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10 Mar '21

Essential Tremor Awareness Month: Tips to Finding the Best Treatment Option for Your Essential Hand Tremor

3 min read
Brand Point
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(BPT) - Every March we celebrate Essential Tremor Awareness Month to bring awareness to the most common movement disorder among adults, typically impacting the hand. This condition causes involuntary shaking, which occurs during intentional movement of the affected body part, also known as an action tremor.

Essential tremor is a debilitating disease, both physically and emotionally. People living with the condition struggle to complete everyday tasks such as pouring a glass of water or writing their own signature. Essential tremor also causes people to miss out on fulfilling experiences like holding their newborn grandchild or engaging in their favorite hobbies such as drawing and cooking because action-based tremors are uncontrolled.

Many patients with the condition start to avoid doing activities that bring them joy in order to alleviate the stress caused by their hand tremors. Given these challenges, it is vital for patients with essential tremor to find the right treatment that will help them get back on track to living their lives to the fullest. If essential tremor affects you or a loved one, keep reading for tips on how to find the right treatment.

Available treatment options currently include medications that are generally only 50–70% effective and have potential side effects, such as low heart rate, fatigue and lightheadedness. For patients with a more severe essential tremor, another option includes deep brain stimulation, which requires an invasive surgical procedure.

A newer treatment called Cala Trio™ provides an individualized therapy that targets the source of your action tremor without the need for invasive brain surgery or medications, which can come with a long list of side effects. Cala Trio is a wrist-worn device that delivers electrical stimulation directly to the nerves in the wrist. These nerves project from the wrist to central brain networks that are responsible for generating the action hand tremors that are typical of essential tremor. This stimulation of the nerves in the wrist can provide temporary and meaningful tremor reduction in your treated hand when performing daily activities.

Prescribed by your doctor via an in-person or telemedicine appointment, Cala Trio, through the power of electrical medicine, is an individualized therapy that fits with the unique flow of your life­ — giving you the freedom to use the therapy when it’s best for you. Whether it’s before an important speaking engagement, or before you need to sign a pile of documents, Cala Trio fits into your life when you need it most.

With all the treatment options available, scheduling an appointment with your doctor to discuss your essential tremor may seem a bit daunting. Before you schedule your next appointment, we encourage you to consider these tips to make your conversation with your doctor as successful as possible:

  • Ask questions: The more you ask, the more you know! A conversation with a doctor is a two-way street. It is important to understand everything they are telling you to get the best treatment possible.
  • Think ahead: Prepare for your doctor’s appointment by making a list of all your questions and concerns. This will allow you to express your thoughts without having to worry that you will forget something.
  • Bring a friend or family member with you: If it is OK with your doctor, think about asking a family member or close friend to join you at your appointment. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with new information and having additional emotional support will help your mind stay at ease.
  • Be honest: Don’t be afraid to bring up something that is bothering you, even if it may seem embarrassing. The more honest and forthcoming you are with your doctor, the better they will be able to help you!

If you or a loved one is interested in speaking to a healthcare professional about Cala Trio, we encourage you to fill out our Doctor Discussion Guide, which you can then print and bring into your doctor’s appointment: CalaTrio.com/getting-started/.