Botox? - Fibromyalgia Message Board

seaturtle · 08-31-2008, 10:12 PM

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

charlenef · 09-01-2008, 06:26 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, 07:21 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

seaturtle · 09-01-2008, 07:36 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

charlenef · 09-02-2008, 06:23 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