Migraine Headaches Support Group

Yes, I have! Botox has given me (most of) my life back.....

I receive Botox injections every 3 months (I started back in March). Since then, my migraines went from 20 a month to about 1 or 2.
I still take Topamax, but the plan is to someday wean off this drug.

Before Botox, I missed a lot of work, and even took a medical leave of absence. Now I'm able to work successfully, (I still get tired and stressed).

If you've tried every treatment option out there (i.e. nerve blocks, etc.), then I say go for the Botox.

The negative: the actual shots hurt, and for about a week after the shots my head is sore and achey, however, it is nothing like the pain of a Migraine.

Good Luck to you!

P.S.
I'm lucky, my Insurance Company is paying 80%.

Hi there. I too receive botox every there months. Funny just as this other post states by angee7 it has also kinda given part of my life back to me. I haven't ever gotten rid of meds completely and am still on Topamax, Lyrica and Zanaflex regualrly and then Hydorchodone for breakthrough pain. Yes...it sound like a lot of meds but before botox I was in bed almost every day and almost daily migraine. The pain of muscle spasm with migraine was unreal.

Since botox i am able to try to hold a part-time job. I have a bit of down time about one week after the shots. I have a lot of swelling after the shots and soarness in my back. It is well worth it.

Botox was a treatment that was one at the end of many. Doctors tried many antidepressants which are successful for some migrainers for pain and as a preventative and there are many other meds that are succesful too. I did try nerve blocks as well. Botox was kinda given to me as a last option by my neurologist at the headache clinic. Then I was thinking "why didn't they mention this secret cure before"!!.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Wow, this discussion thread is so encouraging!! I just yesterday got Botox injections, having tried everything else for 2 1/2 years. My neurologist and pain management docs both recommended it after nothing else worked. I noticed, angee7, that it does hurt more than the other injection therapies I've tried. I'm glad I'm not alone! I also am on a medical leave of absence from my job, so it's encouraging to see you're back at work.

From what I've gathered from my doctors and my own research, opy, the secret cure doesn't come into play until after other avenues are exhausted. And it sounds like it only works for people who have pain every day.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU all for posting this. I feel so much more encouraged!

Thank you all for the insight that you have given me. I am still researching this option, but the more I read the more I am pretty sure I will try it.

again TY and if anyone esle has imput.. please do share.

KMGS.. good luck.. I hope you are starting to feel the good side of these shots.. :)

Jacee

actually i was really excited to come back to this post and see that a few of us are in the same boat having the botox treatments now. I finally feel like I am not alone. Thank God! :)

Good luck all! ....teee hee.

I just got word from my doctor that my insurance is going to cover my botox injections so it's scheduled right after Thankgiving holidays.

I'm so excited to maybe get some relief from this constant pain that I live with everyday of my life. The kind of pain that really prevents you from functioning & living your life. What is a normal life like? I've forgotten.

I've tried many medications, treatment options (nerve blocks,etc.) just about anything to help the pain, which radiates from the top of my head to the neck down to my back. Then I developed a seizure disorder over the summer which really made my migraines really mad so I'm hoping Botox injections can help calm things little.

It's really great that most of you are able to work!

I have a couple of questions...
If there is any pain & swelling at the injection sites - about how long will this last? Is there anything I can do to ease this or shorten this time? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
TB

Yes, there is pain and swelling at the injection site.

The Doc says use ice. I never do (I don't know why). It only last 2 or 3 days for me. Sometimes I bruise, so I should probably use ice.

Immediately after the injections, you need to take it easy, but don't lay down, bend over, carry anything or exercise.

For about a week, a have side effects like: puffy eye lids, full feeling in forehead, slight blurry vision, but it all goes away, and my Migraines are controlled too.

Good Luck to you!!!!

Oh it is so great to hear that some of you are getting relief from Botox injections..I am scheduled to get them this Thursday..I have suffered from these monstrous daily chronic headaches for almost three years (left sided only). I have been to many different specialists, tried every med under the sun, diet changes, mulitple nerve blocks, rhizotomies, accupuncture, chiropractic care, pain management, physical therapy, cranio-sacral therapy, and even have tried alternative medicine by traveling over 5 hours to Chicago 5 different times to receive a whopping total of approximately 450 or so Prolotherapy shots in my head neck and shoulders!!!!! (most painful thing I've experienced in my life!- have not had children yet though!) ALL with very little relief...I'm sure many of you share my same nightmare! Basically the headaches are due to chronic muscle tension - however, Botox has only been mentioned as a last resort by many of the physicans I've seen -they all just keep telling me to try one more medication & continue conventional therapies ...I just don't get it!?? To me it seems logical to try Botox...the Dr. I'm seeing this Thursday for Botox didn't seem to have high hopes for me - said we'd give it a try but that I should see a neurosurgeon (which I recently did and he said that he could not help me and that it wouldn't hurt to try the Botox)...so here I am desperately hoping for some relief from this 24/7 head and face pain - this monster that came in the night and has left me living a total nightmare! I want my life back! Here's hoping that Botox gives me and others some relief! Thanks for your input!!!!

UPDATE: It took a full month for Botox to bring relief, but my neuro says that's OK. I'm feeling better than I have in at least year, and I even went back to work this week!! A little heads up--the injections are painful & I felt like I had the flu for two days. But it was so worth it!! I still take three other meds, but life is improving.

Good luck casaloma24, and please let us know how it goes! I'll be thinking of you Thursday!

wow i am glad I opened up this conversation... I also suffer from daily headaches..over 7 yrs now. I am hopeful that Botox works for me. But in a weird way i wonder.. did you all know right away that you felt better or did you just wake up one day and say wow.... i dont have a headache.. i know this sounds corney and al but i am almost a fraid i wont know what to do with out a headache.. wont notice that I dont have one....

continued good luck to those of you that it is working for... I pray i am one of you soon!!!