Forum

shaky hand

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
#1

Hi all, sorry to bother you again, hope you don't get too fed up with me.

Can I ask about shaky hands and/or muscle fatigue. Since I had the bad three months at end of last year, my right hand starts to shake with even the slightest physical effort, and the shakes worsen the more effort I put into something. My forearm feels very quickly like the muscle is fatigued, similar to how I used to feel after playing a few hard hours of tennis. I can't even stir a cake mixture or clean the windows anymore, will this get better?

Does anyone else have these symptoms and if so do you have any suggestions for easing things a little?  I don't have the shakes at rest, and when the 'muscle' feeling subsides so do the shakes, but this can take hours and sometimes a couple of days.

On an even more scary side I had a phone call from GP this evening to say that the neuro had called him to confirm receipt of  the referral and that he would see me within two weeks. Now feel very scared and feel like crying. Not sure whether I want a diagnosis or not. Oh I just want my life back.

x 

 

#2

It's still really early days so there is a very good chance that your muscle shakes / fatigue will ease off. It's something that a lot of us can relate to - for whatever reason, our muscles get tired very quickly. One thing you can do, when you are feeling better / up to it, is to exercise. Being as fit, strong and flexible as possible can help to protect us from some of the effects. There are also meds that can help with fatigue - make sure and ask the neuro for help with whatever symptoms are interfering with your life.

Good luck at the appointment!

Karen x

#3

hi,

i find washing up a killer and my hands and arms really ache and feel fatgued.still waiting for it to go.

good luck  . hope yours goes soon  .

#4

You can definitely ask the neuro about all of those things; in fact you should ask the neuro about all of those things.

 

Something like gabapentin might actually help the muscle tightening/cramp, the freezing and the buzzing as it is prescribed sometimes for spasms as well as being a standard neuropathic painkiller. (The neuro may think of something better of course.)

 

The main thing to remember is that if you don't ask, you don't get! OK, that's not always true, but if you don't tell the neuro what things are really bothering you, the neuro won't know, will assume you are coping, and probably won't offer anything to help. So, be brave, make sure you take a list with everything you want to say, and ask :-) 

 

If the neuro starts to bring the appointment to a close without you having a chance to ask, DO NOT GET UP and say, "Actually, I really wanted to ask you about... Please can you help?" They can always find a few more minutes when they want to (or when they are made to :-))

 

Good luck!

Karen x

PS Even though the freezing feeling isn't actually real, heat pads can help. You can buy electronic ones quite cheaply. Definitely worth trying.