Botox and my migraines

I have been doing botox injections every three months for about two years now. I had a break at one point when it stopped being covered, and then had the worst migraine episode ever, which lasted several months.

Since the I have been getting it regularly along with facet block injections between C2-C4.

Though it's expensive and painful, I do find that I get decent response from week 3-week 8.

It's no cure for me, but it does give me about 75% for five weeks at a time, with minimal migraines during those weeks.

I also get daily headaches, and the botox helps with them as well. First the migraines slow in number, then quite often the daily headaches also slow down.

I am anxious for my insurance to cover it again. I had five rounds of it. Three rounds helped significantly. Two didn't. And then my insurance quit paying for it. Couldn't afford it on my own.

Plus, it bothered my sister, who just " doesn't get " chronic migraines and having to cope with the pain ( her advice: drink marguerites). Anyway, it drives her crazy that I will willingly inject poison in to my body. Thumbs up to aggravating my sister.

I'm glad that it works.
My accupuncturist has just told me that she's going to adopt it as a method to fight migraines.
It's expensive, but I want to give it a try

I tried botox several years ago. I had 3 rounds. One round worked great, the other two didn't. I might consider trying again, just to try.

Mine is extra expensive because my doctor uses 200 units, twice the regular dose. No, it's not because I have a nig head...lol....he just uses more then most neuros, as he is a pain specialist and not a neuro.

It has been worth every penny for me.

I'll be getting this on the NHS now it's being funded, but when the clinic is set up and my neuro is trained - which is looking like early next year (the wheels of beurocrasy turn slowly). It's supposed to have a cumulative effect so I'll give it at least a year of three monthly injections. Strangely looking forward to it as it's been so long since I tried something new that has given me this much hope for improvement.

I got my three month injections today. SOOOOOOO eff'in PAINFUL this time!!!!!!! I screamed, begged for a break and cried my eyes out. My sweet doctor held my hands and let me cry. Despite the pain he causes me, he sure is an angel.

He used a bunch of marcaine too this time so most of my head and neck are frozen right now.

He also has been taking extra courses on migraines and has been attending migraine conventions across North America. I love that he is doing this, as he is not a headcahe specialist. He gets kinda thrilled when things work for me, and I don't mind being his lab rat one bit.

He has a new plan for me the next time I get one that can't be broken. It sounded really scary and involved nerve blocks in my face!!!!! He was like an excited kid telling me about it. So next time I get a loooooong
episode I'm in for quite the treat. It sure beats needing to go to ER and beg for mercy!

He has also referred me for a breast reduction as he is in total agreement that a lot of my pain could be stemming from carrying around these giant beasts! I'm not keen on having a surgery, but have wanted to get them reduced for so long because they strain my back and neck so much. I don't think I'll miss the ladies one bit.

Grr mother nature...... never fair. If we are gorgeous and sexy then we pay for it, too grrrr
Every which way is hard to be a woman

{{{ hugs sweetie, wish I could be there to hold your hand, too }}}

But hey they say 'no pain no gain' so lets hope it will help as much as it hurt.

Risa

I've been getting Botox from an RN to treat my migraines for 2 years now. She has attended numerous seminars and currently treats about 100 chronic migraine suffers. She has changed my life. I used to get 3-4 migraines a week and now I get about 2 a month. I have to go in every 3 months but to divide $300 over 3 months, I'll pay $100 a month for a life changing treatment. Also, the type of Botox that she uses is the cosmetic type (she says there is no difference) and the company offers rebates for treatments, so the cost ends up being less.
She said that 90% of her patient's that experience migraine relief have migraines where the pain starts behind an eye. She said she hasn't seen Botox to be as effective if the migraine pain starts at the base of the neck.
She puts several injections into different areas of my forehead and they never feel like more than a prick. My RN says that there is a misconception in the medical field that the needle needs to go down to the bone and it doesn't. She also said the needle has to go into the muscle at a certain angle, etc. She trains doctors on her procedure and said she is discouraged at how many doctors just don't know how to administer Botox for migraines correctly and are willing to paralyze an entire head because their too proud to be taught how to use the drug effectively.
After treatment it can take a full week to start getting relief. The results aren't always consistent. Some treatments keep me migraine free for a solid 6 weeks of the 3 month treatment with occassional breakthrough migraines on the front and back end of the treatment. The least effective treatments still significantly reduce my migraines, so I'm only getting them 3-4 times a month. She said her experience is that the longer she treats for migraines, the longer her patients can go between treatments. I always wondered why and finally asked her the other day, she said she thinks it may be because of muscle atrophe. When you don't use a muscle for a long time, it becomes weaker. She said that also makes sense as to why some women who get face lifts find that their migraines stop - muscles are cut in the same area Botox is injected.
I went to a neurologist before finding her and he refused to consider using Botox and treated me like a drug seeker! It was an aweful experience but I truly think there is a perception by some neurologists that Botox treatment is beneath them.

Wow, 300.00 is cheap! Mine is 800.00 without the doctor fee. Two of my past doctors charged an additional 100-125.00 on top of that to do the injections. My pain doctors does not charge, and even did my botox for free before when it wasn't covered yet!

Momof5, are you able to share what part of the world you are in? At that price and with those results I bet there are others on here who would like to try this nurse out!

Before my insurance pays the botox costs between $1600-$3200 for me. I have good insurance though. It has really helped me, except this last round. I always get between 155-200 units. I do not have any sort of numbing medicine before insertion, or during. One thing that has helped me is that we do "same amount less volume". It is the same amount of botox, but less of whatever it is mixed with. I end up with less pain because there is much less swelling. I am nervous about having anyone but a DR do this for me. This last round it seems that I got a bad batch of Botox, and was not the only patient who did. It was weaker, less effective, so I am hoping to feel better the next couple of months here.

I'm really beginning to wonder if my botox injections are worth it. Maybe they are becoming less effective, but lately I don't get nearly as much good from them. I'm really considering taking to my doctor about trying to stop the injections again. Last time was so bad though, so I'm scared to try it.

hmm, i've been wondering if botox would help in a couple areas. i know nerve blocks might be helpful in my lower back--but don't want to introduce anything that could add to my problems.

Botox basically just temporarily paralyze - so, what possible problems it may cause, do you figure,
apart from rare side effects? but those are very rare, like allergy to botulin toxin etc..


Risa

My jaw always gets really stiff from botox. I think that is the only side effect I can tell.