Essential Tremor Support Group

Essential Tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder characterized by shaking of hands (and sometimes other parts of the body including the head), evoked by intentional movements. The incidence is unknown, but is estimated to be as common as one person in 20, and it is the most common type of tremor and also the most commonly observed movement disorder.

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Question

Donna-Jean-Capps
Donna-Jean-Capps
I was told I have a familial tremor... how do I know if it is ET? My hands started shaking when I was in grade school but I didn't notice it myself. Other people would mention it. When I was older I noticed it when I was writing or drawing. If I push on something hard my hands will shake and then continue shaking badly for a while afterwards. I was actually training in the OR to be a scrub tech but had to quit because when the doctor asked me to hold a retractor (which you have to pull back on) I would cause the patient to shake. I also worked in endoscopy and sometimes the doctor will ask you to hold pressure on the patients abdomen (pushing) and I also shake badly then. I have quit drinking any caffeine on doctor's orders for something else and it actually seems worse if that makes any sense. My mom got to where she couldn't even write a letter in her 60's so I'm worried. The neurologist wanted me to wait to take medicine as a last resort because there are only a few options. It really is just an annoyance right now since I'm not able to work anymore but it scares me thinking of how bad it could get.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi Donna Jean,
I'm in my 50s and I've had ET for 6 yrs now. I was shaking so badly I had to retire from teaching. I had DBS in 2009 which almost eliminated the shakes in my hands and arms. My legs are still a little shaky when I stand or walk (not sitting down) and my voice is very shaky :(, to the point that it feels like a strain to speak. I am sorry you have to deal with this aso early in your career. Some cases of ET remain mild and never progress. God bless you.
Donna-Jean-Capps
Donna-Jean-Capps
Thank you for your reply. I am glad to hear that helped you. I hear they are doing something like that for fibromyalgia pain now wish I also have. It sounds so scary to me though. I hope my case won't get as bad as my mom's but it does seem to get worse as I get older.
deleted_user
deleted_user
You people are lucky you had a chance to have a career. I shook too much to be able to do anything. I couldn't even serve coffee. I ended up doing office work because no one was watching.
deleted_user
deleted_user
hi ... i am having a hard time too my legs hurt all the time and shake and in pain. I was diagnosed with et almost 2 years ago. I wanted to quit my job many times due to the shaking in my hands and le.gs.I was wondering if you are on disability or social security now that you had to quit due to this disease? what steps did you take etc.. I am 43 and continue to drag my butt to work no matter what . i dont know whrer to start please help me and let me know what you did . i am wishing you the best and we all know how you feel . thanks for any info you can assiist with
celt
celt
I, too have familial tremors. I was born with them. I could live with them as I learned learned to anticipate them and zig when my hands zagged. After 50, my speech began slurring. Well, it turns out that familial tremors (which my neurologist says a form of ET) can effect your tongue, palate, amd larynx. Also I beginning to struggle to just write my signature. I was put on inderal and it doesn't take away the tremors, it lessens the severity and cleared up my speech. You know, I have never considered this a disability, but then I have never known a time without it
Donna-Jean-Capps
Donna-Jean-Capps
I am not on disability or anything. I'm hoping to be able to find a job that I can do still. Eventually I'll have to because I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis too. I don't know how to go about doing it either.

Lydia, I am lucky I was able to work. I loved my job and wish I could have worked longer there. I cried when I realized the shaking would make it impossible to work in the OR and after going to the neurologist and being told there was nothing to do I was devastated. I thought I would never be able to do anything until I saw this lady that shakes really bad all the time but she paints and teaches art classes. I was so impressed by her and I learned to work around it as much as possible. She even showed me how I can use the shake to my advantage when painting.

I'm sorry you have had so much trouble with this. I know how frustrating it is and can't even imagine having it worse and still getting by.

Celt, I didn't know it could affect your speech. That is scary. I'll have to keep an eye on that.
Donna-Jean-Capps
Donna-Jean-Capps
Angie, my legs hurt all the time too. No matter what medications I try or how much I take the pain in my legs seems to never go away. It makes it hard to stand for long or walk.... even grocery shopping is hard and I always have to take someone to help me. I hope you can find something to help. I'm on Cymbalta and tramadol and ibuprofen 800 and still have pain in my legs.