BOTOX question for those who have tried it

[kma]

Wondering what type of doctor you saw to get your botox injections.  I've been having killer headaches and someone suggested Botox.  I went today and saw a Neurologist for the first time.  I asked him about Botox and he thought it might be a very good
idea for me but he does not do Botox and did not give me a suggestion as to who or where to go for it.  He just wrote me a couple
Rx's for headache meds.....I kind of thought he would have offered me a referral or suggestion.  I'm assuming you see
a doctor and not some cosmetic Botox person but I don't know what type of doctor to look to.  Any suggestions? 

Any of you really pleased with the Botox? 

~Kathy

[staypoz]

Hi, Kathy.  My neurologist gave me botox injections; some pain doctors probably do too.  You should go back to your neurologist and ask for a referral or try to get one from your primary care doc.

The injections didn't work for me, but they have for some people, and you should explore all the options available to you since we all have different experiences with head pain treatments. 

Good luck!

staypoz

[Captain Deb]

My neurologist gives me my Botox and I have had pretty positive results so far.  He has been trained in Botox for migraine and he schedules the injections only once a month to all his patients.  I think this way he orders the Botox once a month and it doesn't go bad.  I have had 2 series of injections 3 months apart.  The second round focused more on my occipital region.  The back of my head must look great by now!  You could also start at the Botox website which has a doctor finder.  

http://www.botox-cosmetic-surgery.com/botox_migraines.htm

Try the link and I hope you find someone soon. I don't know if there are any neurologists in the doc finder, but I am pretty sure that if it is administered by a plastic surgeon, your insurance won't pay for it.  Mine wouldn't even pay for it if it was administered by my neurologist, but with my social security disability I got Medicare, which pays 80%.  The injections run about $1000 for me and I pay $200, which is way cheaper than the Topamax that I was on.  You may just have to get the phone book out and call every neurologist in the book till you find someone who will administer it. Where do you live, Kathy?

Capt Deb

[kma]

Captain Deb~

I'm in Berkley, Michigan (Metro Detroit Area).  My neurosurgeon doesn't do it, My new neurologist doesn't do it (just saw him today for the first time).  I've got a call in to my primary card doc to see if she knows of anyone. 

I've noticed that if you are functioning AT ALL, no one seems to take your pain that seriously.  Maybe I should just curl up on the floor and cry.  Lord knows I feel that way sometimes ~ just didn't think I'd have to do it in public to make people get the severity of my pain.   

Thanks for the link ~ I'll check it out!! 

~Kathy

[Captain Deb]

Kathy,

Here is a link to a headache specialty clinic in Ann Arbor

http://www.mhni.com/

I went to my regular small town neurologist for almost 3 years before he referred me to a specialty clinic, which is where I finally started to get better.  Anyone who has had your kind of pain for over a year should definitely seek the help of a headache specialist at a headache clinic.  Believe me, there are a lot of us here who know exactly what you are going through.  There is nothing like it!  I was sort of functioning in that I could bathe and dress myself, but I HAD to continue to work because I had bills to pay.  Actually I had many days when I couldn't bathe or dress myself! I am self employed and I could work a little bit if I had enough pain meds in me. It was an awful way to live.  I ended up getting disability after a 4 year fight.

Can I ask what meds you were prescribed? Maybe you can get some input from others regarding their experience with the same meds.  I also suggest you join the ANA and I think you can get access to a great headache article by Dr John Leonetti that was published in the spring ANA newsletter.  I can always Xerox it and mail it to you if you can't get access to it.  I gave the article to my neuro and it was a real eye-opener for him--it may help your docs find you some relief.

PM me your address and I'd be glad to send you the article.

Capt Deb

[Mei Mei]

I couldn't find my neurologist on the link, but I noticed that you had to pay for it which may be a factor.  He doesn't seem like the type that advertises. 

I'll have to wait and ask.  Meanwhile my neck is stiff and in pain with all that I am doing for it.

Mei Mei