{"id":27206,"date":"2025-06-30T13:25:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T13:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/27206\/"},"modified":"2025-06-30T13:25:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T13:25:13","slug":"dr-scurr-reveals-how-to-control-shaking-hands-as-he-reveals-the-worrying-disease-tremors-can-herald","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/27206\/","title":{"rendered":"DR SCURR reveals how to control shaking hands as he reveals the worrying disease tremors can herald"},"content":{"rendered":"

By DR MARTIN SCURR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 06:51 EDT, 30 June 2025 | Updated: 06:53 EDT, 30 June 2025 <\/p>\n

For the past three months, I have experienced a shaking right hand on occasions. My left hand is fine. I\u2019m using a wrist support at night but it doesn\u2019t seem to make a difference. People are starting to notice the tremor. What could be causing it? I\u2019m 77 and reasonably fit.<\/p>\n

Kay Thornton, Watford.<\/p>\n

Dr Martin Scurr replies: There are multiple causes of tremor \u2013 the most common is essential tremor. This is a neurological disorder which typically affects the hands \u2013 but the head and body may also be involved \u2013 and while it\u2019s not in itself dangerous, it does tend to get worse over time.<\/p>\n

It can affect any age, but it typically occurs after the age of 40, though the cause is not clear.<\/p>\n

Medication to help manage the symptoms is essentially aimed at calming down the nervous system and includes drugs such as beta-blockers or gabapentin.<\/p>\n

Medication can also cause tremor and you mention in your longer letter that you are on the antidepressant sertraline, which can, albeit in rare circumstances, be a trigger.<\/p>\n

However, a drug-induced tremor is unlikely to involve only one hand \u2013 plus, you say you\u2019ve been taking that drug without side-effects for a long time.<\/p>\n

Another possible cause of a tremor is Parkinson\u2019s disease. In this case it often starts on one side, in the hand or at the wrist and the tremor improves with movement.<\/p>\n

\"One <\/p>\n

One possible cause of a tremor is Parkinson\u2019s disease, which often starts on one side in the hand or at the wrist and the tremor improves with movement<\/p>\n

One thing to note is that loss of smell, or anosmia, can occur even years before a tremor is observed in Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n

About 90 per cent of people with Parkinson\u2019s experience some degree of this \u2013 although I note you don\u2019t mention issues with smell.<\/p>\n

My advice is that you must discuss the symptoms with your GP, perhaps requesting referral to a neurologist for an expert opinion.<\/p>\n

When I last used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) aged 50, I had terrible depression and weight gain and had to come off it. Now my doctor has recommended using an oestrogen vaginal gel to combat poor urine flow. Should I try it again?<\/p>\n

Name and address supplied.<\/p>\n

Dr Martin Scurr replies: In a word, yes! Your GP has given you exactly the advice that I would have given.<\/p>\n

You say in your longer letter that you are experiencing poor urine flow, meaning it takes a long time to empty the bladder.<\/p>\n

Oestrogen, applied locally, helps improve the health of the tissue in the area and so improve flow. (Tissue changes related to the drop in oestrogen can result in the urethra \u2013 the tube which drains from the bladder \u2013 kinking to some degree.)<\/p>\n

HRT can cause the side-effects you describe and, in your longer letter, you say this was the case \u2013 even when you switched to a locally-applied vaginal oestrogen gel.<\/p>\n

However, your experience is surprising \u2013 I have never seen this in my own practice \u2013 and it may be that the preparations you used in the past contained preservatives or stabilising agents that you were particularly sensitive to.<\/p>\n

Despite your previous adverse experience, I urge you to try an oestrogen gel again because if it\u2019s successful and side-effect free, it\u2019s likely to make a considerable difference.<\/p>\n

If I\u2019m wrong \u2013 and you do suffer an adverse reaction \u2013 then at least you can cease applications.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it might be sensible to ask your GP to start you at a low dose, given your understandable concerns.<\/p>\n

In My View… Don’t ignore sudden hearing loss\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Muffled hearing can be brought on by all manner of things \u2013 but sudden, unexplained hearing loss must never be ignored as, in some cases, without urgent treatment, the hearing loss can become permanent.<\/p>\n

A common cause of sudden hearing loss is a viral infection (e.g. measles, mumps, flu) leading to damage to the inner ear.<\/p>\n

Doctors have noticed an increase in cases linked to Covid, but in truth there are plenty of examples where sudden hearing loss occurs out of the blue.<\/p>\n

Those affected need urgent treatment with steroids \u2013 preferably prednisolone tablets, 60mg daily \u2013 as this brings the best chance of recovery with normal hearing gradually regained. (Steroids reduce damaging inflammation that may otherwise impact hearing nerves.)<\/p>\n

I\u2019m flagging this so that anybody who experiences hearing loss in one ear doesn\u2019t wait too long before being seen \u2013 a problem in this era when getting a GP appointment can be difficult.<\/p>\n

But sudden hearing loss in one ear is an emergency. The ear must be inspected promptly, certainly within seven days, and treatment with steroids really is essential.<\/p>\n

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