Tremors are symptoms of a variety of disorders and health conditions, and they require an accurate diagnosis to alleviate. Our doctors have the resources available to design a customized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
A tremor is an involuntary contraction and release of a muscle or muscles. This results in twitching, oscillating and sometimes rhythmic movements in one or more areas of the body. While tremors most commonly affect the hands, they can occur in limbs, head, torso and vocal cords.
Some tremors are caused by problems in the cerebellum, the part of your brain responsible for movement while others are inherited. Several neurological and metabolic disorders can also cause tremors.
Tremors can be symptoms of the following:
Strokes may also cause a sudden, severe headache, dizziness and altered consciousness. They may also result in blurred or darkened vision affecting one or both eyes and a loss of balance or coordination.
Essential Tremor is a nervous system disorder that causes tremors.These tremors usually occur on your hands and feet. Occasionally, essential tremor manifests as a sideways or up-and-down head movement. These tremors worsen over time, eventually impairing your ability to perform everyday tasks.
Despite having different underlying causes, essential tremors are often confused with Parkinson’s Disease. A key difference between the two is how the tremors behave: an essential tremor worsens when using your hands while Parkinson’s hand tremors are worse when hands are at rest.
Identifying the underlying cause of your tremors is key in effectively treating them. If your doctor is able to diagnose the condition responsible, they can treat it and potentially eliminate the tremors.
Unfortunately, many types of tremors do not have an underlying cause. In these cases, your doctor has a variety of treatments available to treat the symptoms. These treatments range from Botox® injections and surgical intervention to therapy and lifestyle changes.
Botox® injections are an effective treatment against many types of tremors because of its ability to temporarily stop involuntary muscle contractions. It is commonly used to treat head tremors that are unresponsive to medications. It’s also effective for dystonia and muscle spasms caused by cerebral palsy and stroke.
If prescribed Botox® injections, before your injection appointment you will need to verify that your insurance is accepted by our specialty pharmacy. Once you have been authorized to receive treatment, the pharmacy will ship the medication to our Brain and Spine office where it is properly stored until your appointment.
There are several surgical procedures that are able to target the areas of the brain responsible for tremors. Deep brain stimulation, radiofrequency ablation and thalamotomy are all effective ways to treat a variety of tremors.
Physical therapy improves overall muscle control and strength, thereby reducing the occurrence of tremors. Occupational therapy teaches you to modify everyday activities that are difficult due to tremors so they are easier to perform.
In some patients, eliminating caffeine and alcohol from their diets has a tremendous impact on the frequency and severity of their tremors.