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Botox inject for Pain - Pro & Con

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Posted 5/14/2011 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
my husbands dr is recommending Botox injects for the sever pain in his neck... looking for the pro & con...

If you had them did they help and what side effects should we watch for?

We are trying some pain management before going under the knife again.

thanks for all your input
Posted 5/14/2011 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and "Welcome" tryin2cope2!

I responded to you're other reply, and was surprised to see you made it here so quickly! I would really like to copy and past your reply from the other post here, as I think it really had some very good points about spouses supporting those living in chronic pain. Could I talk you into copying and pasting it here? I think the members would appreciate it greatly.

I cant help you with the "Botox" question as for a pain treatment, but my daughter works for a major skin Dr in this area, and I will ask her if she knows anything about it.

We encourage you to keep posting and please feel free to ask all the questions you wish. We also, love encouragement, and trust me, we have plenty who need it!

Enjoy!...and were thrilled you found us!

SE wink
Posted 5/14/2011 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hello again!

I will relate my experience of botox treatment and hopefully this will be of some help.

Obviously I would ask you to bear in mind that I was born with a particularly long neck (as I am reminded by every radiographer I encounter!) and the excessive degeneration that I have had the misfortune to suffer went undiagnosed for 20 years, during which time I had many chiropractic treatments that, while giving short term relief, were actually making me worse. Realistically I had reached a point where any successful treatment was highly unlikely before I was properly diagnosed.

I have had three rounds of botox facet joint injections as well as 17 botox injection in trigger points in my left shoulder to try and relieve intense muscle spasm. Although these treatments were not successful in reducing my pain I suffered no side effects whatsoever, and they are probably the only treatment that I can say that about.

I know other people for whom these injections have been highly successful, and one or two others who had no benefit, but I personally have not heard of any side effects in either case.

At the moment, having just had a completely unsuccessful cervical epidural, I am going to ask my PM consultant if he thinks some botox might help with the ball of solid muscle that resides under my left shoulder blade. I feel botox is most definitely worth consideration, and if your husband decides to go ahead with it then please keep me informed so that I can send him my very best positive, healing wishes.

If there is any other information I can provide I am more than happy to do so. :)
Posted 5/14/2011 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome :)

I've had botox for dystonia in my legs, but it wasn't a good experience for me. However, you have to bear in mind that my problems are a complication of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which makes me very sensitive to painful stimuli. My botox injections were done under a general anaesthetic for this reason, but I woke to excruciating pain that even repeat injections of pethedine did not put a dent in :(
Posted 5/15/2011 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Trying2Cope2 and welcome to Healing Well's chronic pain forum. While I am glad that you found us sorry that you have to be here.

I personally have not tried Botox but I do know of a few people that have and are currently doing it. They have been helped but that is not to say it will help your husband. It is one of those things that he will need to try to see if it works. Unfortunately, its like anything else we try with CP, what may work on me may not help your husband at all. I guess that would be too simple, huh, CP has to be difficult as it is. If needed I would sure give it a try rather than having surgery. Although, his need for surgery may be for something Botox cannot fix. All Botox will do is help with the muscle spasms which will decrease his pain. if the muscle spasms are down. Can you give us an idea as to why he needs surgery again?

Anyway, I wanted to pop on and tell you welcome aboard. Please take care.
Posted 5/15/2011 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Everyone,

thanks for your input. He has had many injections over the past 25 yrs and sometimes they work and then others they don't.

to Stray Dog: We are hoping at this point to put off surgery til after the summer, to nice in Florida to be laid up. He had a fusion at c4-5 and the one below is I think 80% gone now and the one above also is going. We knew when he did the first one in '86 that it was just time before the stain would wear down the next ones.

The surgeon was the one that recommended to try injections for relief before the knife. Jim is on an assortment of meds also but those only supply a small amount of relief. The PM dr is very honest with us about what will not work and what may work because of the amount of scar tissue from his 2nd surgery (laminectomy).
Posted 5/15/2011 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
I hope you got the answer to your question.

I did two rounds of Botox injections for my neck/upper back area.... it DID help with my muscle spasms, as I had some cervical torticollis... where my head was always tilted to my right shoulder and my right shoulder was raised higher than my left.... it really seemed to ease the constant pulling sensation.

I found it effective for only two to three months tops.... downside...

Downside it of course... is all the needle sticks and the cost....which wasn't covered by my insurance and I had to pay out-of-pocket somewhere around $400.00

Out of.... Facet injections, cervical epidurals and a couple of rounds of Prolotherapy... I found the Botox to be the most effective in the reduction of pain.
Posted 5/15/2011 9:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Trying2Cope2, I am glad someone on here actually tried Botox and could give you some input. We have quite a variety of people on this forum with different types of pain and have had different kinds of treatment, i believe all combined we would have all of them covered, lol.

Yes, that seems to be a real problem when a fusion is involved always can cause potential problems above and below because of the stress. I do feel for your husband. I am having a CT neck week on my neck, I am having some problems with my neck. My last MRI was in the 90's and it showed herniations at C5-6and C6-7. I refused surgery. I can't do MRI's now because of metal implanted in me so Ct is it and they are not near as good as an MRI.

Keep us posted on how things are coming along.
Posted 5/15/2011 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Draka, thanks so much for the info. The right side of his neck is tight and painful, spasm in the right arm - shoulder area. we are hoping that they will give some relief for the headaches. will be finding out tomorrow if the meds are covered by BCBS.

Stray dog, hope you ct goes well
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