Botox is the more common name for Botulinum Toxin Type A. It is a toxin that, in chronic migraine sufferers, is used to kill the nerve cells to reduce pain. Approximately 31 injections of Botox are given around the head, neck & shoulders. Their exact placement will depend on where you experience your migraine pain. So today, I wanted to share my experience of Botox for Chronic Migraine. You can read more in my Botox: Migraine Treatment post.
Before I had my first course of Botox I was nervous, I didn’t know what to expect. How much would it hurt? Would it improve my migraine? So I thought I would share my experiences & tips, for those who are considering this treatment.
Everyone experiences pain differently, but for me, the short, sharp scratches of the injections were nowhere near the pain I experience during an intense migraine period (I’ve had a constant migraine since I was 11, so can’t really say ‘during an attack’). I found the ones in my forehead hurt more than any other area. I have noticed that, with each course of Botox I have had, the pain of the injections has been lessened.
After my first course of Botox, I nearly fainted. I didn’t realise, but was so nervous that I temporarily stopped breathing! My neurologist knows me well & noticed I wasn’t right. I tried to argue and say I was ok, but he knows me better than that so made me lie down. At my next appointment, my he kept me talking throughout the treatment. I’m not sure if this was deliberate on his part, but it kept me breathing! If you’re nervous about having the injections, I would definitely suggest this to keep your mind off the procedure. I would check with the person administering the injections first though, as you definitely don’t want to stop them concentrating!
I was shocked by the improvement the Botox had on my migraine pain. Before my first course my daily pain score was between 7 and 9. After my first course, this reduced to 5 to 7. My second course brought my pain down to 3 to 5 and the course after that left me with a daily pain score of 2 to 4!
Think Botox for chronic migraine might be for you? The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has a requirement criteria which you need to meet to be eligible. It states that you have to be a chronic migraine sufferer, which it defines as at least 15 days of headache per month, with a minimum of 8 of these being part of a migraine attack. You have to have tried at least three different types of preventative medication for your migraine without success and not be taking too many painkillers (though there isn’t a definition as to what is considered too many). Botox can be trailed for two courses, three months apart. It can be continued after this if your pain score is reduced by more than 30%, but you are still classed as suffering with chronic migraine.
If you’re suffering with migraine symptoms, please speak to your GP or other medical professional. Migraine Action are fantastic at providing support & information for sufferers & they’re families. Please don’t ever feel like you are alone.
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Published in the January 2016 edition of Migraine Action’s magazine, Challenging Migraine.
Thanks for this Tania, I’ve been thinking about this lately actually as I’ve had migraines since I was 9 years old. I know during the bad ones, if someone came into the house with a gun, I’d ask them to pull the trigger! 40 years of migraines & severe tension headaches has been hard to say the least and several many different treatments tried not worked. I had steroids injected into the nerves at the base of my skull a few years ago, but all that did was affect the Fibro in my neck. I went the GP last yr to be referred back to my neurologist and I’ve not heard anything since, so the med profession gets me down. I might have to kick some butt as it gets really hard here to be heard by my local GPs. I’ve lost faith and not been for almost a year! Glad to read Botox is helping you.
Heidi x
You’re welcome Heidi! It makes me really cross that you haven’t had your referral yet, that’s really not on. I’ve had problems getting appointments, at the moment it’s one for physio. My GP has always kept me up to date with what’s happening, explained what the delays are & how she’s working to bypass them! It’s always problems within the system, but I really appreciate that she takes the time to keep me informed. Migraine Action are really good if you need support getting through to your GP & I’m always here for you, feel free to message me any time! Xx
You’re welcome Heidi! It makes me really cross that you haven’t had your referral yet, that’s really not on. I’ve had problems getting appointments, at the moment it’s one for physio. My GP has always kept me up to date with what’s happening, explained what the delays are & how she’s working to bypass them! It’s always problems within the system, but I really appreciate that she takes the time to keep me informed. Migraine Action are really good if you need support getting through to your GP & I’m always here for you, feel free to message me any time! Xx
Wow, how interesting! I’m currently suffering from and awful migraine and never knew that Botox could help. I’m terrified of needles though. I’m not sure that I could do it. How are the pain levels now?
Oh sweetheart! I’m so sorry to hear that you’re suffering. If you think you’d meet the criteria it’s worth asking your doctor to see if they think this would help. The needles weren’t as bad as I expected at all, but that’s as someone who isn’t scared of needles. My pain levels aren’t great, but I’ve not had a course of Botox for about 18 months as it’s not safe for trying to conceive or pregnancy. But, I think they’re a lot better than they would’ve been had I not had the course of Botox. Xx
i too have suffered from migraines from a young age my doctor gave all kinds of med’s to try and help but they never worked then in 2015 i started on the Botox injections and honestly they haven’t helped as of yet i have 2 types of Chronic Pain 1. Chronic Neck Pain and 2. Chronic Migraines my neurologist believe my neck pain drives the migraines so he referred me to a physio-therapist the waiting list is long i have to wait till october till im seen too
but Botox Injections for me HAVE NOT HELPED as of yet but im hoping they do
I’m so sorry that suffer too. Have the doctors identified the type of migraine you have? Some (like the two types I have) don’t respond to standard migraine treatments and require a different type of drug. I’m surprised, with the criteria in the NICE guidelines, that you’ve been allowed to continue Botox without improvement for more than a year. Has a nerve block been discussed with you? This may be worth looking into if you haven’t already. Good luck! Xx