Shaking hands

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kittycat2000
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Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:02 pm

by kittycat2000 on Fri Aug 16, 2013 1:42 am

Shaking hands

I've had M.E since 1996 and am well used to most of the symptoms but over the last couple of years the shaking in my hands has got to the stage where I can't lift a cup of tea without spilling it. People constantly remark on this and tease me about drinking which I don't do. I've also got worsening hypnagogic jerks in bed at night and while my GP assures me that this is nothing to worry about I'd love to find something to ease this. I currently take pantoprazole, 50mg seroxat, 100mg amitriptyline, 400mg pregabalin and 1.5mg pizotifen daily with 2 dihydrocodeine/paracetamol a couple of times a day for pain relief. Is there anything in my current meds that could cause this or anything I could take to reduce it.

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Dr Charles Shepherd
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Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:30 am

by Dr Charles Shepherd on Fri Aug 16, 2013 9:19 am

Re: Shaking hands

Shaking or tremor in the hands can have a number of explanations - including other neurological problems and the side-effects of drugs

From what you say, this problem needs to be properly assessed, along with your current rather complex mixture of medication

So I would suggest that you ask your GP if you could be referred to a hospital based ME/CFS service for a thorough review of your management - especially in relation to pain and sleep

Contact details for all the UK based ME/CFS clinics can be found on the MEA website:

http://www.meassociation.org.uk

The other option, if your GP feels it would be more appropriate, is to be referred to a neurologist - because this is the speciality that deals with tremor
Dr Charles Shepherd
MB BS, Honorary Medical Adviser, ME Association

Housemouse
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Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 5:30 pm

by Housemouse on Fri Aug 16, 2013 11:43 am

Re: Shaking hands

Just thought I'd mention that I have shaking hands too - it's not a 'cure' and it's a bit 'awkward', but I was prescribed carpal tunnel slpints for other reasons, by pure coicidence, I have noticed that if I strap them up very tightly, my hands/arms stop shaking (they are also very useful for poor muscle strength hours and/or days - I can balance a bucket on my arm using the steel within the splint to rest the handle on and disperse the weight. (Very useful things - buckets - for carrying things from room to room that I would not normally be able to manage)

kittycat2000
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:02 pm

by kittycat2000 on Fri Aug 16, 2013 8:23 pm

Re: Shaking hands

Thanks for your reply Dr Shepherd, unfortunately as I live in N. Ireland I have no access to M.E specialists but Iwill ask for a referral to a neurologist.

Housemouse, I find that compression bandages help my arms and legs, easing both pain and muscle spasms but I never thought about doing this with my hands, I'll give it a try.

Housemouse
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Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 5:30 pm

by Housemouse on Fri Aug 16, 2013 9:59 pm

Re: Shaking hands

Hello kittykat, I hope it helps - best wishes

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Dr Charles Shepherd
Posts: 215
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by Dr Charles Shepherd on Fri Aug 16, 2013 10:06 pm

Re: Shaking hands

My colleague Dr William Weir (infectious disease specialist) sometimes sees ME/CFS patients in Northern Ireland - you could get more information from the NI ME Alliance Facebook page
Dr Charles Shepherd
MB BS, Honorary Medical Adviser, ME Association

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