How to Manage MS Tremors ( webMD )

ARTICLE How to Manage MS Tremors These are some of the hardest MS symptoms to treat, so you may need a combination of medicine and nonmedicinal treatments.  How to Manage MS Tremors ARTICLES ONCOMPLICATIONS OF MS Myoclonus  MS Tremors Speech & Swallowing MS Bowel Problems MS Bladder Problems Many people with multiple sclerosis(MS) have some form of tremor, or shaking they can’t control, in different parts of their bodies. What Are the Types of Tremors? Intention tremor. There’s no shaking when you’re at rest. It starts when you try to reach or grasp something or move your hand or foot to a precise spot. This is the most common form of MS tremor, and it usually causes the most problems in day-to-day life. Postural tremors. You shake when you sit or stand, but not when you lie down. Nystagmus. This type causes jumpy eye movements. What Causes Tremors in MS? This disease damages the protective sheath (myelin) that covers the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. Tremors result from damage to a part of your brain called the cerebellum. It controls your balance and coordination and smooths out the actions that you make when you move your limbs and eyesor speak. Medicines That Treat MS Tremors These problems are one of the hardest MS symptoms to treat. There aren’t any drugs made just to treat MS tremors. Your doctors will probably prescribe drugsfor another condition, like: Acetazolamide (Diamox), which treats a type of glaucoma and altitude sickness Buspirone (Buspar) and clonazepam (Klonopin), which are anti-anxietydrugs Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril), an antihistamine Isoniazid (INH), a drug for tuberculosis Primidone (Mysoline), a seizure medicine Propranolol (Inderal), which treats heart problems, high blood pressure, and migraines Nonmedicinal Tremor Treatments Braces: These can hold your joint still and stop extra movement. A brace on your ankle or foot can make it easier to walk. They can help control your arm, hand, or neck, too. Weights: Adding extra weight to a body part can help keep it still. You can also add weights to commonly used items like forks, pencils, pens, eating utensils, canes, and walkers. Speech therapy: If you have tremors in your lips, tongue or jaw, a health professional can work with you to slow your speech, make it clearer, and control the volume. Special tools: You’ll probably hear them called adaptive devices. They can help you grab things from up high or off the floor, pull up a zipper, or hold a fork more easily. Deep brain stimulation: This experimental approach is mostly used for people who have tremors from Parkinson’s disease. A doctor implants electrodes into your brain. Wires connect them to a gadget in your chest. You use it to send your brain signals that stop the tremors. Tremors and Depression Tremors can be tough to handle in social situations. You may feel like you want to be alone, but that can make you feel lonely and depressed. A psychologist or counselor can help you find ways to feel more comfortable in public and keep the tremors from changing how you live your life. WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Neil Lava, MD on June 14, 2018 Sources © 2018 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.