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shadowkatI have an essential or more appropriately called familial tremor - I've had it since birth. It was not noticeable at all until puberty and has gotten progressively worse with age. I am currently taking medication to control it and am off to the neurologist at 2pm to get the prescription refilled.
My tremor has been a source of discrimination and embarrassment throughout my life. What happens - is my hands and arms shake. Particularly my right arm and hand. They always shake when I attempt to do an activity. It's not always noticeable. It's pronounced when I get upset, nervous, don't feel well, are am edgy or have had caffeine. By pronounced - I mean I look like I'm trembling and I can't type or write.
Below are definitions regarding what it is and what causes it along with links.
Awareness is key - so the next time you see someone's hands shake? The first question in your head should NOT be are you nervous? But what is causing it?
Do NOT assume you know.
Essential tremor (ET) is a slowly progressive neurological disorder of which the most recognizable feature is a tremor of the arms or hands that is apparent during voluntary movements such as eating and writing.[1] This type of tremor is often referred to as "kinetic tremor." The tremor may also occur in the head (neck), jaw and voice as well as other body regions, with the general pattern being that the tremor begins in the arms and then spreads to these other regions in selected patients. Women are more likely to develop the head tremor than are men. Other types of tremor may also occur, including postural tremor of the outstretched arms, intentional tremor of the arms and rest tremor in the arms. Some patients may have unsteadiness and problems with gait and balance that are above and beyond that due to normal aging. In addition to these motor problems, a variety of non-motor features have recently been linked with ET. These include anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as cognitive difficulty. Recent studies have demonstrated that late-onset ET (onset > age 65) may be associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. ET is one of the most common neurological diseases, with a prevalence of approximately 4% in persons age 40 and older and considerably higher among persons in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Aside from enhanced physiological tremor, it is the most common type of tremor and one of the most commonly observed movement disorders. Essential tremor was also previously known as "benign essential tremor", but the adjective "benign" has been removed in recognition of the sometimes disabling nature of the disorder. Although essential tremor is often mild, patients with severe tremor have difficulty performing many of their routine activities of daily living.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_tremor#Cause
And...
Essential tremor is a type of involuntary shaking movement in which no cause can be identified. Involuntary means you shake without trying to do so.
See also:
Essential tremor is the most common type of tremor. Everyone has some tremor present, but the movements are often so small that they can't be seen. Essential tremors are most common in people older than 65.
The exact cause for essential tremor is unknown. Tremors occur when there is a problem with the nerves that supply certain muscles. Some research suggests that the part of the brain that controls muscles movements does not work correctly in patients with essential tremor.
Essential tremor can also occur with other brain and nervous system problems, such as dystonia, parkinsonism, and certain nerve conditions passed down through families.
If an essential tremor occurs in more than one member of a family, it is called a familial tremor. This type of essential tremor is passed down through families (inherited), which suggests that genes play a role in its cause.
Familial tremor is usually a dominant trait, which means that you only need to get the gene from one parent to develop the tremor. It often starts in early middle age, but may be seen in people who are older or younger.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000762.htm
Difference between Parkinson's Disease and the Essential/Familial Tremor:
In Parkinson's disease, the tremor or shaking usually involves the arms and hands and is most prominent when the patient is at rest. In essential or familial tremor, the hands and arms are usually quiet at rest, but if the patient attempts to perform a task, such as picking up a glass of water or writing, then the tremor becomes very noticeable. Tremor can sometimes involve the head and neck and also sometimes involves the legs. Tremor interferes with many normal activities. Patients may be unable to write their name and, for instance, sign checks. They may be unable to drink from a cup or glass without spilling, and they may be unable to cut food with a knife and fork. In addition, patients may be unable to feed themselves, button clothing, comb their hair, or perform almost any movement that involves coordinated control of the hands, fingers and arms.
In essential or familial tremor, the movement disorder is the only aspect of the disease. The only difference between essential tremor and familial tremor is that in the latter, there is a family history with tremor being present in other generations, whereas in essential tremor, there is not. The actual tremor itself is identical in both conditions.
In Parkinson's disease, there are often other movement abnormalities in addition to tremor. These may include bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and rigidity or stiffness in the muscles, which make movements difficult. Also, in Parkinson's disease, there is frequently difficulty with walking because of the slowness and stiffness of movement and because of poor balance and a tendency to fall.
http://www.irsa.org/essential_tremor.html
I inherited mine from my mother. Her father shook so badly he couldn't write.
My brother smokes - which has made his less prevalent and more controlled.
Mine is worse than my mother's and brother's - possibly aggravated by the ceilac disease. I'm the only one on meds, because without them...I can't hold a cup in my hand or type. But I have to be careful with the meds or I'll fall into a physical depression - which happened in 2004.
Not flocking because I want to increase awareness of this condition that affects over 10 million people around the world.
My tremor has been a source of discrimination and embarrassment throughout my life. What happens - is my hands and arms shake. Particularly my right arm and hand. They always shake when I attempt to do an activity. It's not always noticeable. It's pronounced when I get upset, nervous, don't feel well, are am edgy or have had caffeine. By pronounced - I mean I look like I'm trembling and I can't type or write.
Below are definitions regarding what it is and what causes it along with links.
Awareness is key - so the next time you see someone's hands shake? The first question in your head should NOT be are you nervous? But what is causing it?
Do NOT assume you know.
Essential tremor (ET) is a slowly progressive neurological disorder of which the most recognizable feature is a tremor of the arms or hands that is apparent during voluntary movements such as eating and writing.[1] This type of tremor is often referred to as "kinetic tremor." The tremor may also occur in the head (neck), jaw and voice as well as other body regions, with the general pattern being that the tremor begins in the arms and then spreads to these other regions in selected patients. Women are more likely to develop the head tremor than are men. Other types of tremor may also occur, including postural tremor of the outstretched arms, intentional tremor of the arms and rest tremor in the arms. Some patients may have unsteadiness and problems with gait and balance that are above and beyond that due to normal aging. In addition to these motor problems, a variety of non-motor features have recently been linked with ET. These include anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as cognitive difficulty. Recent studies have demonstrated that late-onset ET (onset > age 65) may be associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. ET is one of the most common neurological diseases, with a prevalence of approximately 4% in persons age 40 and older and considerably higher among persons in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Aside from enhanced physiological tremor, it is the most common type of tremor and one of the most commonly observed movement disorders. Essential tremor was also previously known as "benign essential tremor", but the adjective "benign" has been removed in recognition of the sometimes disabling nature of the disorder. Although essential tremor is often mild, patients with severe tremor have difficulty performing many of their routine activities of daily living.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_tremor#Cause
And...
Essential tremor is a type of involuntary shaking movement in which no cause can be identified. Involuntary means you shake without trying to do so.
See also:
Essential tremor is the most common type of tremor. Everyone has some tremor present, but the movements are often so small that they can't be seen. Essential tremors are most common in people older than 65.
The exact cause for essential tremor is unknown. Tremors occur when there is a problem with the nerves that supply certain muscles. Some research suggests that the part of the brain that controls muscles movements does not work correctly in patients with essential tremor.
Essential tremor can also occur with other brain and nervous system problems, such as dystonia, parkinsonism, and certain nerve conditions passed down through families.
If an essential tremor occurs in more than one member of a family, it is called a familial tremor. This type of essential tremor is passed down through families (inherited), which suggests that genes play a role in its cause.
Familial tremor is usually a dominant trait, which means that you only need to get the gene from one parent to develop the tremor. It often starts in early middle age, but may be seen in people who are older or younger.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000762.htm
Difference between Parkinson's Disease and the Essential/Familial Tremor:
In Parkinson's disease, the tremor or shaking usually involves the arms and hands and is most prominent when the patient is at rest. In essential or familial tremor, the hands and arms are usually quiet at rest, but if the patient attempts to perform a task, such as picking up a glass of water or writing, then the tremor becomes very noticeable. Tremor can sometimes involve the head and neck and also sometimes involves the legs. Tremor interferes with many normal activities. Patients may be unable to write their name and, for instance, sign checks. They may be unable to drink from a cup or glass without spilling, and they may be unable to cut food with a knife and fork. In addition, patients may be unable to feed themselves, button clothing, comb their hair, or perform almost any movement that involves coordinated control of the hands, fingers and arms.
In essential or familial tremor, the movement disorder is the only aspect of the disease. The only difference between essential tremor and familial tremor is that in the latter, there is a family history with tremor being present in other generations, whereas in essential tremor, there is not. The actual tremor itself is identical in both conditions.
In Parkinson's disease, there are often other movement abnormalities in addition to tremor. These may include bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and rigidity or stiffness in the muscles, which make movements difficult. Also, in Parkinson's disease, there is frequently difficulty with walking because of the slowness and stiffness of movement and because of poor balance and a tendency to fall.
http://www.irsa.org/essential_tremor.html
I inherited mine from my mother. Her father shook so badly he couldn't write.
My brother smokes - which has made his less prevalent and more controlled.
Mine is worse than my mother's and brother's - possibly aggravated by the ceilac disease. I'm the only one on meds, because without them...I can't hold a cup in my hand or type. But I have to be careful with the meds or I'll fall into a physical depression - which happened in 2004.
Not flocking because I want to increase awareness of this condition that affects over 10 million people around the world.
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no subject
Date: 2012-03-05 11:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-05 11:39 pm (UTC)