Essential tremor. What can I do?

rcollier · February 10, 2022, 09:18 PM

My family has a hereditary essential tremor that the males get around 50. At 56 I am noticing I am having trouble keeping steady at the line. Any tips to help ? Grip changes, exercises to help to steady my site picture?
Thanks

**JohnKSa** · February 11, 2022, 01:02 AM

There are some treatments that may help.

But believe it or not, you can still shoot well with the tremor. It doesn't seem like it, but I've seen it done. Everyone has some wobble when they shoot and they have to deal with it. Your wobble may just be a bit more of an issue than most.

Don't fight it, that's not productive. Learn to work with it. Just shoot and don't be afraid of the wobble when you're working the trigger. If you don't let it get into your head, I think you'll surprise yourself.

Rob228 · February 12, 2022, 01:35 PM

There are some beta blockers that will stop a tremor but that isn't their intended purpose and they aren't allowed in some competition.

I shot two points shy of perfect on the USMC pistol qual while I was taking atenolol, makes it physically impossible (well, improbable) to shake/tremor/flinch.

FrankenMauser · February 13, 2022, 05:01 PM

Primary treatments:
Beta blockers - but they'll lower your blood pressure and may cause other undesirable side effects.
Weights - arm and wrist weights can dampen the tremors and help a bit.
Alcohol - guns and booze don't mix, but one beer might help.

I was diagnosed in my 20s.
I have good days and bad, with some in between.
On bad days, I have to just give up and put the firearms away.
Beta blockers were a no-go. Weights don't help for me, they make it worse.

My diagnosing physician gave USAF pilots their flight physicals. He talked to me about how one of his patients drank a beer before every flight, to reduce the tremors. Worked great until he got caught.
One of those, "I'm not telling you to do this, but these words are coming out of my mouth for a reason" stories.

I tried it about 10 years ago. I drank a (5.3%) beer before going to the range.
No tremors.
Smooth shooting.
Felt good.

Not really a viable solution for every shooting session, or any hunting situation, though.

Practice is usually a suggestion for shooting deficiencies. But I don't believe it applies here.
I have tried for almost 20 years and can't get "practice" to stop my body from being a pain in the butt.

WyMark · February 13, 2022, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Alcohol - guns and booze don't mix, but one beer might help.

My diagnosing physician gave USAF pilots their flight physicals. He talked to me about how one of his patients drank a beer before every flight, to reduce the tremors. Worked great until he got caught.
One of those, "I'm not telling you to do this, but these words are coming out of my mouth for a reason" stories.

I tried it about 10 years ago. I drank a (5.3%) beer before going to the range.
No tremors.
Smooth shooting.
Felt good.

No personal experience but I work with a guy who gets pretty bad tremors. He's not much of a beer drinker but says a shot of whiskey works for him the same way. I always thought he should get a Dr note to keep a fifth in his desk at work, purely for medicinal purposes, of course.

V-fib · February 19, 2022, 05:09 PM

watch your caffeine use. a monopod shooting stick can help too.

v-fib

FrankenMauser · February 20, 2022, 06:15 PM

Caffeine is a good point.
I accidentally stopped consuming caffeine about 13 years ago, and never went back. Definitely helped the tremors.

The Verminator · February 21, 2022, 07:56 PM

Light and crisp trigger becomes even more important.

TailGator · February 22, 2022, 05:38 PM

I started a beta blocker for essential tremor a little over a month ago (prescribed by a doctor, of course). It has helped noticeably.

While the immediate effective of a small quantity of alcohol can be positive, higher amounts and chronic overuse are detrimental, according to everything I have read. I'm down to one cup of coffee in the morning. Not sure I am going to give that up.

AdamMuskul · April 13, 2022, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Alcohol - guns and booze don't mix, but one beer might help.

My diagnosing physician gave USAF pilots their flight physicals. He talked to me about how one of his patients drank a beer before every flight, to reduce the tremors. Worked great until he got caught.
One of those, "I'm not telling you to do this, but these words are coming out of my mouth for a reason" stories.
https://twojfilm.online/
I tried it about 10 years ago. I drank a (5.3%) beer before going to the range.
No tremors.
Smooth shooting.
Felt good.

It's very interesting. Actually, I haven't encountered it. But it's good to know.

February 10, 2022, 09:18 PM	#1
rcollier Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2015 Location: Minnesota Posts: 102	Essential tremor. What can I do? My family has a hereditary essential tremor that the males get around 50. At 56 I am noticing I am having trouble keeping steady at the line. Any tips to help ? Grip changes, exercises to help to steady my site picture? Thanks

February 11, 2022, 01:02 AM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,969	There are some treatments that may help. But believe it or not, you can still shoot well with the tremor. It doesn't seem like it, but I've seen it done. Everyone has some wobble when they shoot and they have to deal with it. Your wobble may just be a bit more of an issue than most. Don't fight it, that's not productive. Learn to work with it. Just shoot and don't be afraid of the wobble when you're working the trigger. If you don't let it get into your head, I think you'll surprise yourself. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

February 13, 2022, 05:01 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	Primary treatments: Beta blockers - but they'll lower your blood pressure and may cause other undesirable side effects. Weights - arm and wrist weights can dampen the tremors and help a bit. Alcohol - guns and booze don't mix, but one beer might help. I was diagnosed in my 20s. I have good days and bad, with some in between. On bad days, I have to just give up and put the firearms away. Beta blockers were a no-go. Weights don't help for me, they make it worse. My diagnosing physician gave USAF pilots their flight physicals. He talked to me about how one of his patients drank a beer before every flight, to reduce the tremors. Worked great until he got caught. One of those, "I'm not telling you to do this, but these words are coming out of my mouth for a reason" stories. I tried it about 10 years ago. I drank a (5.3%) beer before going to the range. No tremors. Smooth shooting. Felt good. Not really a viable solution for every shooting session, or any hunting situation, though. Practice is usually a suggestion for shooting deficiencies. But I don't believe it applies here. I have tried for almost 20 years and can't get "practice" to stop my body from being a pain in the butt. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 19, 2022, 05:09 PM	#6
V-fib Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 252	watch your caffeine use. a monopod shooting stick can help too. v-fib __________________ Livin in the woods...feelin mighty good.

February 20, 2022, 06:15 PM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	Caffeine is a good point. I accidentally stopped consuming caffeine about 13 years ago, and never went back. Definitely helped the tremors. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 12, 2022, 01:35 PM	#3
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	There are some beta blockers that will stop a tremor but that isn't their intended purpose and they aren't allowed in some competition. I shot two points shy of perfect on the USMC pistol qual while I was taking atenolol, makes it physically impossible (well, improbable) to shake/tremor/flinch.

February 21, 2022, 07:56 PM	#8
The Verminator Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2013 Location: Minnesota Posts: 220	Light and crisp trigger becomes even more important.

February 22, 2022, 05:38 PM	#9
TailGator Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,787	I started a beta blocker for essential tremor a little over a month ago (prescribed by a doctor, of course). It has helped noticeably. While the immediate effective of a small quantity of alcohol can be positive, higher amounts and chronic overuse are detrimental, according to everything I have read. I'm down to one cup of coffee in the morning. Not sure I am going to give that up.

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