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Q: ET diagnosis
asked by: DoctorQuestion on March 1st, 2009
Recently diag. with ET and wanted to check if some of the other symptoms I've been experiencing indicate something else.Symptoms started 8yrs ago with twitching of the thumb in dominant hand. Over the years it's progressed into tremors most noticeable in both hands. They are not rest tremors & get worse with movement. Hand tremors are always there but recently started experiencing them in both legs when standing. At times random muscles twitch for a few days and then stop. Other symptoms include heart palpitations and just general discomfort in the left side of the chest. Arms get sore pretty easily, which is getting more annoying than the tremors. Within 5min of doing any sustained activity, arms, particularly the biceps get weak to the point of having to stop whatever I'm doing.Few yrs ago lost a sig. amount of wt.within a couple of weeks. Oherwise in good health,no family history of anything similar to this. Bloodwork for thyroid function,serum calcium/copper normal. Thanks!


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Dr. Goce Aleksovski , MD
replied on April 17th, 2009
Muscular and Nerve Disorders Answer A6335



There are many possible causes for tremor on various locations in the body.
Calcium is not the only electrolyte whose disturbance can cause spasms and tremor. Lack of magnesium in the blood called hypomagnesemia can also cause tremor. Other symptoms of hypomagnesemia include: weakness, muscle cramps, cardiac arrhythmia, increased irritability of the nervous system. In some people nystagmus and an extensor plantar reflex can be found. In more severe cases mental symptoms like: confusion, disorientation, depression and hallucinations might be present.
You might want to have a laboratory test for magnesium level in the blood. Taking nutritional supplements with magnesium for longer period (at least several weeks) might improve the condition. If the condition is not improved then you might want to consult with your doctor to find out what causes the low levels of magnesium on the blood.




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