Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 1/26/2008

Question
Hello
My elderly mother had vascular leg byspass, she got an epidural instead of reg anestics due to her other health issues. It has been 3 weeks since surgery and she is shaking still off and on her hands and arms and once in a while her neck. No one can figure out what this is from. Can an epidural cause this and is is permanent?

Answer
Hi Lynn
It is difficult to see a mechanism as to how an epidural would cause this. I assume she feels she can't control this shaking.
One possible avenue is that she may have been given a drug to help prevent sickness after the operation. Some of these can cause side effects that are known as 'extra pyramidal'. Basically in some people they can cause an imbalance in the pathways in our brains that help us control our movements. This can lead to various symptoms one of which is a Parkinsons type tremor/shaking.
It is also possible that this is an issue brought about due to the nature of her general health and the fact she has had an operation. The stress of this may have had a similar effect on her brain as the drugs I have mentioned.
So - the bottom line is I can't be sure why this happened though I have given you some possibilities. Will it be permenant? Difficult to say - you don't mention if these shakes are occurring any less frequently or if they have stayed the same. If they have stayed the same then I fear that it is likely that they will remain.
However people and their resilience never ceases to amaze me and so i cannot state that they will not go in time.
I wish your mother well.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson