Botox!
 

I had my previous Neurologist (I let him go) suggest Botox injections for my headaches (from seizures/TN). I pretty much said "No" but did research and the risks seem higher than rewards, for my personal taste at least.

He boasted how it was a huge hit here, however - I live in Orange County, he has "Botox Fridays" and on those days, the office is loaded with middle-aged women. Of course it was a huge hit, moreso that most insurances DO pay for this (mine does).

I still declined, but am curious to see if anyone actually did it for headaches and if it worked or not. :D

Hi!
My latest neuro was very pro botox as well. He really wanted me to try it and since I have tried almost everything else, I decided to do it. First of all, I thought that the treatment itself hurt, but then I am a pretty big baby at times. Then, for the first 3 to 4 weeks, my migraines were worse, and worst of all, they didn't seem to get better when I took my imitrex, which is the only thing that has ever worked for my migraines. After the first 3 weeks, my migraines did get better, so I decided to try the next six weeks of botox, after being promised that it would get better with each set of shots.

The second set was worse than the first, I was in pain from migraines almost the full six weeks and the effects of the imitrex were very diminished. I would never do it again. Of course, this is only my experience and I am sure others will have more positive stories. I do have a very sensitive head, it seems like wearing things on my head such as headbands or sunglassed can make my headaches worse, so that may have contributed to my experience.

Hope this helps.

Lisa

where do they do the injections?

does it depend on where the headaches oe migraines are located?

mine tend to get focused through my eyes..many times up my nose into my head and eyes. ( i have no sinus infections )

when i get a migraine i tend to scrunch my eyebrows together. that only makes it worse and causes that deep crease.

Mine wanted to put it in areas no needle belongs on my body. My forhead, temples, and my actual head (back).

The thought of a needle going in my temples is enough to make me almost want a headache over the botox. I read the ricks, and the success percentage is low - the side effects are pretty high (between 15-40%) - some being extreme (perm. eye damage being one).

Thanks, Lisa - I feel good about my decision to say no.

no way for the temples for me. maybe the forhead and the crease between my eyes..

maybe something to think about. but like you said..those risks....

not onthe topic of headaches for botox, but my mom's dr has talked to her about them for her leg pain. she had epidurals done. more pain having them and didn't relieve any.

As to where they put the needles, he put them in my temples, all over my forehead, down to my eyebrows, back into my hairline and down the back of my head to my neck. The problem is you have a lot of nerves in your face and I really felt it! Had to squeeze my husband's hand, hard! But, like I said, I am a big baby, and if it had worked, I would gladly go through it again. Also, another thing my neuro told me is that if it was effective, it would eventually stop working anyway.

Lisa

First of all - you should only be getting the injections at the MOST every 3 months.... no sooner... And the first session they are supposed to go weak with the mixture and see if that is enough for you - if not (after 3 months) they will go with a stronger mixture.

I am getting this for my neck, shoulders, upper arms, and upper - mid back this Thursday the 16th. I will let ya all know how it goes. I plan to use a lot of ice afterward - every hour for 15-20min the first night for sure.

talk with ya all later! (mine is not for headaches its for muscle spasms and tight muscles). And I heard the shots in the face etc. do hurt more than the ones in your neck and back etc.

Conster, how did the shots go?!

Hope you're feeling well.

*gentle hugs*

Didn't work for me
 

I had them done three times by two different doctors - one is a foremost headache specialist in the country(and he really didn't want to do it!) The better doctor used lots of little injections all over. Compared to my daily pain, they were barely a prick. A couple of acupuncture places, on the other hard, will bring tears streaming down your cheeks whether you want them of not......

I never felt any change. I felt no numbness. I had complete use of all muscles in my face. I had no problems, but no success either.

Suzanne

Hi guys...I'm from thoracic outlet syndrome board
 

Hi all my name is victoria and I had botox on the 10th of Dec. My neuro and I came to the decision together. I have tried everything for my migraines and I am (was I hope) getting 14-20 a month they were BAD!!!

I had 2 vials of botox as I also had it injected into my trigger points in my back neck shoulder and head. I had all the classic botox migraine shots in the forehead, back of neck, side of head and brow area even in the jaw! I now have no movement in my brow. It's weird!! I lift my eyebrows and that's all that moves no more muscles above there moving..those would be main culprits of migraine(corragator SP?) muscles. That's why they inject there. So far I am having less muscle spasms in my back and neck where most of my pain originates. (I lifted a patient up from a toilet and wrecked my back neck and shoulder I am an RN or was have not worked since accident nov 2002)

I have great hope in this treatment and there are lots of studies to say that it is very effective if DONE PROPERLY by your physicain. Having said that not all doctors are the same and not all people have the same problems so what works for some may not work for others!

I hope some of my insights have helped you.

take care and good luck to those who try it....they say it takes a full 3 weeks before you can get the full effect of the botox.

love and hugs,
Victoria:hug:

my experience
 

Botox was suggested by my neuro after years of trying various meds for migraines, and blocks, 'injection' treamnts (Lidocaine & Sarapin worked but duration of relief varied)
besides migraines, which i've gotten since child, other "headache' DX: TN, ON (Occipital & Trigeminal neuralgia) cervical dystonia, and chronic post concussive headaches .

Last year Dec i was given very minimal amounts of Myobloc (Type B). since was my first time-- "Botox naive" (as another post noted must start w/ smaller amounts & increase) Because we'd been discussing for awhle my neuro realized this was my first treatmt, and would not be treating all the areas he'd put X's on --from neck up across forehead.
He focused on cervical, occipital areas; said would expand into more areas w/ more drug , in successive treatmts every 3 mths.

within hour I was feeling 'release'-- less tension esp on Left side; in next days fewer muscle spasms, and more tho minimal pain relief.
hopeful-- this seemed promising.
about this time many reports came out about Botox (medical use) & risks including deaths.
after much thought, more research, felt given what could, may happen vs what was, wanted to continue, since it was one of the more promising treatmts and my neuro had exressed optimism & 'success' w/ other patients.
but I wasn't able to continue, for past year due to insurance denials.

a few mths ago neuro office called said Botox was again "approved'; they ran into problems getting the drug but did & scheduled appt.
I had mixed feelings-- i'd read more 'scares', questioned this neurotoxin but since no other treatmts /options, decided to try again.
Knowing it could take time, and successive treatmts, as other post noted - to be effective--some say have to go back every 3 mths for 'maintainence'
which i was willing to do if helped (headaches had become very severe, debilitaing-- esp. after another concussion in Oct. )

!st Dec i got Botox ; this time was Type A (which per research is the one most used for Migraine. type B-- more for spasms; dystonia.

this time he treated more areas--from neck/cervical spine up back of head, into forehead. unlike prior treatmt, last year, i did not feel any improvement--actually got much worse--esp intense pain in neck, back of head; also injection sites were extremely painful . i'd not had this kind of pain w/ any prior injections in head (inc nerve blocks)
I was upset & disappointed.
Migraines & other headaches/pain also worsened.
in weeks since the intense pains have eased .
but i still have daily headaches, that vary
i realize mine are 'complex' and often don't know what pain is what-- is this migraine or ON?? or????? what--to do????

i am scheduled for more Botox march 1st-- not sure what i'm going to do, but may try again, to see if can or will help, with some headache/pain aspects-- like having fewer, or less severe, duration, as some others have reported who say they feel these benefits make botox worthwhile.

i don't know what to say except that i was very disappointed ; hoped for more, better...

i 'm waiting for appt w/ highly recommended Headache specialist; scheduled many months ago, Feb still seems far ....
but will be interesting to see what this DR says, may suggest. which may determine IF continue w/ Botox.

Hi pono,

I get horrible migraine headaches too. My epileptologist gave me Maxalt - his first choice wasn't covered by my insurance - it usually works okay. You can only take 3/per 24-hours though, due to it's restriction of blood vessel size. Another doctor added Toradol, to help get me through those days.

Gosh, I can't imagine getting Botox injections to avoid pain. I hope that it does work! I would be very skeptical, however, and be sure to research completely before committing to the decision.

Best wishes to you - feel better soon!:hug:
Heather