BOTOX INJECTION THERAPY

Hey Gang,

Haven't been around for a while since my migraines have pretty much been manageble or "status-quo" (2/3 a week or about 50% of the time) for the past couple of years, with no changes in medication.  I've been taking 400mg. of Zonegran and 10mg of Atenelol daily as a preventative(ha-ha), and using 300mg. of Seroquel  and 50mg of Hydroxizine as an abortive(basically just to sleep off the headache).  I've been having to get pain injection from my primary care physician/immediate care place, (with my specialist's knowledge), about once every week or two.  That injection is usually 15mg of Nubain and 50mg of Phenergan, which usually knocks out the migraine.  If I get one of the jerk DRs at the walk-in place that only goes with 10mg of Nubain, I sometimes have to get a second shot from my DR the next day.  

Granted, this may not sound exactly very controlled, but compared to the years when I had a headache every day of my life, and the several years I spent going to the ER practically on a weekly basis, this has been a fairly decent improvement.

ANYWAY...

Tomorrow, I'm scheduled to get the BOTOX INJECTIONS in my head from my neurology specialist at DUKE, and I'm wondering if anybody has had any experience with this treatment?  I've been told that it is supposed to be pretty successful in patients that are affected by migraines 50% or more of the time.  I've had to keep a daily journal for the past several months, and unfortunately, I qualify under that specification.  I'm actually more relieved about getting this treatment that I thought I would be, since I have encountered problems with the onset of the "GREAT NUBAIN SHORTAGE OF 2012".  It amazes me that in the 21st century, a basic mild narcotic pain medication (that is widely used for all sorts of conditions) can't be kept in stock in your standard doctor's office or walk-in clinic.  I'm so tired of having to call around to see who has Nubain in stock when I need an injection, I'm head over heals about the proposition of getting a neuro-toxin jabbed into points of my skull.  OK...that sounded a little testy, but to be perfectly honest, I'm cooking on a migraine I've had since last night, and since none of the walk-in clinics have any Nubain, I have to wait another six hours for my PCP to work me in for a shot at his office.  So yes, I'm a little cranky, and the thought of having poison injected into my skull tomorrow isn't thrilling with joy when I haven't really heard a whole lot of first hand success stories.  ANYBODY care to comment?

Leigh Ann 

Hello, I am new to this forum, I have had chronic migraine with vertigo for a few years now, and am on disability.  My PC sent me to a wonderful doctor that specializes in pain, I have been having botox injections every three months now for about a year, and I can say that it does take away at least 25% of my headaches, which doesn't sound like a lot, but when you have at least half a month of nonstop migraine pain it is a lot. It also seems to decrease the pain level when you do experience a migraine.  I cannot tolerate triptans anymore due to heart arrythmias, and so I take Percocet and Xanaflex and a promethazine tab or suppository and go to bed, but when the meds kick in I can usually get out of bed and somewhat function.  The shots are not fun, I get 32 shots around my head, and usually the next day I suffer from a monster migraine that lasts a couple of days, but it all settles down and I have a few good days a month without migraine.  But I also have L-5 herniation, spinal arthritis, spinal bone spurs, all cervial vertebrae are herniated, chronic sciatica, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, adhesions, hypothyroidism, also have nerve damage in right leg and right arm, so if it isn't a migraine, it is usually something else, like today full blown fibro flare.  But go with the botox and give it a try, it won't harm you, and you will look ten years younger!!