Is There a Cure for Essential Tremors? Solutions to Manage Tremors

Living with essential tremor (ET) is challenging. The involuntary shaking — usually of the hands — can complicate even simple activities such as writing, eating or holding a cup of coffee. As such, one of the most common questions that many people have after being diagnosed is, “Is there a cure for essential tremor?” Unfortunately, the answer is no — there is no permanent cure for tremors at the moment. However, various treatments and assistive devices can significantly alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Whether it be through medications, surgical options, or non-invasive devices, this guide will give you insight into how you can take control of ET and live life on your own terms.

Can Essential Tremor Be Cured?

Despite extensive study, essential tremor is still a neurological condition without a permanent cure. You might see personal stories online with titles such as “How I Cured My Essential Tremor Naturally”, but know that in these cases, cures usually refer to symptom management rather than an actual cure.

Addressing Misconceptions: “How I Cured My Essential Tremor”

There are many articles and videos that claim to suggest tips that can cure tremors naturally. Lifestyle changes and alternative therapies such as biofeedback, acupuncture, and muscle relaxation may have a positive effect on some people and help reduce symptoms, but they do not cure essential tremors. Thus, such claims should be treated with skepticism.

Medical Treatment of the Essential Tremor

There is no cure for essential tremor, but there are a variety of medical treatments that may help control the condition and lower the severity of the tremors. Depending on what you’re looking for, these can vary from medication management to surgical options.

Medicine for Essential Tremors

Medications are typically the first course of treatment for ET. They can help mitigate symptoms and make it easier to do everyday tasks.

Propranolol (Beta-blockers): These are often used for essential tremors and can also help to reduce the amplitude of tremor in many patients.
Anti-seizure medications (e.g., Primidone): Often prescribed for tremors, Primidone explicitly inhibits the nerve signals that contribute to shaking.
Gabapentin: Sometimes used off-label, to help control tremors, though it can have side effects like dizziness and fatigue.
Benzodiazepines: If anxiety intensifies tremors, medications like clonazepam can be helpful. However, given the risk of dependency, they are often used sparingly.

However, you should talk to your doctor to figure out what the best medicine for tremors is in your case.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Essential Tremor (DBS)

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) may be recommended for those to whom medication has failed. This includes surgical implantation of electrodes in the areas of the brain that are responsible for tremors. The electrodes emit electrical impulses that act to modulate abnormal activity in the brain, which reduces tremors considerably.

DBS can even be very effective, but it remains an invasive intervention that comes with risks, which is why it’s typically a last resort for extreme cases.

Focused Ultrasound (FUS) Therapy

Focused Ultrasound (FUS) is an innovative non-invasive surgical procedure in which high-intensity focused sound waves are directed towards small areas of the brain that are responsible for tremors, damaging them and reducing tremors. Unlike DBS, FUS does not involve incisions or implants, making it a popular option for some patients. But it’s typically done only on one side of the brain to avoid risks.

Essential Tremor Devices

Besides medicines and surgeries, there are innovative hand tremor devices to help treat symptoms without the need for invasive treatments. One of them is the VILIM ball.

The VILIM ball is an anti-tremor device specifically engineered to alleviate the shaking hands of people with essential tremor. It employs non-invasive neuromodulation therapy providing temporary but effective tremor relief. The user holds the device for just a few minutes, with subtle vibrations that help cancel tremor activity, providing ease of writing, eating, or using a smartphone.

Portability and convenience: The VILIM ball is very small and easy to use—among the most hands-on assistive devices for hand tremors.
Personalized therapy: It learns the patient’s tremors patterns and personalizes neuromodulation for the best results.
Non-invasive: The VILIM ball can relieve tremors without incisions, implants, or restorative time.

This breakthrough technology can be a great solution for individuals looking for non-invasive methods to manage their hand tremors.

How to Select the Best Essential Tremor Treatment or Device?

Essential tremor is best managed with a personalized approach since the most effective treatment will depend on many factors, including your symptom severity, lifestyle and how your body responds to different therapies. In many cases, a combination of the various treatments will provide the best results in reducing tremors and improving quality of life.

Mild Tremors

For those with milder symptoms, a combination of medications and changes in lifestyle can usually offer sufficient relief. While these treatments provide relief for a vast majority, for some, a more customized approach may be desired. Non-invasive remedies help augment treatments by providing on-demand hand tremor neuromodulation therapy to assist in tasks requiring manual dexterity. The VILIM ball is portable, easy to use, and easily integrated into your daily routine, providing a practical, sustainable solution for your tremor management plan.

Moderate to Severe Tremors

For other patients who do not respond well to medications, there are surgical options, such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) or Focused Ultrasound (FUS). While these therapies can aid individuals in coping with more severe symptoms, hand-assistive devices can also help manage daily activities more effectively.

A Personalized Approach

Working with your healthcare provider to find the right mix of treatments and devices is crucial. There’s no silver bullet cure, but combining multiple therapies — medications, surgical options, assistive devices — can help you manage your tremors more effectively and reclaim your confidence in day-to-day life.

Conclusion

So is there a cure for essential tremors? Sadly, no. But that doesn’t mean you have to take it lying down. You can control symptoms and improve your quality of life significantly by combining medications with surgical interventions and the use of non-invasive essential tremor devices like the VILIM ball.

Click here to learn more about how the VILIM ball can help you control hand tremors.