I have full blown tremors now. They started at the beginning of last week and now my hand shakes just about every time I'm holding something up or when it's in certain positons. I believe it's an intention tremor.

I had to stop taking Mirapex, which *is* a parkinson's drug, but I took it for my periodic leg movement disorder. I stopped taking this over two weeks ago due to a severe rash. I took Prednisone to help with the rash, and you know what, I've actually been all spry and able to get things done. It wasn't a high dose, but it felt good. Started with only 40mg for three days and tirated down 10mg/every three days. I'm on my last single 10mg today. I read that the prednisone can cause tremors, but it seems like in higher, longer doses.

I'm in Neuro limbo land as mine retired and I'm waiting for my appt in Sept at UCSF. I need to call my regular doc and see him (also relating to the rash). Can he just order the evoked visual tests and/or lumbar?

I kind of feel like this is the last point for me. There is something horrible going on and I just need an answer. If it's not MS, what else can produce tremors, that go along with the other symptoms I've gotten (PN, some speech issues, etc etc).

you will be in good hands at UCSF. Have been going there since 1998. Sometimes getting in and even getting thru can be a challenge but its worth it.

I had evidence of having an "intention tremor" the other day at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles.
To get in line for an appt. to renew your license, you have to go to a computer screen and push the letters in your name. I did this, and I produced two M's at the beginning of my name. I did this without realizing. I then saw my name with two M's up on the board listing waiters for service. I believe I've had this "forever", long before dx, and it impedes me in some activities without even announcing itself by anything but eventual weakness and fatigue of the muscles. For instance, when I was a teen, I tried to wash windows at our home. I would soon collapse with utter fatigue of the arm, and even spastic pain. I believe I was having this "intention tremor" every time I pushed on the rag to wash the window, and it wore me out quickly, but no one had any idea why I pooped out so quickly at such tasks (I still do, if washing sink, etc.) I was a runner and a very good performing dancer, so it did not affect my legs at that time. And it made me seem like a lazy bum to my mother and, later, others. It's part of the hidden damage of this disease.
I see no reason, if you are covered by insurance, for not going ahead with some tests now, which you mention. The results can be conveyed to UCSF when you have your appt. there, and can either be accepted by them or repeated if they need to. You indeed can get some info from your pcp doing tests such as "evoked vision" ones. I had my first dx and first evoked potential and MRI from a general practitioner. Of course later I saw a neuro and more tests were done--quite a few more MRI's over the years. But it took a smart pcp to tell I needed my first MRI and evoked potentials. You are so anxious now that it might be well to be tested now, what do you think?

My PCP's office called, said to go to an allergist for the hives, I stopped her and told her about my tremors. She wanted to refer me to the only one in town...that doesn't take insurance (and I'm broke). I can call the cruddy one sort of nearby, call one that's good sort of nearby but has a long wait.

I just called UCSF and asked to be put on their cancellation list. I'll keep calling back. I'll also call the long waiting list neuro when I can get my brain together (that could take forever).

I had an MRI already, brain looked good. But everything I've read indicates otherwise. Stupid internet!

I've noticed I'm worn out in my arm with all of this. My muscles are working even though I'm not telling them to. I have some xanax and soma at home. I've noticed that many people take baclofen. I'm wondering if the soma would help?

I'm not sure on this but I think that intention tremors are more a part of diseases like Parkinsons. The tremors with MS seem to be more generalized and may be related to exaccerbations and/or stress (all forms). The tremors may seem more pronounced in the extremities (hands) when trying to do something though.

I've had a whole body tremor going for the last couple of months which varies in degree. Sometimes it is so severe that my head is shaking too much to read or see clearly (double vision).
A trade off is Baclofen, which takes the edge off for me...but leaves my body too weak and my mind too stoned to do anything meaningful.

Hope that you get some answers and some effective treatment underway.

With love, Erika

I stand corrected...was just going by my own experience.
Here's an article about it.

MS tremors
http://ms.about.com/od/signssymptoms...r_overview.htm

With love, Erika

Hi chaos,

I have tremors which are related to MS. Tremors, for me, can present differently.

I have a very fine hand tremor which for the most part is not noticeable to me or others. The times I do notice it is when I am eating (food seems to magically fall off my silverware ). When writing (my writing many times looks like a child's), and when I pick up a glass (sometimes the contents splash over).

I can have very visible shaking of my hands.

I get internal tremors. I shake internally with no visible sign it's happening. The shaking is throughout my body. This one drives me crazy.

chaos, Xanax is a Benzodiazepine and can be used to treat tremors.

For the most part I have learned to ignore tremors but when they get to the point where they are driving me crazy I use Klonopin (benzodiazepine).

Baclofen is used for Spasticity (muscle spasms, muscle tightness/stiffness and the pain it can cause). Baclofen isn't going to help tremors.

Another question - could the tremors that started last week be an exacerbation? Especially since it's a new thing that came on quickly?

The past few weeks have been bad, first edema, then hives, now tremors. The Prednisone did make me feel better, but it was a low dose. I keep reading "oh you'll know it", but to me these things, especially the tremors, are a huge red flag. My speech isn't that great, I've noticed I've stuttered again over the last couple weeks. I have to keep telling my husband to let me talk and give me time to get out what I need to say.

All this is hypothetical, but since I'm going to just my PCP tomorrow, I like to be prepared in what I need to tell him. If it's an exacerbation, wouldn't it be beneficial to deal with it asap? So it doesn't get worse? I need to be firm with him on what I want to do. Or do I just treat the symptoms still?

Thanks all. You should have heard the cup I was just holding, it sounded like a rattle or maraca with all the ice in it.

Just came back from my PCP. He confirmed it's intention tremors. Thought maybe it was the prednisone I just stopped (but I don't think so). He is prescribing me the propranolol, starting with a lower dose and going up if I need it.

I described to him the right arm issues I've had over the last few months, including dropping things and median nerve issues, a negative EMG. He knows I'm really worried about the MS, but wants to explore more before giving me IVSM. He was like "that's a LOT of medicine". Um, yeah, I just want to feel better. I need to work, be able to use a knife, etc. He was a little upset that my new neuro candidate is taking so long to "review" my files to accept me as a patient.

At least he didn't say to stop reading things on the internet. He said to email him if I needed to, which is good.

He sounds like a good one. Listens! And I hope the propanalol is good for you as it has been for me. He's right that IVSM is powerful. I could not even think of taking it, as I have Porphyria, and it would put me into a porph attack. Because there are many drugs I can't take (and some I can) I have to work hard on using means which are as natural as possible to help things. I do suggest you take some magnesium, as it might help the tremors. I don't know if it would, but it's great for some neuro problems, like spasticity and jerking of the limbs. It might help your tremors. Everyone should take some extra magnesium, I think, in any case, as it is often low in one's body and it does so many good things. A neuro had me take it. He said to look for one which does not cause too much diarrhea. I have SOME diarrhea from taking it, but I live with it. I MUST take 1000 mg a day in divided doses. Mag Citrate is the one most likely to cause diarrhea. Also you could be low on calcium. Cal Citrate is good, does not cause diarrhea.

MS involves a lot of waiting, as you are finding out. I hope you find something to make you laugh.