[chaos]

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).

[missj]

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.

[Mariel]

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?

[chaos]

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?

[Erika]

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

[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

[wingsscrub]

Chaos--

I initially came to this forum due to tremors that didn't really respond to meds, yet aren't Parkinson's in nature. I have an intention tremor in my left hand which can progress into a resting tremor when I am tired beyond belief. (I have other symptoms which led me to the MS thread in particular, but I feel like that's besides the point here).

I am obviously no expert in MS, I actually haven't been diagnosed with it (which is good? I guess? But they still don't know what's wrong with me? Annoying!). Tremors, however, I know a bit about. I've got 2 clean MRIs of my brain and Cspine.

Look into seeing if you're able to control it with medication. I have been on beta-blockers (which worked for a while), primidone (which worked for a shorter while) and now Topamax (which I've been on for two months so I guess it's too soon to give a full opinion).

It might not have anything to do with MS. It could just be something along the lines of an Essential Tremor, a tremor that is super annoying but not disease related.

Keep us posed-I'm always interested in those who shake.

[Erika]

This is the sort of tremor that I have going on lately. Sometimes it is less, sometimes, more. For the last week it is less, which has allowed me to see (read) and type more easily...as well as do other things. When it is more, doing anything is exhausting within a short time because my hands/legs & feet often have spasms and are numb as well.

Video of MS Whole body tremors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NszHrbeA8sU

With love, Erika

[chaos]

I know that beta blockers can cause neuropathy (right Mrs D?) and I have small fiber neuropathy already, so I doubt I want to add that.

I found this video online, it's really close to what was going on with me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssiFREZ2ng8
Yesterday I had to check off numbers off a page and when I was holding the pen my hand shook horribly until I got it down onto the paper and concentrated on what I was doing. It's not as bad as this guy, but it's only been happening for a week.

I did take a Soma last night. I read some info online that stated docs like to give out Baclofen more than Soma, which is why I read about it on here more. It helped enough that my arm didn't hurt. The tremor didn't go away entirely. I suppose that it would be a good idea to go get a real prescrip to Baclofen now? Will my PCP prescribe that, or should I go to the pain doc?

Part of me wants to put up a stiff upper lip and just move on, part of me wants to hide in a hole and sleep for a year.

[Snoopy]

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.

I have some Xanax

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.