Essential Tremor is a relatively common neurological condition which causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking. It can affect almost any part of the body; however, it is most commonly seen in the hands, head and voice and it is often worsened with stress, fatigue or caffeine. Though the tremor may be confused with Parkinson’s Disease, your doctor would be able to tell these two conditions apart based on your physical exam and associated conditions.
Though not a life-threatening condition, it can worsen with time and severe Essential Tremor can disrupt a patient’s ability to take care of themselves. Certain medications can be used to manage the symptoms; however, a small subset of patients continue to have debilitating tremor in spite of medicines. These patients may be candidates for minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures, such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) or Focused Ultrasound to help control their tremor.
For more information on Essential Tremor, be sure to speak with your doctor or look through the Essential Tremor Foundation website.
If you think you may be a candidate for a surgical therapy, use our specialist finder to find a surgeon near you who can help. You can also read more about the deep brain procedure here or focused ultrasound here