

[Texas Baby]

Jill,
I have tremors in my hands. I get the alot. I also jerk in my sleep. My husband noticed that. My kids notice tha tremors in my hands. Some times I can't write very well. I have been afaid to ask the doctor because I think If one more thing goes wrong with my body I'll Scream!!hahahha
I'll get it checked out soon. But anyway you are not alone! Hang in there !
Blessings & Hugs,
Eva

[Ginny Doll]

Hi Jill, I am so sorry you are going through this tremor thing. I have one also in my right hand. It has gotten worse with time and it is very frustrating. I work with dolls and mini accessories and just can't place a tiny object without shaking in that hand. Generally I knock everything over and have to start again. I don't know if you also experience dropping things. I spend time looking for at least one or two pills that I consistently drop. My Mother had this same problem and hers was worse in her 70's. Luckily I am still young and hopeful that by then they will have something that will calm the hand . I just don't want to add another pill to my regime until it gets worse. Mine is not Parkinsons as you also stated. You are such a pretty gal, I doubt anyone is really looking at your hand. Hairdressers are most likely the only people who are apt to notice all! I swear they can spot an imperfection a mile away! Best, Carolyn

[armslee]

Hi Jill-
I am sorry that you are part of this club!
I too have tremors and know how they effect your life. I have noticed that mine are at their worse when I am anxious or not feeling well. It is such a pain to try to get earrings in when you are in a hurry!

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I know this is an older post, but found this website while doing some medical research. It might be helpful to some of you:

Tremor Action Network
http://www.tremoraction.org/

I had a bad hand tremor 15 plus years ago which lasted about six months. Then in the following years it would pop up slightly. I am so thankful it went away. Sorry you guys are having this condition.

Best wishes,
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