Thread: No Mistake
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Old 01-17-2008, 03:17 PM   #11
Auburn Annie
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 3,101
Default Re: No Mistake

The shakiness sounds like task-specific tremor, i.e. it happens when you're trying to perform a specific, voluntary act like signing your name or drinking from a cup. There's even a type called musician's tremor (due, I think, to fine motor skills required to play some instruments.)

There are lots of causes ranging from too much caffeine, recreational drugs, hyperthyroidism, stress, prescription drugs, etc. up to brain injury and neurologic disorders such as Parkinson's. Most causes are fairly benign and treatable - propranolol is commonly used in small doses. My younger brother has what used to be called benign essential tremor (now just "essential tremor" as it can become disabling); he apparently inherited the tendency from our maternal grandfather who also had "the shakes".
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