Tremors Anxiety
My mother-in-law is experiencing internal shaking (or tremors). Can anyone help?
My mother-in-law has been in and out of the doctor’s office for the past several months trying to figure out what is causing her internal shaking and tremors. She feels like her entire body is quivering on the inside (cannot be seen on the outside). She has trouble doing everyday things like putting on make-up, cleaning the stove, etc. Her left arm also rises on it’s own up to her chest while she’s walking or standing. When she is around a lot of people, she gets really high anxiety.
The doctor’s thought that it might be Parkinson’s but said that it’s too early to tell. Then, scared her with the news that it might be brain tumors or cancer but have also ruled that out and have gone back to Parkinson’s. She’s not certain that’s what it is and would like help. She has an HMO and waits forever to get in to see the doctor’s and doesn’t get much help or a recommendation for medication to help the shaking that’s taking over her life.
Can anyone help or offer suggestions/reading?
As a person who has lived with Parkinson’s for over 8 years, it sounds to me like your mother-in-law is showing signs of Parkinson’s. I also felt like my hands were shaking, though it wasn’t visible on the outside. Her left arm rising of its own accord could be a form of dystonia, another symptom of PD. Mine has a tendency to do that too, or else hug itself close to my body, forcing me into uncomfortable postures.
There is no definite test to prove PD. A diagnosis is usually reached by ruling everything else out. One possibility, though, would be to ask her doctor to start her on carbidopa/levadopa (Sinemet). If her symptoms stop, then most likely she has PD.
Here are some good websites that may help you, and I wish you and your mom-in-law all the best.
Parkinson’s Disease
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