Botox for Wrist/Hand Spasticity - Cerebral Palsy Message Board

Lori88 · 10-22-2007, 07:30 PM

Hi-

I'm a 21 year-old with left-sided hemiplegia. Just came from an initial visit with an adult orthopedist at Penn today, and she suggested botox treatments before looking into surgery. I've had tendon transfers in my hand/arm when I was 13 at duPont, but this doctor is saying I'm tight again. Just wondering about the success rate of botox in comparison to going through the surgery. I'm a full-time college student and not sure when I will have time to have any more surgeries (I've had three orthopedically-related surgeries to date.)

Lori

lawade84 · 10-26-2007, 08:27 PM

I also have left-sided hemiplegia. I had botox injections in my left wrist a few years ago. The injections were given without effective anesthesia or painkillers; needless to say, it wasn't a pleasant experience. I didn't notice much in the way of a beneficial effect afterward. I've also read that the effectiveness of botox decreases the more you use it, maybe because your body buils up a resistance, which is something to take into consideration.

Lori88 · 10-27-2007, 12:15 PM

Thanks...that is good to know. Are the botox injections uually folowed by hand therapy? The neuro-orthopedist did say that intially the hand would become weaker before it gets stronger. Did you go through any radical hand surgery following the injections?

Zagreus · 10-28-2007, 08:11 AM

My son had botox for spasticity in his arm followed by intensive occupational therapy. The results were very good, but you need to follow up with several weeks of more intensive OT.

lawade84 · 11-02-2007, 10:08 PM

No, I didn't have any surgery following the injections. I don't remember having any special therapy sessions either.