How Can You Adapt To Live With Essential Tremor?

Essential tremor is the involuntary shaking of the hands, head, jaws, and voice, which causes frustration, helplessness, and embarrassment for the patients. There is no specific cause yet defined for essential tremor, which is why there is no prevention for it. Moreover, it also doesn't have a permanent cure. However, based on the diagnosis and symptoms, doctors prescribe certain drugs, therapies, and surgeries that can control the symptoms of the disorder for a certain period of time, without permanently curing it.

Diagnosis of essential tremor

Correct diagnosis is the first step towards appropriate treatment of essential tremor. Also, ruling out other causes is the diagnostic tool for essential tremor. For example, having a blood test cannot determine whether you are suffering from essential tremor, but it can help in ruling out other serious conditions like thyroid that could be responsible for the tremors and shaking. Neurological exams can check your responses and reflexes to sensations. Thus, it is very important that the right tests are done so that apart from your tremors, other significant diseases can also be checked for. And for this, you need an expert professional. While there are many doctors and neurologists that may help here, but the best person to approach is a movement disorders specialist. Such specialists have received additional 1-2 years education and training in handling such movement disorders, apart from the studies that general neurologists do; thus, making them the ideal person to approach in case of essential tremor or any such ailments.

Treatment of essential tremor

The first steps to take for treating essential tremor include medications and therapies. Beta blockers and anti-seizure drugs are given to patients, along with simple exercises to follow. They are also asked to stay relaxed by undergoing massages and therapies. Additionally, patients are advised certain dietary and lifestyle changes like avoiding alcohol and caffeine, using heavier utensils and glasses, wearing wrist weights, using heavier writing tools, etc. In short, you need o do everything possible to eliminate things that can make your symptoms worse. Other therapies that can improve your muscle strength, control, and coordination are also taught and prescribed. All of this won't improve your condition, but it will teach you how to adapt to living with essential tremor. Alternative treatments like acupuncture and hypnosis are being researched upon whether they can prove effective for essential tremor patients or not. Whatever therapies you wish to adopt into your lifestyle, make sure to consult your doctor for the same. Knowing your health condition, medical history, genetic health, body type, age, etc. can help the doctor decide better which particular type of treatment and therapy is best for you. He may also have you experiment with different methods to help you find the right one for your condition. Therefore, whatever you do, you need to consult a right professional to help you with your condition.

Dr. Shivam Mittal is one such trusted name in the field of movement disorders that can help treat various ailments like Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and tremor treatment in Bangalore.

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Created on May 30th 2018 01:20. Viewed 183 times.

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