Tremors Anyone?

[BR549]

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In the past couple of years, I have noticed that my hands would shake and I couldn't control it. I went to the neurologist today and he diagnosed me with "Benign Essential Tremors". Just great! I get to where I want to be in life and then this happens. I am only 25 and this usually only shows up later in life.

Does anyone else have hand tremors?
It's only a mild frequency, so maybe I'll be ok when it comes to surgery. The vet I work for doesn't seem to think that it will bother me when it comes to surgeries. Who knows?!

 

[aretoo]

I know of at least one amazing veterinary surgeon who shakes (not sure if it is the same as you have but anyway). He can't be the only one so I am sure you'll be fine!

 

[meadow36]

I get occasional hand shakes, but I feel it is due to adrenaline. I get excited and worked up and my hands start shaking. It's upsetting and I wish it didn't happen, but I don't know what to do about it. Mentally I am cool as a cucumber but my hands say differently. 🙁

I try to eat a little something before going into work, and avoid caffeine. It seems to be worse when I first get to work, and subsides after a few hours.

 

[almostglue]

My dad has these, and I am so not happy about it, because eventually I might get them. He takes medication for it, and he says it really helps him a lot (he only takes it when he's doing fine detail work).

On the surgery note: I remember watching this one surgeon once and his hands shook so bad I was scared to death for the poor cat he was spaying, but he cut the straightest line I have ever seen. It was amazing. I'm not sure why his hands shook, but it didn't affect his surgical skills one bit.

I don't know if your doctor talked to you about medications that might help, but I would definitely consult with him if you feel the tremors are affecting your performance.

 

[Nexx]

Hey, I don't know if your doctor considered diet or not and I don't know if you are vegetarian (for some reason I thought you might be) but Vitamin B deficiency can cause similar symptoms to BET/MS. A few years ago when I was working/doing school/going to the gym/not eating as well as I should, I encountered a bit of a problem with that and found that I had muscle tremors/shakes in my legs especially at night.

Anyhow, just something to think about and discuss with your doctor. I assume they may have covered that in your exam/history--then again I've had some doctors who aren't always on the ball.

 

[StillDreaming]

Hmm, i have not had experience with that, or know anyone who has. It kind of sucks to be in that position. I kind of understand what you're talking about though. Before college i was diagnosed with a disease and was hospitalized twice for it during my college years. It's a stressed induced disease, so vet school will definitely be a test of my control of it. I'm constantly afraid that i won't be able to do it because i will be to sick to go to class, but i am not about to sit back just because i'm afraid i won't finish. I'm gonna try, and if i find out it's not going to work, then i'll figure out plan B, but i'm totally gunning for Plan A right now lol.

Good luck!

 

[1Vista1Grey]

I got really sick during undergrad too. Stress induced. I found that its much easier to manage and control now that I know what I have. Feel the signs and back off. I can tell when its getting worse and prepare myself. Hopefully I will make it through vet school ok, but its certainly lurking in the back of my mind.

Yay for vet students running their bodies into the dirt to get where they want to be!!!!

 

[gracietiger]

Hi, I have tremors from a norepinephrine disorder. However, it is entirely managed with beta blockers. I take the beta blockers everyday, probably for the rest of my life, but I know they can be taken on an as needed basis. I am not promoting that you use any drugs, but if your tremor does affect your ability to perform surgeries and such, perhaps you could look into taking something like a beta blocker on an as-needed basis.

 

[sumstorm]

Might talk to a PT as well. A lot of the daily activities can put additional stress on the wrists, resulting in shaking hands. I know people who get shakey hands from prolonged typing, piano playing, and some other things. I can't hold vibrating tools (sanders, dremels, etc) for long periods of time without my hands shaking for a day afterwards.

 

[BR549]

My dad has these, and I am so not happy about it, because eventually I might get them. He takes medication for it, and he says it really helps him a lot (he only takes it when he's doing fine detail work).

On the surgery note: I remember watching this one surgeon once and his hands shook so bad I was scared to death for the poor cat he was spaying, but he cut the straightest line I have ever seen. It was amazing. I'm not sure why his hands shook, but it didn't affect his surgical skills one bit.

I don't know if your doctor talked to you about medications that might help, but I would definitely consult with him if you feel the tremors are affecting your performance.

Yeah, he gave me a Beta blocker and said that some people have success on it, but it may or may not work. I just want to be able to control them as best as I can. They don't interfere too bad, but they have recently gotten a little worse.

 

[BR549]

Hey, I don't know if your doctor considered diet or not and I don't know if you are vegetarian (for some reason I thought you might be) but Vitamin B deficiency can cause similar symptoms to BET/MS. A few years ago when I was working/doing school/going to the gym/not eating as well as I should, I encountered a bit of a problem with that and found that I had muscle tremors/shakes in my legs especially at night.

Anyhow, just something to think about and discuss with your doctor. I assume they may have covered that in your exam/history--then again I've had some doctors who aren't always on the ball.

Not a vegetarian.😉 My GP ran blood tests (including Vitamin B deficiency) and when they came back normal, she referred me to a neurologist because she said that I shook too much for someone my age.

 

[BR549]

Hi, I have tremors from a norepinephrine disorder. However, it is entirely managed with beta blockers. I take the beta blockers everyday, probably for the rest of my life, but I know they can be taken on an as needed basis. I am not promoting that you use any drugs, but if your tremor does affect your ability to perform surgeries and such, perhaps you could look into taking something like a beta blocker on an as-needed basis.

Which one? I'm on atenolol.

 

[gracietiger]

propranolol....

 

[incendium04]

Thanks for posting -- I have similar concerns & now I'm thinking I should go see my physician. I've always had some shakiness/tremors with too much coffee but now I seem to be getting it unrelated to any caffeine. My asthma meds do make me tremor more (when I take them) so I have to hope my asthma remains in a semi-"remission" so it won't compound the problem.

My mom also has tremors, but hers are a lot worse and the doctor thinks its a mild case of Parkinson's so I am definitely concerned about my career.

On the flip side, I've heard of many fantastic surgeons with tremors who still do great work. And my tremors seem to go away briefly when I am focused on something delicate like venipuncture (but not when trying to drop skin glue on sx sites... geez).

 

[Bill59]

As long as your hands will do what you want them to do, you can still do surgery. But if the tremor is really bad, ask your doctor about medication. Beta-blockers can help. So can ethanol but that's rarely a good idea.

Everyone has a physiologic tremor, some are barely perceptible and others are obvious. It's usually worse with stress. In some cases this can be self-perpetuating -- your hand starts to shake during surgery which makes you nervous which makes your hand shake more. With practice, tremor often improves a lot.