This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I've been noticing my hands are a lot less steady, especially when trying to manipulate smaller objects (really noticeable when using chopsticks to try to lift small pieces of food). Has anyone else had this symptom and/or know of what could help it?

Hi daniel

I get shaky hands quite often, particularly when I get worked up about something , or when I exert myself. This is new to me too. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with MS or not (or in my case 'probable MS')

I have never recovered full dexterity of my hands since my 1st big relapse in 2004. I have constant numbness in my finger tips, sometimes my hands are shaky and occasionally I have finger and hand cramps. Manipulating small objects are especially hard. Threading a needle, closing a safety pin, even occasionally zippering my coat. Some days it's not so noticeable and other days I have to take a deep breath and be patient. I have been told that if I practiced these activities everyday that it would help my dexterity but I really haven't tried. Either I'm too lazy or it hasn't affected my life enough yet. I'm sure there are things that can be done to help this condition but I haven't asked my neuro. I guess I just thought it was something I would have to live with.

I don't really feel any numbness in my fingers, I do however feel like I'm really anxious for some reason.

Has anyone ever went to physical therapy for improving hand coordination? I'll have to talk to my neuro about this next time I see them...

I had this for a few weeks last year. Not bad, though. Felt like I had two left hands. I got in the habit of keeping my hand in contact with something solid when I was trying to do a fine motor skill. Like when putting a key in the door, keep my hand touching the door, and slide the key along the lock until it is in place, physically touch the lock directly with my fingers, instead of trying to go through the air (in which case, I'd miss). Stuff like that, which for me was enough of an adaptation to keep me fully functional.

It's pretty much cleared up now, I doubt it's something I did, think I just got lucky. Doesn't hurt to rehab yourself as much as possible, though. If you're wondering what to do with all your spare time, lol.

Jen.

Hi Daniel,

I'm sorry your hands are shaking. It sounds like it might be (don't take this as a definite diagnosis) an intention tremor like mine. There are several kinds of tremors, but this kind doesn't happen "at rest"- only when you're trying to actually do something with your hand. Here's a link and a couple of quotes:
http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/intentiontremor.html

"Intention Tremor, also known as Kinetic, Action and Cerebellar Tremor, is a condition where goal-directed movements produce shaking in the moving body parts - most noticeably in the hands."

"Intention Tremor is quite difficult to treat - Isoniazid, Zofran (Ondansetron), Propranolol and Primodone are drugs that have been tried with moderate results. Some people with MS find that cannabis is effective for tremors. Physical Therapy is often useful and wearing wrist weights can often mask out the effects."

The tremor is what gave my forum name the double letters and it led to my "overnight" dx of MS & HNPP. It had developed in one finger over several years and was gradually progressing to my other fingers - a bit discouraging for a secretary/musician.

I do have an answer for you, though. I was given a therapeutic hand exercise ball at PT several years ago, which I kept forgetting to use. Then I started doing 5 minutes of specific finger exercises with it twice a day a couple of years ago while I used eye drops. I noticed the benefit immediately, but now, although I still feel the tremor, I have 90 % control over it. It's been nothing short of amazing!

Before, I couldn't even touch any of my fingers to my thumb, but now I can do anything I want with them (a little slower than usual, though). My typing speed is super fast, no double letters at all, and, although I can't play piano like I once did, I can play every single note of any piece I want to try.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to post a link to the brand, but I'll be glad to answer any questions through a PM. Seriously, relieving the tremor without even resorting to drugs has been one of my most exciting accomplishments. I hope it helps someone else!

_________________
Dx'd with MS & HNPP (hereditary peripheral neuropathy) 7/03 but must have had MS for 30 yrs before that. I've never taken meds for MS or MS symptoms except 1 yr experiment on LDN. (I found diet, exercise, sleep, humor, music help me the most.)

euphoniaa, thank you so much for the post. I don't think there are any rules on this forum regarding brands... though I may be wrong. I'll have to talk to my docs and see if I can get a referral to a physical trainer and one of these balls you mentioned. The shaking isn't that bad as of yet.. but it is noticeable

Well, okay then, Daniel - I'll post a link to the Thera-Band exercise ball, although I'm sure there are other brands as well. Like I mentioned to you in a PM, you can order one online and it doesn't need directions from a PT to use it. It comes with a list of exercises, although I made up my own. I use it about 5 minutes at a time, twice a day, and try to use it on every finger, fingertip, and joint.

http://www.thera-band.com/hand_exercise_ball.html

They come with different resistance levels and mine is blue, although when your hands get stronger you can just squeeze it harder. Even though my tremor was technically mild like yours, it REALLY affected fine motor movements like typing & stuff, carrying a glass of water, etc. Be careful not to confuse the small ones with the giant people sized ones when you order.

Another benefit of the exercising has been total relief from the arthritis I have in my hands. I haven't felt one speck of pain in my bulging finger joints during the entire couple of years doing these exercises. Seriously! And they used to really throb now and then.

Wishing good health and symptom relief to all.

_________________
Dx'd with MS & HNPP (hereditary peripheral neuropathy) 7/03 but must have had MS for 30 yrs before that. I've never taken meds for MS or MS symptoms except 1 yr experiment on LDN. (I found diet, exercise, sleep, humor, music help me the most.)