Botox injections to cure the Headache

General
1

I have a question that I hope one of you good people and Chiari sufferers might be able to help me with.

Aoife(22 years of age) had decompression surgery April 2012. Only improvement was lessening of severe spasms. Other than that, chronic neuropathic pain all down her right side. Neurosurgeon saying surgery a success and the neurologist saying that she must come off the pain meds as it is causing the headache(he has decided that it is a hemiplegic migraine and that the Chiari is, cured!

Anyway, in a nutshell he has recommended that Aoife go to a colleague of his who is a headache expert and consider Botox injections into the occipital nerve or a similar nerve block. Aoife has refused this treatment as she feels that not enough is known of the long term effects of this. He has refused to repeat her pain meds prescription so we are now back at square one, going back to her own GP who has been brilliant but not a Chiari expert. Luckily she has an appointment with a Pain management specialist on April 3rd who will review all of her medications but I need to know if anybody out there has had this Botox treatment and if it worked.

Best regards,

Cáit

2

I have had botox for longer than 6 mo or so and it helped with chronic and severe migraines and headaches but not anything chiari related... this was after being on Topamax, and prn of sumatriptan/ibuprofen combo, and fioricet and the botox took care of the rest

3

Cait,

I am currently undergoing Botox treatment for my migraines. My neurologist is slowly increasing to the full injection amount. I am up to about 18 of the 31 injections, and it has helped some. I still have severe migraines almost every day, but I live in an area where the weather changes often causing my migraines to be worse.

I wish you and your friend the best of luck!

4

Thanks to all who have replied. Can I ask one more question on the Botox. Is it a one off period of injections or do you face having Botox injections for the rest of your life?

5

As far as I know, it's a long term treatment. I'm not completely sure. I am only on my third round.