(a nonspill cup and lid with a unique rotatable handle)
Chris Peacock in the U.K. is founder of the handSteady cup and recently revealed that many of his customers find the cup helpful in dealing with essential tremor! The price is affordable, approximately $19.50 plus $9.10 s&h (approximate conversion from British pounds). The handsteady.com website shows several different videos so you can see the cup in action, and it looks like a winner!
In the early 1990s, a number of companies started to offer software that was designed to convert spoken words into text that could then be displayed or printed. Among the early commercial offerings was a program entitled “Dragon Naturally Speaking”. In 1994, I tried an early version of Dragon in my workplace. After installing a microphone to my computer, I spoke several sentences rather slowly, and watched words appear on the computer monitor. Unfortunately, there were quite a few errors in the written text, and I chose to stick with keyboard entry.
Now, more than two decades later, Dragon NaturallySpeaking has been improved such that for many users with hand tremors (from E.T., Parkinson’s Disease, Dystonia, and other causes) it performs well enough that it can serve as a person’s primary method for entering text into a computer.
Most modern cell phones offer users the option to speak into their phone to generate an email, a text message (or iMessage), a memo, or a variety of other “text” inputs. Those with iPhones (the iPhone 4s or newer) or iPads can ask “Siri” a wide variety of questions by voice. Many newer automobiles are capable of responding to driver voice commands (tune radio to FM 107.9; turn on air conditioning, call home, etc.). The number of “things” that can respond to human voice commands continues to grow. All of these capabilities rely on speech recognition technology.
— Fred Berko
My shaky hands make it increasingly tough for me to prepare my own meals, and I was startled when a friend suggested an obvious source of help – Meals-on-Wheels. They now deliver two meals at about 11am every day except weekends, and I pay them monthly what amounts to about $4 per day. What do I get? An entree with two vegetables wrapped in a tray and aluminum foil that I transfer to a dinner plate and microwave, and a nice sandwich saran wrapped to preserve its freshness. Add to that a container of skim milk, a roll and butter, a dessert, fruit, and sometimes a mixed salad and dressing. The wonderful friendly people who deliver are also a daily check on the well-being of my aging self. How did I get started? I went on-line and was referred to the local chapter. When I told the pleasant receptionist about how my shakes often caused much of my meals to end up on the floor (you know about that) and that I take a blood thinner that makes using knives a potentially bloody experience, she was happy to sign me up for Meals-on-Wheels, and my deliveries started the next day. It’s been a great help and I am most grateful to them.
Walter Ebmeyer
I am very pleased to announce the start of another support group. It will be held this Wednesday (November 4, 2015) at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Please see the announcement below for the details.
ET-support-group-flyerWe had our Falls Church support group meeting at Little River Glen Senior Center March 14, 2013. Our speaker was Jordan Tucker, DPT, Fair Oaks Hospital, Outpatient Clinic. Below are notes and handouts from that presentation.
Balance is often a problem for people with ET. Decreased strength and flexibility, which often come with ET, can adversely affect balance. Flexibility is important because the ability to stretch one’s leg, calf, and chest muscles affects balance. Similarly, lack of strength to easily get out a chair can result in falls. Scoliosis and gait issues may make the body lean in one direction, throwing you off balance. ET sufferers also have more trouble dual tasking, i.e., walking and talking or walking in one direction and looking in another. Ankle instability, high or low arches, knee or gait issues, weak ankles, and hip problems also affect balance. Physical therapists work with patients to deal with all these problems.
Physical therapists experienced in working on balance with patients who have neurological issues tend to be found in hospitals. Call your local hospital to see if they offer it. Be aware that, if you are on Medicare, there is an $1800 cap on PT. However, there are exceptions to this limit, such as a change in your diagnosis or treating multiple problems.
Physical therapy involves an initial evaluation followed by a plan for exercises done with the therapist and a plan for exercises to do at home. The course of treatment will take place twice a week for two weeks or longer. It typically involves stretching, strengthening specific muscles as needed, and balance exercises. You can get a prescription for physical therapy from any doctor – your primary care physician as well as a neurologist. Just ask.
Physical therapy can retrain the three systems that have to do with balance:
Tai chi, yoga, Pilates, and water therapy are also useful in improving balance. Jordan Tucker suggested joining a community exercise group. She also said that people with ET and balance problems may benefit from using a cane, a walker, or walking sticks.
An audience member said that he uses walking poles successfully. They are available in sporting goods stores, but the poles in sporting goods stores tend to have narrower rubber tips than the ones sold online for balance. He found information about poles at http://polesformobility.com/ and https://www.exerstrider.com/product-category/poles/. The poles are pictured below (but picturing smaller tips than those used by the audience member).
The audience member said he wears a backpack to carry things since his hands are engaged with two balance poles.
Jordan Tucker handed out a questionnaire on balance confidence and a home safety checklist with tips on using stairs, railings, grab bars, and avoiding reaching for far-away objects (which we may do in the kitchen). Some obvious points are often overlooked, such as the need for good lighting in the home, especially near stairs. Night lights in the bathroom can be useful, too.
Her presentation and two handouts that she passed out are listed here (pdf format):
How a Physical Therapist Can Help Increase Your Balance
Home Fall Prevention Checklist
The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale*
Joyce Letzler, Support Group Member
Over the twenty-four years I’ve lived with essential tremor, I’ve found ways to deal with the annoying eating and drinking problems caused by tremors. I’d like to share them with you.
Tall drinking glasses are like me: top-heavy. They are easy to tip over. Using wide, bottom-weighted drinking glasses has saved me from spilling drinks more times than I can count. You can ask a waiter for a low ball glass like the one on the left below at a restaurant.
Heavy knives, forks and spoons are easier to handle. Their weight means they don’t respond as much to hand tremors. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. I found what I needed advertised to help arthritis sufferers. The utensils in the picture below, Oxo Good Grips, with broad slightly weighted handles, have helped counteract my tremor and made eating easier. I found them online under “aids for arthritis.” I wonder if a wrist weight would help as well.
Please add your tips on this or other issues. Help with handwriting for a person with hand tremors is something I’d like to read. Post it on this blog.
Thank you.
Joyce Letzler
ET Support Group Member and Volunteer