Botox for Chronic Migraine

I went back several months and couldn't find a topic on this. I have had chronic migraines for many years. I started having migraines when I was a child. Anyway, before Christmas I was having one every day. I was taking tripans every day, as that is the only thing that works for me. I was taking way too many...very dangerous.

My doctor had me go off all pain medications and triptans for two weeks thinking I was having rebound headaches. I didn't think I would live through it, so I started checking into Botox injections. I found a doctor in my town who does them. My insurance okayed it, and I had it done 2 weeks ago. They started an IV saline drip and pushed steroids, then he injected the Botox all the way around my head, and four in my shoulders. I think there were 34 injections all together.

I have been headache free ever since. It has been wonderful! And I've given it a good work out...I have a lot of stress going on with another medical condition and have had many doc appointments to deal with that, plus I drink a glass of red wine every night. I don't know how long it will last...you hear different things, but he said so far none of his patients have had to come back.

If you have chronic migraines, I highly recommend you check into this. Even if this two weeks is all I get, (but I suspect it to last much longer) it was worth it.

THANKYOU FOR THIS POST!!!!!! thats amazing news that your headache's have gone, this is just the post ive been looking for!!!!! this is exactly what i need to hear. i suffer with chronic daily migraines with visual disturbance and ive just come off topiramate and also take triptans alongside this. Botox is my next step. Ive been wanting to hear from somebody whos had a possitive result with botox for agers. im so glad to hear this, theres hope for me

Im just waiting for my body to adjust to me coming off the topiramate, as my head is very very painful and i feel so ill the past week. So im going to have a break of no tabs for a few weeks then book myself in for botox.

How many times did you have to have the botox to work?


Thanks

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My lovely - Chronic Daily Migraine with Visual Disturbance/Vertigo

I definitely recommend it. Here is one thing the doctor told me. This stops the pain from your migraines. It doesn't actually stop them from occurring. Like if you get migraine aura, you might still notice you will get the aura but no headache. If you get nauseated with migraine, you may get nauseated and need some nausea medication but no headache. Sometimes I think I know when I might have one, like my neck tightens up or whatever. But no migraine! It is great! I had to wait 3 weeks for my insurance company to approve it, so be prepared for that. I know one person who has done it, before Christmas and she still hasn't had one. And I know of 3 others through word of mouth who have had it done with the same results. I hope you can get it done and that it works for you!

I really am hoping it works!!!!! thanks for your info. I live in the uk so its very different how it all works over here. Our nhs (which is our National health system) should normally pay for it, but they have stopped the funding :-(, so the only was i can get botox is to pay privately, this is my downfall, as its expensive. But i hear our nhs is reveiwing the situation and i may be able to get it free if it passes, so im waiting, desperatly need to get it on nhs, as theres noway i can afford it all the time if it works. Not sure if any of that makes any sense to you at all lol.


But in the meantime im going ahead and paying.

So how many sessions have you had already? do you have them every few months, so you keep going back? how does it work for you? Also howlong have you been pain free for since having the botox? questions questions lol, i really am pinning my hopes and dreams on this botox :-/

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My lovely - Chronic Daily Migraine with Visual Disturbance/Vertigo

It costs about $1000 a vial and he used 1 3/4 vials. Hope your healthcare system will start funding it.

I have only had one. 2 weeks ago. I was headache free until yesterday. I don't know why one broke through yesterday...but he had told me that in some people it stops them completely and in others it significantly reduces the amount. So I was very disappointed when one showed up, but if it's only 1 every two weeks I can definitely live with that!

It varies on how long it lasts. Some say 4 months, 12 weeks, but I people who have gone longer. The doctor I am seeing has not had anyone have to come back yet. I go see him this morning for just a check-in to see how I am doing after the treatment.

My insurance company only authorized one treatment. I am hopeful that when this treatment wears off, they will authorize another.

You should definitely try it. I hate to hear you have to pay out of pocket for it, but I was having a migraine every day also so I know you will try anything. I have felt much better from not having to take triptans all the time. My blood pressure has gotten back to normal. I did take one yesterday after trying to tell myself it was just my neck hurting and it wasn't going to turn into a migraine, but I had to take a Maxalt last night, which stopped it within 10 minutes.

Hi. sorry only just realised you replied, its this site, it doesnt email to let you know. Thanks for all the info. Ive gone and booked a app and im having it done in a few weeks . i managed to get 1 treatment under my insurence so thats good. But like you they will only fund 1 treatment.
Ive had no tabs for a few weeks now and it seems to help. Dont get me wrong still daily migraines, but a teeny tiny bit better. Great not to have horrible side effects too. Ive also been eating better. Hope it works!

Thanks again

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My lovely - Chronic Daily Migraine with Visual Disturbance/Vertigo

This sounds great! I've had chronic daily migraines for 6 years (I'm 21), and my doctor recently mentioned botox, but I've no idea how readily available it is in Ireland. I'll ask again to see if I can get it done.

Just a quick update on the Botox. I am 5 weeks out from the injections, and I have had only one migraine. It has been wonderful. The doctor who did mine had his first return patient last week. She was injected Dec. 23, and they are just now coming back.

Hello All I have migraine from 5 years I try everything but nothing help me now I take Beta Blocker Inderal 40mg 1 month but without any effect maybe it have more time I dont know but now my last hope is to try with botox but my doctor says that have to type injections for my headatache 1-Botox and 2-Steroids I cant decide what to do? What is better from these 2 injections maybe is Botox I guess????

You get about 34 injections around your head and on your shoulders. They gave me an saline IV and pushed steroids in case I had a reaction to the botox. I imagine that's what he meant.

This is good news. My wife is suffering with almost daily migraines and has tried about everything there is for them. She was told about the botox and her doctor wants her to try it. This may be just what she needs. Thanks for posting this.

Take care,
Bill

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opnwhl4
Moderator: GERD/Heartburn
Nissen 6/06 and 5/09
#3 on 8/24/11

Hello All today I spoke with my Doc. but he is plastic surgeon not neurologist maybe this is problem or not because he ask me where I want to take me the botox injections after week I think to try but I am little nervous because the pills dont help me and now I have conserns about the effect of botox, it is possible to dont help me at all?

I had the Botox injections for my chronic migraines back in Dec and they did help reduce the migraines I was getting when it rained heavy which was nice till they cam back two days ago which is not bad for 4 months. My doc is going to ask the insurance company for more botox and this time he is going to change the locations as my migraines are centered on the left side right behind my eye and are triggered by heavy rain/snow and extreme temperature changes. I'm hoping they ok another round as this has been the most helpful of all the stuff i've tried.

Scotty