|
Essential Tremor Treatment
|
|
DonateDiagnosing Essential Tremor involves reviewing your medical history, family history and symptoms and conducting a physical examination.
Doctors don’t understand the true cause of essential tremor, but it’s thought that the unusual electrical brain activity that causes it is processed through the thalamus. The thalamus is a structure deep in the brain that coordinates and controls muscle activity.
The thalamus is a small structure within the brain located just above the brain stem between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain and has extensive nerve connections to both. The main function of the thalamus is to relay motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex. It also regulates sleep, alertness and wakefulness.
Doctors don’t understand the true cause of essential tremor, but it’s thought that the unusual electrical brain activity that causes it is processed through the thalamus. The thalamus is a structure deep in the brain that coordinates and controls muscle activity.
The thalamus is a small structure within the brain located just above the brain stem between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain and has extensive nerve connections to both. The main function of the thalamus is to relay motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex. It also regulates sleep, alertness and wakefulness.
What is the treatment for essential tremor?
Essential tremor cannot be cured. Treatment may reduce the severity of the tremor. There are various treatments that are used.
Essential tremor cannot be cured. Treatment may reduce the severity of the tremor. There are various treatments that are used.
The main treatment options are medications, assistive devices, botulinum toxin, deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound. Your healthcare provider may recommend deep brain stimulation or focused ultrasound if other treatments aren’t enough to help your tremors.
Essential tremor is a movement disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking of your hands, arms and other body parts.
Essential tremor is a movement disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking of your hands, arms and other body parts.
Medication
There are two medicines used initially for essential tremor - propranolol and primidone. These medicines have been shown to ease the tremor in up to 8 in 10 affected people.
Medication > > >
Medication > > >
Surgery
If medicine treatment is not effective, and the tremor is severe, then a surgical procedure may be an option. There are three surgical procedures that may be considered - thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) plus there are alternative less invasive treatment options for Essential Tremor such as the Focused Ultrasound Treatment.
They involve the thalamus. This is a deep part of the brain that organizes messages travelling between the body and brain.
They involve the thalamus. This is a deep part of the brain that organizes messages travelling between the body and brain.
Thalamic deep brain stimulation-
This procedure involves placing an electrode (fine wire) into the thalamus on one or both sides of the brain. The electrode is connected to a device called a stimulator. The electrode and stimulator stay in the body. (The stimulator is placed under the skin at the top of the chest.) The simulator sends electrical impulses down the electrode to the thalamus. It is not known exactly why this device works.
This procedure involves placing an electrode (fine wire) into the thalamus on one or both sides of the brain. The electrode is connected to a device called a stimulator. The electrode and stimulator stay in the body. (The stimulator is placed under the skin at the top of the chest.) The simulator sends electrical impulses down the electrode to the thalamus. It is not known exactly why this device works.
Focused Ultrasound
Focused Ultrasound Treatment for Essential Tremor Now Covered by Medicare
Focused ultrasound is a non-invasive surgical procedure for Essential Tremor that can’t be controlled with medication. For some people, focused ultrasound may be an alternative to deep brain stimulation surgery.
Focused Ultrasound > > >
Adaptive tremor devices.
These are external devices that can help change or control how severe your tremors are. They may help anyone with ET, but people who have disabling tremors are generally not considered good candidates.
Tremor Devices > > >
Gamma Knife
The Gamma Knife procedure Is a non-surgical treatment using highly focused radiation to kill the cells causing the tremor. Overactive cells in this area can cause hand tremors in patients, and the ionizing radiation used during the procedure destroys the affected area without harming the surrounding, healthy tissue. Patients who opt for Gamma Knife generally see results within three to six months after the procedure, and they also experience lower complication rates in comparison to conventional surgery options. Because Gamma Knife destroys the affected cells, the results are not reversible or adjustable.
The result is an immediate and significant reduction of tremor for patients.
Gamma Knife
The Gamma Knife procedure Is a non-surgical treatment using highly focused radiation to kill the cells causing the tremor. Overactive cells in this area can cause hand tremors in patients, and the ionizing radiation used during the procedure destroys the affected area without harming the surrounding, healthy tissue. Patients who opt for Gamma Knife generally see results within three to six months after the procedure, and they also experience lower complication rates in comparison to conventional surgery options. Because Gamma Knife destroys the affected cells, the results are not reversible or adjustable.
The result is an immediate and significant reduction of tremor for patients.
Thalamus
|
The thalamus is a small structure within the brain located just above the brain stem between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain and has extensive nerve connections to both. The main function of the thalamus is to relay motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex. It also regulates sleep, alertness and wakefulness. The thalamus is about the size of a walnut and within the brain there are two of them
Alternatives
OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections.
Botox injections might be useful in treating some types of tremors, especially head and voice tremors. Botox injections can improve tremors for up to three months at a time.
However, if Botox is used to treat hand tremors, it can cause weakness in your fingers. If it's used to treat voice tremors, it can cause a hoarse voice and difficulty swallowing.
When the diagnosis of essential tremor is made, you may be offered one of these medicines. A low dose is usually started at first, and gradually increased until your tremor is eased. If you reach the maximum dose without a satisfactory improvement, then the other medicine can be tried. If that also doesn't work, you can try them together. Other medicines can be tried if these two are not effective. A wide range of medicines have been shown to have some effect on reducing the severity of the tremor.
There is some evidence that Botox injections are helpful in reducing certain tremors. Unfortunately, a Botox injection into the arm also produces weakness of the arm. This is usually not tolerated. It is mainly useful when essential tremor affects the head and neck.
Botox injections might be useful in treating some types of tremors, especially head and voice tremors. Botox injections can improve tremors for up to three months at a time.
However, if Botox is used to treat hand tremors, it can cause weakness in your fingers. If it's used to treat voice tremors, it can cause a hoarse voice and difficulty swallowing.
When the diagnosis of essential tremor is made, you may be offered one of these medicines. A low dose is usually started at first, and gradually increased until your tremor is eased. If you reach the maximum dose without a satisfactory improvement, then the other medicine can be tried. If that also doesn't work, you can try them together. Other medicines can be tried if these two are not effective. A wide range of medicines have been shown to have some effect on reducing the severity of the tremor.
There is some evidence that Botox injections are helpful in reducing certain tremors. Unfortunately, a Botox injection into the arm also produces weakness of the arm. This is usually not tolerated. It is mainly useful when essential tremor affects the head and neck.
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or a laboratory, stem cells divide to form more cells called daughter cells.
Stem Cells > > >
Stem cells are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or a laboratory, stem cells divide to form more cells called daughter cells.
Stem Cells > > >
Essential tremor and Cannabinoids
Today, cannabis and its derivatives are being widely studied for these purposes in everything from mental illness to pain relief to degenerative disease. Neurological conditions like Essential Tremor are deep in the mix, too. Find out more about what's being discovered...
Today, cannabis and its derivatives are being widely studied for these purposes in everything from mental illness to pain relief to degenerative disease. Neurological conditions like Essential Tremor are deep in the mix, too. Find out more about what's being discovered...
Alcohol - Many people find that alcohol is helpful in reducing their tremor. It needs to be used with caution to avoid developing an alcohol problem. It is not advisable to drink more than the normal recommended amount of alcohol. That is: men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week, no more than four units in any one day, and have at least two alcohol-free days a week. Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, no more than three units in any one day, and have at least two alcohol-free days a week. Pregnant women, and women trying to become pregnant, should not drink alcohol at all. One unit is in about half a pint of normal strength beer, or two thirds of a small glass of wine, or one small pub measure of spirits.
Avoid caffeine.
Caffeine and other stimulants can increase tremors
Stress and anxiety Stress and anxiety tend to make tremors worse, and being relaxed may improve tremors.
What is the outlook? Essential tremor is a progressive disease. This means that it tends to gets worse over time. There needs to be more research on the cause to find more medicines that work for ET and to find a cure.
Physical and occupational therapy may help to reduce tremor and improve coordination and muscle control for some individuals.
Avoid caffeine.
Caffeine and other stimulants can increase tremors
Stress and anxiety Stress and anxiety tend to make tremors worse, and being relaxed may improve tremors.
What is the outlook? Essential tremor is a progressive disease. This means that it tends to gets worse over time. There needs to be more research on the cause to find more medicines that work for ET and to find a cure.
Physical and occupational therapy may help to reduce tremor and improve coordination and muscle control for some individuals.
What is the outlook?
Essential tremor is a progressive disease. This means that it tends to gets worse over time.
There isn't a cure for Essential Tremor.
Essential tremor is a progressive disease. This means that it tends to gets worse over time.
There isn't a cure for Essential Tremor.
DSF does not offer medical advice or recommendations and individuals should not rely on the information posted on this Website as a substitute for consultations with qualified health care professionals who are familiar with individual medical conditions and needs. The Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor strongly recommends that care and treatment decisions related to Essential Tremor and any other neurological condition be made in consultation with a patient's physician or other qualified health care professionals who are familiar with the individual's specific health situation. The Diann Shaddox Foundation has a policy of refraining from advocating, endorsing or promoting any drug therapy or course of treatment.
