Tremors my arm in are getting worse... so how can I ease them?

I DEVELOPED a slight tremor in my right arm and hand 18 months ago. After several visits to my GP, as well as seeing a neurology consultant, I was diagnosed with benign essential tremor. I was told it’s not sinister but is untreatable — and it’s gradually getting worse. Can I do anything to improve it?

BENIGN essential tremor (BET), which can occur at any age, is a neurological condition that usually affects both hands equally, causing them to shake rhythmically. We don’t know what causes it but it seems to be hereditary.

People often notice that an essential tremor is made worse with stress, a lack of sleep and coffee but, interestingly, can often improve after a small amount of alcohol.

An essential tremor doesn’t just affect the hands — some patients report problems with their head and neck, too. At the beginning the shaking tends to be sporadic, but often worsens with time.

Patients are not usually offered treatment at the outset. This is perfectly fine if the tremor is mild and doesn’t affect your eating and drinking, for instance.

As the tremor can vary in different people, it is key you keep a symptom diary to see if any obvious triggers, such as caffeine, become apparent. It would then be worth considering whether avoiding these is a practical and worthwhile option.

Some treatments do help reduce the tremor and patients usually opt to take them intermittently. This would involve taking a beta blocker — a drug that reduces blood pressure — prior to certain activities or before socialising, for example. This isn’t just reserved for more severe tremors and it is reasonable to use for relief at any stage.

I AM 75 and generally healthy but have suffered from bacterial cellulitis for a long time. I have antibiotics at the ready for flare-ups — when my leg swells and I get a high temperature. The most recent episode has been severe — after five days on tablets, my leg is still red and warm but now subsiding. Should I see an expert?

CELLULITIS is an infection and inflammation of the skin and the layers of tissue beneath it, often occurring in the legs. The infection enters the body via a break in the skin, such as an insect bite or a wound.

For some it can become a chronic issue. This often happens in people who generally suffer with swollen legs through a condition called lymphoedema, diabetes, or skin conditions such as eczema or leg ulcers.

Urgent antibiotic treatment is essential as it can rapidly worsen and trigger sepsis, which is a potentially fatal immune system reaction to an infection. It is not uncommon for sufferers to require intravenous antibiotics in hospital.

The symptoms of cellulitis are usually easy to spot. The leg becomes red, hot and swollen and it is common to feel unwell with a fever or flu-like symptoms.

Having recurrent episodes of cellulitis is likely caused by an underlying condition, such as circulation problems in the lower leg. This would usually be managed by a GP but patients may require input from the vascular team at the hospital, too.

I HAD an emergency operation in August to remove part of my bowel, and suffered an infection soon after. I am still in discomfort, especially when I cough or laugh, and I have what looks like two belly buttons. Is the tenderness normal, and can I do anything for the way I look?

THE muscles of the abdominal wall are complex and are involved in many minor and major movements – when we cough and laugh, as well as changes of posture and opening the bowels. Healing can take even longer if patients suffer a postoperative infection.

Scar tissue is not like muscle — it is fibrous and will not share the same movement or flexibility. Areas with scarring can often feel tight and may limit movements that were previously normal.

Post-operative abdominal exercises would help to gently stretch the abdominal scarring and improve matters. This should be done under the supervision of a physiotherapist to ensure the wounds are protected while the muscles are being worked.

A consultation with the GP would be important for anyone after emergency surgery. They can help with pain relief, a referral for physiotherapy and provide emotional support.