seaturtle
09-01-2008, 01:12 AM
Hello, all,
My PT recommended I look into getting Botox injections in my neck and back because of the chronically stiff, trigger-point-full ropey muscles that are so tender to touch and cause me migraines.
I am leary, maybe without reason. Anyone here have Botox done? Results?
And - advice, anyone?
Thanks, a good long weekend to all, hope it doesn't rain again,
Seaturtle
My PT recommended I look into getting Botox injections in my neck and back because of the chronically stiff, trigger-point-full ropey muscles that are so tender to touch and cause me migraines.
I am leary, maybe without reason. Anyone here have Botox done? Results?
And - advice, anyone?
Thanks, a good long weekend to all, hope it doesn't rain again,
Seaturtle
Sponsor
charlenef
09-01-2008, 09:26 AM
i know my dr has given them with success i am going to ask him if they will give them in my jaw for tmj when i go so it is not unheard of
Paddy55
09-01-2008, 10:21 AM
Seaturtle - I was prescribed botox injections for "intractible migraine", meaning migraine that never goes away. The shots were to be in forehead and around my ear/left eye to stop the chronic clench in those muscles. I never had the shots because of the cost (no insurance, 1 shot was $600, so about $2500 per sitting). The doc who prescribed them is the director of our teaching hospital's pain management clinic, so I'm sure he knew what he was doing.
Just fyi, not getting the shots, I followed other advice of his - I now take a calcium channel blocker - Verapamil - typically used for high blood pressure. It is used as a "prophylactic" or preventive of migraine. Been on it for years now, and it keeps things under control. Only had 2 crisis migraines in 7 years or so.
I'm surprised your PT has not suggested massage therapy for the chronic, ropey muscles. That might be a more conservative approach before going for the botox injections. A good massage therapist can work on those muscles & gradually loosen them up.
So bottom line, botox injections are legit -- if you can afford them. Otherwise, I can personally vouch for massage and the calcium channel blocker called Verapamil for managing migraine.
Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Wishing you peace and comfort,
Paddy
Just fyi, not getting the shots, I followed other advice of his - I now take a calcium channel blocker - Verapamil - typically used for high blood pressure. It is used as a "prophylactic" or preventive of migraine. Been on it for years now, and it keeps things under control. Only had 2 crisis migraines in 7 years or so.
I'm surprised your PT has not suggested massage therapy for the chronic, ropey muscles. That might be a more conservative approach before going for the botox injections. A good massage therapist can work on those muscles & gradually loosen them up.
So bottom line, botox injections are legit -- if you can afford them. Otherwise, I can personally vouch for massage and the calcium channel blocker called Verapamil for managing migraine.
Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Wishing you peace and comfort,
Paddy
seaturtle
09-01-2008, 10:36 PM
Thanks for answering.
Patti - oddly enough, my Medicaid insurance will cover Botox, but not one minute of massage. Go figgur.
In the past, when I could afford it, I had an excellent massage therapist, who did ischemic release on me. It was extremely, and I do mean extremely, painful, but how it did work!
My current PT therapist is doing very gentle myofascial release, and it just doesn't cut it. He won't give me enough pressure, and tells me to lie on tennis balls. My trigger points and muscles are so tender that lying on a tennis ball really hurts.
I will look into the Botox, then. I just had another migraine today.
I also take a preventative - Lamictal, an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer. That has made all the difference: I used to have two migraines a week, each one lasting 3 days or so, and completely debilitating. I'd go to the ER with them. Now, I have one maybe every couple of months, and I can pretty much knock it out with Imitrex injections.
It's my neck and the muscle spasms in it, shoulders, back and arms that are getting to me.
I do find it silly that Medicaid will pay for Imitrex injections and Botox, both of which are so expensive, but not for simple massage.
I hope you are pain-free.
Seaturtle
Patti - oddly enough, my Medicaid insurance will cover Botox, but not one minute of massage. Go figgur.
In the past, when I could afford it, I had an excellent massage therapist, who did ischemic release on me. It was extremely, and I do mean extremely, painful, but how it did work!
My current PT therapist is doing very gentle myofascial release, and it just doesn't cut it. He won't give me enough pressure, and tells me to lie on tennis balls. My trigger points and muscles are so tender that lying on a tennis ball really hurts.
I will look into the Botox, then. I just had another migraine today.
I also take a preventative - Lamictal, an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer. That has made all the difference: I used to have two migraines a week, each one lasting 3 days or so, and completely debilitating. I'd go to the ER with them. Now, I have one maybe every couple of months, and I can pretty much knock it out with Imitrex injections.
It's my neck and the muscle spasms in it, shoulders, back and arms that are getting to me.
I do find it silly that Medicaid will pay for Imitrex injections and Botox, both of which are so expensive, but not for simple massage.
I hope you are pain-free.
Seaturtle
charlenef
09-02-2008, 09:23 AM
you can try the tennis ball on the wall that is what i do if you cant control it put it in a long sock so you can that way you can control the pressure but be warned dont over do it i paid dearly
kirstee
09-02-2008, 07:54 PM
Hi SeaTurtle:
I've had botox injections, and the therapy was very helpful. The pain clinic doctor also injected lidocaine/cortisone into my tender points. To top it all off, I was given physical therapy by a very knowledgeable PT therapist. The only notable problem I had was the doc injected botox in my mouth under my tongue, and it paralyzed my tongue. I had trouble licking my ice cream cone! LOL! Otherwise, it was a very worthy treatment.
Blessings,
Kirstee
I've had botox injections, and the therapy was very helpful. The pain clinic doctor also injected lidocaine/cortisone into my tender points. To top it all off, I was given physical therapy by a very knowledgeable PT therapist. The only notable problem I had was the doc injected botox in my mouth under my tongue, and it paralyzed my tongue. I had trouble licking my ice cream cone! LOL! Otherwise, it was a very worthy treatment.
Blessings,
Kirstee
Paddy55
09-02-2008, 08:35 PM
Oh no Kirstee! No Ice Cream?!? ;)
Paddy
Paddy
seaturtle
09-02-2008, 10:34 PM
Kirstee,
May I ask how long the numb tongue lasted? What I'm afraid of is that my neck will get weak and I won't be able to hold my head up.
On the other hand, I am in Migraine City right now, and Imitrex and Vicodin aren't cuting it. They're coming from my neck. Botox is looking pretty good if it'll work.
Thanks for the positive feedback.
Seaturtle
May I ask how long the numb tongue lasted? What I'm afraid of is that my neck will get weak and I won't be able to hold my head up.
On the other hand, I am in Migraine City right now, and Imitrex and Vicodin aren't cuting it. They're coming from my neck. Botox is looking pretty good if it'll work.
Thanks for the positive feedback.
Seaturtle
kirstee
09-08-2008, 07:21 PM
SeaTurtle:
Don't worry about the botox therapy in the neck muscles. The doctor knows how to inject the medication so that you will not experience something like what you described. My tongue was only disabled for a couple of weeks. My husband and I laughed about my disabled tongue while it was recovering.
Blessings,
Kirstee
Don't worry about the botox therapy in the neck muscles. The doctor knows how to inject the medication so that you will not experience something like what you described. My tongue was only disabled for a couple of weeks. My husband and I laughed about my disabled tongue while it was recovering.
Blessings,
Kirstee