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.

355 Members
330 Posts
0 Online
Brain & Nervous System
/ Essential Tremor Support Group

Occupational Therapy?

kdhonors09
kdhonors09

Hello!  I am 29 and was recently diagnosed with ET and have been working to try and come to terms with this new diagnosis while I research everything I possibly can about it.  Has anyone tried using Occupational Therapy to help learn ways to compensate with the disease in order to complete daily tasks?  My tremors are almost completely in my right hand and right leg which of course is my dominant side.  I was curious is starting Occupational Therapy now to learn how to use my left side more dominantly would be beneficial in the long run in case my tremors in the right side get progressively worse.  I am trying really hard to stay positive and mentally strong throughout this process.  I had a great-grandmother with Parkinson's and I hated watching her disease get progressively worse and more frustrating.  I am worried with being so young that this is going to become diabilitating for me over time.  Any thought you could provide on sustaining an active lifestyle with this disease would be greatly appreciated.

Minimight
Minimight
Hi I'm new here to first off my name is Rachel and I've been living with essential tremors now for three years diagnosed I had problems before then but diagnosed is when I count. I'm 36 I think that's still young truth be told I don't even look at the numbers I celebrate my birthday but I stopped counting I think you're as young as you feel and I still feel like a kid. My tremors affect my arms and my legs I have a limp on one side as a result of it my balance isn't very good but with medication I can keep my tremors under control. I asked my doctor if this is going to get worse when I first was diagnosed and she said she didn't know every person is different she said for me it could stay in just my arms and legs but it could also get worse there was no definite answer so instead of worrying about the worst of the two possibilities I try to focus on the best of the two and hope this is it. As for occupational therapy I haven't tried it to be honest but what I have tried and what I do feel helps me is yoga. I started doing yoga to help me get more centered so I could have a better sense of balance both physically and mentally and I have to be honest it was the best thing I ever did I do hatha yoga and it really has helped me I also meditate and do what is called restorative yoga that's more just to kind of calm my brain down. Tremors can be made worse when we stress so finding ways to calm is really good. I love nature and so I love being outdoors I like to go birdwatching and go on hikes and walks these things haven't changed from before my diagnosis but sometimes I do need a little help. I have a walkingstick that I can use when I go hiking if my balance is a little wonky that day and as crazy as it may sound I actually pay more attention now to my sneakers I need to make sure that the shoes I'm wearing give support to my ankle as well as my foot so that I can have a good solid feel of the ground. There's a lot of things I still want to do in my life me and my husband just bought our first house and we want to start a family and we can totally do it. The thing that helps me is that I stay positive I wasn't always though I was scared, I was stressed, I was afraid what if it got really bad but then I realized that stress makes things worse and tomorrow I can deal with tomorrow then right now let's just deal with today and make it the best day it can be. I hope your day is going well.