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1052851 tn?1307741160

Botox for Migraine Relief

Just to update everyone....
On Oct 8 I had Botox treatment for my severe migraines. They state that the optimal time, when the Botox is fully in the muscle/body is two weeks.
I am glad to say that my neck and shoulder muscles are still relaxed, that is where I hold all my tension, which causes my migraines. Its nice not to have your shoulders up around your ears.
I am still taking Fiorinal C1/2 daily, but am finding that I can use a bit less, but the Botox is not to cure the migraine, but to stop the muscle spasms related to migraines, which it seems to be doing.
Would I do it again - yes.
8 Responses
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768044 tn?1294223436
Long road trips always increases my neck/back pain too, which then always triggers a migraine too. Especially if I am the one driving! Last year, I could barely drive for more than about half an hour at a time... but this year I can actually drive a lot more than that now without setting off a migraine... maybe it's the Botox that's made the difference? Or maybe some of the other daily medications too. Because I can drive for 45 minutes without a migraine now. I still bet that I would get a migraine though if I drove for much longer, because my muscles do sure start to get sore!!

The one thing I still can't do for very long without my muscles seizing up is sitting in one position reading for very long... I can't get "caught up" in reading, because when I do I'll get neck pain which will then turn into a migraine. I have to stop reading and get up at least every hour to avoid this. Maybe after a few more Botox treatments I'll be able to sit still and read for longer periods of time, that would be nice. :)
Helpful - 0
1052851 tn?1307741160
When I have gotten a killer migraine, and I am desperate enough to go to the hospital, they inject either Demerol or Morphine.
I have prescriptions for both, but the tablets just dont work as well as the shot.
That is another reason I tried the Botox in the first place, I want to cut back on the meds I take, and if I dont need to take Demerol or Morphine all the better.
Actually, aside from using the pills for severe mirgraines, I use them when I brake a small bone. I have severe osteoporosis, and often break my baby toe or other small toes or fingers, so rather than sit in a hospital for 6 hrs plus., I just take the medication and once it kicks in, I straighten out the damaged digit.
I did find that my muscles around my neck and shoulders and along my spine are very sore right now from my road trip, but I would have been suprized if they did seize up after being on the road 8 hrs, sitting in one position.
Helpful - 0
764912 tn?1322711843
Hmmmm, it is good to know and have so others can access your results if they need to consider it.  I have done pretty well the past few days.  Yes, when mine go on for days I would love DHE that they used in the ER.  

My Dr years ago used Marcain (not sure I spelled this right) it is like Novicain and he injected this right in the muscle it was great stuff.  I haven't heard of it being used much except for him.
Helpful - 0
875426 tn?1325528416
Yes, it is definitely different for different people.  I heard positive things about botox for migraines and a neurologist was planning to try it a least a couple times for me.   Because I had a monstrous menstrual migraine when the botox should have been working with the first shots, the doctor refused to try again.
Helpful - 0
1052851 tn?1307741160
Well you know when you have a bad migraine, any relief is welcome, so relaxing the muscles helps in that aspect. It's worth a try, but with like all medication, it works differently for different people.

Let me know the outcome.
Helpful - 0
764912 tn?1322711843
So glad to know this went well for you.  I have never had it done but would probably try it since you both get relief.  

Tracy
Helpful - 0
1052851 tn?1307741160
Yeah I think I will get it done again. It does use up a lot of Botox though, almost a whole vile.

I get mine done by my GP., and I see her bi-weekly for my other meds etc., so its no problem for me to get her to do it, I dont need to schedule an appt. I am also going to get it injected in my jaw bones. I often grind my teeth at night, and with my osteoporsis, they break really easily. From what I read about Botox, it is a good preventative medication for TMJ, actually there are 9 things that I have read about it that it can help, some I dont believe, but I only use it for touch ups on my face, and the rest for my medical issues.

The treatments last, at least 3 mths, for areas that you move a lot. For example, I get my forehead done by the 5th month usually, because I am not using it as much as my shoulders and neck, so my GP told me about 3mths for active muscles, and it takes 2 weeks for the full effect to kick in.

When I first heard of Botox I said no way would I do that, now after watching reports on it, I felt more confident, actually if I remember correctly, I was depressed and had the urge to do some "girl stuff", I didnt have money to get my hair done or shop, but my doctor, who has become a friend, said she would do it, and I could pay her back...then thank goodness I found out my husbands benefits cover it, without a cap, so Im checking out as many areas that Botox may help me.
Helpful - 0
768044 tn?1294223436
I think that tension/trigger points between my shoulder blades and in my shoulders are what trigger most of my migraines too...

I saw my neurologist the other week and he thought it was worth doing the botox again on me as well. I have my next appointment booked in December.

It sounds like the Botox is working well for you as a migraine preventative. Not a cure, like you pointed out, but a good part of the whole treatment plan. I think that's a good point you make, how it's not a cure, it's just part of the whole treatment package... it's to work with everything else and to make things better, to fix a part of the problem. That's a good way to look at it. That way expectations are realistic. It's nice to know that the Botox is really fixing a big part of the problem, the muscle spasms.

A lot of people right now who know me, like friends of mine, are saying to me "oh well I guess the Botox didn't work for you" because I am still getting migraines... but, I think I should explain to them that's the Botox is not a cure, it's a treatment that is making things better... that way they will understand and not make me feel down about something that I felt good about before!! Oh well, my neurologist was positive about it anyway!! He thinks it is working and my migraine diary shows that things are better than they were last year, much better, and last year I had not had the botox yet... so both the Neurologist and I think the Botox is working! :)

Do you have a plan to get it done again for sure? Do you have an appointment set up already? Did the neurologist tell you how long the shots would last for?

Thanks for the update! :)
Helpful - 0
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