Tomorrow is my next round of Botox with my neurologist, and I have a confession to make; I have a terrible phobia of needles. I’m also not a fan of deliberately putting toxins into my body. I probably also harbor deep-seated schoolyard angst towards ‘beauty queens’ and the notion of cosmetic procedures. For all of these reasons, I was very resistant to the idea of getting ‘botulinum toxin’ (or Botox) injections for my chronic migraine. After reaching a point where I felt there were no other options left, however, and my chronic migraines were just not budging, I agreed to go ahead with Botox about a year ago.
For me, Botox seems to have worked. It hasn’t eliminated the migraines, but appears to have reduced their frequency, duration and severity.
Botox for migraines requires around 31 injections every 3 months. The needles (from what I can tell without looking too closely) are bigger than acupuncture needles but smaller than vaccination needles, and nothing like the blood-donation variety – ugh. They are inserted into your forehead, temples, the back of your neck and shoulders. As part of the process, (in Australia) you keep a migraine journal for the first few months, to track your pain and ‘prove’ that the Botox is making an improvement.
(Image source: Botox For Migraine: Everything You Need To Know)
I’m going to let you in on a little secret that the other websites don’t mention – when the neurologist tells you “it doesn’t hurt”, they’re probably right in terms of ‘normal’ people, but given that there are days when it hurts to brush my hair, I’d be more honest and tell you: “it hurts a little bit”. Not terribly, however, and not enough that I’d stop going. As squeamish as I am, it’s all over in a few minutes.
Whilst the needles are not overly painful, getting Botox can still be a bit unpleasant. I sometimes think I can hear the needles breaking the skin near my ear and I have to resist the urge to cry. Deep breathing or chatting to the doctor helps. Sometimes I feel a bit ‘woozy’ for the rest of the day. I usually get a lift home from the clinic with my husband or catch the train home rather than drive, ‘just in case’, but others say they feel fine to drive. It’s completely possible that some of my reaction is the result of the idea of the needles, rather than any real reaction to the medicine.
Probably the worst real-life side-effect is that on the first evening after the injections you can’t find a comfortable way to lay your head on a pillow. Both sides and the back of your head all have sore spots where the needles went in. Occasionally I can feel a little scab forming and the location gets itchy. Within a week, however, it would be difficult to tell you exactly where the needles were inserted.
I’ve collected anecdotal evidence from other people in the waiting room that they can feel the benefits of the Botox ‘wearing off’ as they get closer to their 12-week renewal. I remember feeling a bit that way at the end of the first 3-month period (waiting for injection Round Two), but I didn’t feel anything like ‘withdrawal’ or an ‘impatience’ this time around (Round Six).
Because I started Botox at the same time as I started my holistic healing journey, (doing Tai Chi, meditation etc.) I can’t say conclusively that Botox is the main or only reason I feel better. I also can’t know if I stopped getting the Botox whether my bad migraines would come back. My FOMU (fear of messing up) means I’m not prepared to try it and find out… yet.
In terms of a long-term vision, my preference would be to keep going with all the other mindfulness practices, and hopefully one day, maybe next year, move the injections further apart, and then eventually phase them out.
[Disclaimer: Only you and your doctor can decide what’s right in your circumstance, so be sure to seek healthcare advice from a professional before making any changes to your lifestyle or migraine management approach.]
Good luck with finding your ‘right way’.
Take care, Linda x.
PS – In addition to the picture source-site above, here’s some links if you’re interested in more scientific descriptions of Botox for migraines:
Botox For Migraine – Migraine & Headache Australia
Botox for Migraines: Side Effects You Should Know About (healthline.com)
PPS – I’m super excited to say that I got interviewed by the Blog RTS Mental Health. Please pop on over if you’re curious to know a bit more about me, including my childhood fear of trees (sort of): Interview – The Mindful Migraine
The Mindful Migraine 
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