Essential Tremor: Fluxuating Intensity?

[mytorimom]

Tremor was my first symptom along with some pain in my shoulder. I was told I have essential tremor too and that its hereditary. No one else in my family shakes so I'm not satisfied with this diagnosis.

1. Does essential tremor wax and wane?

I have had the tremor completely disappear for a day or two sometimes longer. The intesity definitely fluxuates even when present.

2. I have read that essential tremor is "slowly progressive". Does this mean a steady progression? or are there long periods at a certain level-then a progression-then a long period of that level etc. The reason this questions really REALLY concerns me is because I am 33-and I am very worried that this will progress and that by the time I am 40 or 50- I will be unable to function in many ways. :crying:

I was 33 too. How odd. No one ever told me it was progressive. But I imagine if I shake now I'm sure gonna shake at 50-60 and so on.

3. Can the medications that treat essential tremor (Beta blockers etc) treat all but the most severe cases of essential tremor? I have read that surgery is a rare option for the most severe-but I wasn't sure if the medicines are fully effective up to that point or not.

For me... Beta blockers have no effect. They just make me lite headed, tired and give me palpitations. Yuck! I'm not considering surgery. I've read the surgery is more for people who have Parkinsen's.

 

[LisaQ.]

I can only tell you my experience with the tremors.
I've had people on this board diagnose me with essential tremor, because that's what they were told they had. I've never been dx'ed with it, nor has anyone ever offered to treat it.

My tremors began with my bfs, and were very severe in the beginning. Now I almost never experience them, except on the odd day, or if I'm stressed, have worked out too hard, or am over-tired.

So, if it is supposed to be ET, and if it is supposed to be progressive, then it is not behaving properly in my case.

If you want my opinion, which I suppose is useless in the scheme of things, I believe that tremors can be a symptom of our bfs, and NOT the distinctly separate entity known as Essential Tremor. As many of us see our bfs symptoms improve over time, I think the tremors do too. This is based not only on my personal experience, but upon others who have shared their symptoms here on the forum.

Some days my hands just shake, my arms ratchet, I feel so odd, but most days (like today,) I'm looking down at my hands and they are perfectly straight. For me, it is often mind over matter and I can even somewhat control the tremors when I'm having them. Can someone with ET do that?

Anyway, I'm not sure if this has been helpful, but I honestly think some neuros are doing a disservice to their bfs patients by dx'ing (and treating) essential tremor. I don't need treatment, but I suspect if I'd ever officially been given the dx of ET, I might share the same anxieties and even develop a progressive form of tremor, on the power of my frazzled, traumatized psyche. JMHO.

Words and diagnoses are powerful. Some doctors need to learn to use them more sparingly.

Blessings,
Sue