Hand tremor affecting work
Hi all
I was diagnosed RRMS in 2013. I'd been having symptoms for nine years, but wasn't pushy enough with my GP so nothing happened until the symptoms couldn't really be ignored, and they had to refer me to a neurologist. I got lucky and was sent to the National Hospital in Queen Square from which point the diagnosis came very quickly. At the first neurology appointment he booked me in for MRI and lumbar puncture; the second appointment I was diagnosed.
It never would have been as straight forward for the neurologist had the GP not put all the textbook MS symptoms down to me being a neurotic woman. Suffice it to say, It was a massive relief to finally discover what was the matter and that it wasn't in all my imagination!!
Anyway, I digress: the issues I have are right sided tremor related. The tremor affects my gait but far more pressing is the difficulty it's causing with my right hand. I'm right handed and am finding writing and typing, an essential skill for my work is being affected a lot. I've already switched to a roller mouse as I couldn't hold my hand still to use a regular mouse. Carrying anything spill-able with my right hand is a no-no and eating with my right hand only works if some part of my forearm or wrist is immobilised to stop the shaking. I'm using propranolol which helps a bit but need to be thinking ahead as it's been getting worse for the last year or more.
As I work as an administrator in a busy noisy office I'm not sure a word recognition solution like 'Dragon' software would work but would love to hear from any whose faced or facing similar issues.
I'd like to move house/job/city, but need to find some solutions to my work issues so that I have some hope of being able to find another job. The diagnosis came whist in my present post but I don't want to be rooted to the same job forever because my skills have declined to the point that I wouldn't be able the same job now. My husband died 4 months before I got the diagnosis and now I feel ready to move and I need to find some solutions to give me any hope of moving on in my life.
Thank you for any help
Sarah
Hi @bellaxenia. I can understand how troublesome those tremors are. Anxiety and stress can make these issues worse and I think it's fair to say that your stress levels have been stretched over the last couple of years or so. I can also understand your desire to move on with your life. I'm sure your health is going to feature in your deliberations as to your way forward. However, you do need to consider the problems you may experienced in finding alternative employment. We all know that employers should not legally discriminate, but life is never that black and white! You do have some protection in your present position. And your MS should not be seen as an obstacle to any potential career progression. But, once again, things are never that clear. What is now clear is that stress and MS do not live comfortably together. So, avoiding stress needs to be one of your primary requirements. I don't know whether any of this has helped........ :?:
Hi @Stumbler Thank you for your thoughts. It is a dilemma because I work for an NHS trust and am aware that I have significant protection under disability legislation. And that I would be unlikely to get another job that required the typing skills etc that this job did when I secured it. My job is more administrative than typing, but one's typing is inevitably under scrutiny for a job like this and I would not achieve the same speed and accuracy that I once did. The thing is, I am pretty isolated where I live at present and would like to move to an area where i know more people. I may be fortunate enough to be able to buy a buy-to-let by downsizing from my current home though it would not be enough to live on, and I would be looking to find some work in addition. My approach to my future with MS is largely expecting the best as it has been relatively mild to date, apart from a wonky walk and a hand that won't stay steady when I want it to. I'm on Copaxone and haven't had a relapse for a couple of years so I've been fortunate in many ways apart from being affected in my dominant hand, which has multiple ramifications. And yes, you are absolutely right about the stress, which I watch out for and have learnt to be easier on myself. But being tied to a job, a house and a city because of my diagnosis is something I struggle against...