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.

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]

What meds do you take?

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

[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]

Benign Tremor

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.

Jill