Trembling hands

heavymental

I'm 34 and pretty healthy. Don't smoke, drink very much, drink a load of coffee or have a very stressful life. I've noticed recently that I've got a bit of a tremble developing in my hands. When I hold them still, they don't stay still anymore! :shock: Its only slight and I've done the usual online diagnosis but has anyone had anything similar and got any words to put my mind at ease!?

DevonClimber

1 Don't worry, just visit your GP, nobody on here can tell you exactly what it is.
2 Essential Tremor it could well be, there are treatments for it.
3 Visit your GP and if you are otherwise healthy I wouldn't be too concerned, full obs will be done and I am sure they can do bloods to rule out certain other conditions.

Gizmo_

As above, don't "worry" about it, and above all don't go self-diagnosing based on the internet. If it's doing it on its own in all sorts of positions, when laid down relaxing, etc, get it checked out.

If it's only in certain positions, when holding something, etc, don't worry, they all do that sir. I can't hold a pint in my left hand because that particular angle results in a nerve twitch

finchy

Definitely get yourself to a doctor. It's probably nothing, but it might be an early symptom of something which is best diagnosed early.

mk1markfalkirk

I had the same issue, found it to be to do with changing my diet. Was eating little to no red meat with no supplements to replace things like iron. All better now.

mfin

I had this for years and years, it became a self-concious issue when I couldn't carry a cup of tea or coffee unless I knew I was somewhere where it wouldn't matter if I did stand a chance of spilling some when it was full. Im sure there are a stack of explanations for the condition. In my case my doc basically explained most likely was that its most apparent at hands and fingers but your body's shaking a bit all the time and has to correct itself to stay still, I dunno, like the fact a Eurofighter can't fly at all without a computer to keep it going, its too unstable... he said in some people this mechanism gets a bit out of sync. ...the solution was to try a low dose of beta-blocker, in this case Propranolol.

First thing is it worked... after years of putting up with it it was completely gone and I was 100% steady handed in half an hour. Secondly the prescription had a 1 to 3 daily on the box... BUT, I could bite one in half and take half a one when I noticed it. I ended up taking half a one now and again, maybe twice a week. Over a few weeks I found I was never taking anything.

A year or so later it seemed to come back a little, and I reckon a few half tablets and it was totally gone again.

It was so so easy to solve in my case. (mind you, on those Propranolol I can tell you that the odd half one is fine, more and your heart rate will be kept low when adrenalin cuts in, I tried cycling after having one once, and I was sh1t that day... try taking 3 and Im convinced I wouldn't be bothered to answer the door! ...half a one is naff all though)

heavymental

Cheers for replies all.

priory

cyclists and other sportsmen do not usually like beta blockers because they stop your heart-rate rising in response to exertion. On 80mg propranol you will be lucky to reach 100bpm. The previous poster gives hope that a small dose will work so that would be great.
my experience taking propranolol was this: as I cycled at 20mph on the level I felt reasonably good for two or three minutes then suddenly my legs went totally weak. I then had to stop for a few minutes . On restarting I had to find a very slow pace that I could maintain.
I have known keen sportsmen to refuse to take them even when their stroke and MI risks were considerably high.
Alcohol can be very effective for essential tremor. That is not necessarily very useful , though.
NHSchoices is a good place to start looking for info..

NickintheLakes

3 years ago I was buying a new camera in the local photographic store.

i was holding it and inspecting it as you do and my wife asked me why my hands were shaking so much - I hadn't noticed.

3 months later I was diagnosed with Graves Disease - over-active thyroid.

Been on beta-blockers to keep heart rate down and block & replace ever since. Basically the blocking stops your thyroid producing thyroxine which was at a way too high level in my case and replacing it with a measured dose of synthetic thyroxine.

Off to hosp' early next year to have thyroid function stopped permanently with radio-active iodine treatment. Can't wait tbh - been a real PITA to date.

GP can easily check for this with a blood test.