Video of Botox Injections
This video was taken a few years ago by a neurologist, not a headache specialist. At the time, I had to see him for Botox for insurance reasons and now my specialist does it.
There are 31 injection sites for Botox. Most people start with 100 units that cover all the sites. I use 200 units. In the video, you only see the injections in the front of my face and temples, however there are multiple sites along the occipital nerve in the back of the head. As the doctor and I discussed using a little Botox to break up my shoulder muscles, that is now part of my standard injections, which helps.
It may be hard to tell, but I am in a considerable amount of pain. Not from the injections, but from the constant migraines. The injections are painful for me around my brow bone. Sometimes my eyes tear up, but I try to breath through it. Ones in the scalp are less bothersome. Most doctors have a numbing cream they can use if it's really uncomfortable.
I get a round of Botox every 3 months and have for the last five years. I do notice that it makes a difference. It has a life cycle of its own, so it takes a week or two to settle in and then the effects can wear off as I get closer to my next appointment. This is just one of many treatments I use for chronic migraines.
The entire process takes about five minutes. To learn more about Botox for Migraines, check out "Botox Basics".
This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Migraine.com team doesn’t recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.
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