Botox and Pain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Mad...
• December 21, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I've had three rounds of Botox now for my migraines (around the scalp, forehead, and neck). The first two left me with little to no side effects. The third time has been horrible, I will NEVER do it again. I feel very confident in my neurologist, I don't believe she performed the injections differently - but upon leaving the appointment, I immediately broke down sobbing in my car because of the pain. I am now 17 days in, and I have had a headache every single day all day long. My eyes physically hurt to be open, and I am even more sensitive to light and sound than I ever have been with my common migraine. I've been given a prednisone burst, and it still hasn't helped. I'm worried that the next four months of my life are ruined."

• Sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2019

For Urinary Frequency "This procedure has been a nightmare for our family! My sister and I drove her 90-year-old husband for this. I live with them, and we so regret it! Maybe more problems because of his age? He came home in horrible pain and threw up for 2 days. He was going a lot more and so sick and in so much pain after 5 days - we took him to the emergency room. They put in a catheter until he could go to his doctor Monday about 50 miles. They took the catheter out, and he can't go at all now! Then we heard from my other brother-in-law telling us about having it done also a few months ago. Very painful, and he will never do it again. The doctors didn't seem truthful about what might happen and the horrible pain. We hope his bladder will start working again. Doctors should have to share percentages of problems from this! My 2 family members wish they never had it done. Is it worth the odds of it helping or the potential life-changing side effects?"

• Ast...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2018

For Urinary Frequency "I am so pleased! I had horrible pain and leakage, so much so that I would wet myself several times a day. I suffered for years! Diapers with pads couldn’t hold all the leakage. I had Botox last week, and from day 1 have had no leakage. I do have a little urgency, but I expect this to get better, and it’s not constant. I did check my residual urine amount via catheter to make sure I was not retaining. I found this very simple to do and quite reassuring. It was a little scary to have the Botox simply due to fear of the unknown, but everything is great, and I’m so excited to have my life back!"

• Top...
• November 2, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I'm on my second Botox. After the first one, I had blurred vision and have to read with my reading glasses. Still have a migraine, but with Advil or Fioricet with a cup of coffee, migraine lasts between 1-5 hours. I was very happy not to have them for seventeen hours and be in a dark room. However, my second Botox didn't give me relief I was expecting. So now for the whole month, I have droopy eyes, constant neck and shoulder pain, and every day migraine. I am planning to go for my third shot because it helps with migraine, I can take other pain but not migraine pain."

• Jac...
• September 17, 2017

For Migraine "I had 40+ injections of 200 units of Botox for migraine approximately two and a half weeks ago. The first few days were horrible, as they made my migraines worse. Now my migraines have reduced (which is awesome), but I have horrible pain in my arms and hands that I've never experienced before. My forearm muscles won't flex, so somehow the toxin spread rather far away. My mouth is extremely dry as well, and I have difficulty swallowing. The pain in my arms is unbearable at times. I do not recommend Botox at all, despite the reduction in migraines. I will never get this again. Also, my face looks completely foreign to me, and I'm embarrassed to be in public or make eye contact with anyone."

• Jac...
• September 17, 2017

For Migraine "I had 40+ injections of 200 units of Botox for migraine approximately two and a half weeks ago. The first few days were horrible, as they made my migraines worse. Now my migraines have reduced (which is awesome), but I have horrible pain in my arms and hands that I've never experienced before. My forearm muscles won't flex, so somehow the toxin spread rather far away. My mouth is extremely dry as well, and I have difficulty swallowing. The pain in my arms is unbearable at times. I do not recommend Botox at all, despite the reduction in migraines. I will never get this again. Also, my face looks completely foreign to me, and I'm embarrassed to be in public or make eye contact with anyone."

• Anonymous
• February 21, 2021

For Overactive Bladder "This procedure has totally changed my life. I wish I had done it years ago. The doctor put lidocaine in my bladder for 30 minutes prior to the shots, and I had no pain at all. I have no accidents now, and I can go hours without having to go. I feel like I have gotten my life back."

• Wil...
• December 2, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I just had my fourth Botox injection for migraine. So far, it's helping. The migraines haven't been eliminated, but they've been reduced in number and severity, and there are more days between clusters of headache days. I STRONGLY recommend going to a headache specialist or neurologist for an evaluation before trying this. Botox works best for migraines that involve involuntary tightening of the tiny muscles in the forehead, temples, and along the 'migraine band' on the sides of the head. If those aren't contributing to a person's migraines, then Botox is unlikely to work. Be forewarned that getting needles stuck in your tender scalp does hurt, some days more than others. My neurologist prescribed a topical anesthetic cream for next time."

• Cat...
• August 3, 2019

For Urinary Frequency "I had bladder BOTOX done on 2 Aug 2019 after suffering for years with urge incontinence. I had local anesthetic, a tiny bit of numbing cream, and they assured me it wasn't too painful. How wrong could they have been? I felt everything they did. I screamed and cried in pain, it was like jabbing a red-hot needle into raw flesh. She said nobody else had been that bad, there had to be one, didn't there! After all that, it hasn't worked for me. I'm just the same as before (insert swear word here)! I don't know if it will improve in a few days or not. Anyway, all I'm saying is if you do decide to have it done, have a general anesthetic, you could have an extra sensitive bladder like me!"

• Elk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2021

For Urinary Frequency "Never again! I've had Botox injections 3 months ago for my overactive bladder. PTNS and medication didn't work. Before Botox, I had to pee every hour, after Botox, even more. My bladder feels painful and full all the time. The injections were a bit painful, and I got antibiotics before, but after 2 weeks, I had a UTI. Can't empty my bladder without pushing really hard, so I have to cath myself 3 times a day. Still, my bladder feels full all the time. So sick of this."

• Tam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 24, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "I get this every three months for migraine prevention. I have severe allergies, and I was afraid to try this for the longest time, but I finally gave in as I was blowing through so many of the available meds. I wish I had tried it when my doctor first offered it. This has changed my life as nothing has since becoming a parent. I used to get migraines so frequently and badly that I was suicidal. I didn't know what it was like to not have a headache. Enter Botox injections. The daily headaches are gone. The migraines are down to one a week from at least two or three, with the pain level being 4-5/10 instead of 7/8-10. Now I only go to urgent care maybe every two months for the pain cocktail injections instead of every week. I will admit, the injections are pretty painful. There's something like 32 at each visit, every three months. But if you get the freezing spray, it makes it more bearable. The increase in quality of daily life makes the 15 min/4x year of pain worth it."

• Duk...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 28, 2023

For Urinary Incontinence "I had Botox injections for 0AB, and it helped the first time. Very uncomfortable but tolerable. Doesn’t last long. The second and third times, no help, and I seemed to have even less control. The doctor thinks I might have cystitis, but there is no way to know for sure. He is surprised Botox doesn’t work. I also have pain and a painful sensation in my hands and fingers if I hold too long, my doctor had never heard of this either. Currently trying different meds. Disappointed Botox did not work for me."

• ren...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 9, 2016

For Migraine "Having had migraines for literally over half my life, hitting >7 on the pain scale for around 25 days of the month, and trying pretty much every tablet for my migraines that I possibly could, Botox has brought me down to >7 for around 12-15 days a month. It may not sound like a lot, but I'm only stuck in bed for 3-5 days instead of over half the month. It's given me some resemblance of a life. Only disadvantages for me are that it hurts a lot and stings, and I'm terrified of needles! Also, I got it free on the NHS (UK)."

• Not...
• January 30, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I can’t take it a second time. I tolerated the pain from the Botox shots well. I have a younger look about me, at least from the cheekbones up. I don’t look like I match now. The slight rise in my eyebrows makes everyone ask if I’m mad. That’s not cool that I look kinda mad. It’s been really worrying me, wondering what happened to me until I started reading some of the comments here. I’ve got worsening anxiety and paranoia, feel nauseated, want to cry, and I’m so not myself. I just want to go to sleep and wake up feeling normal again! I’ve only felt the feeling of ice going through my veins from a toxic level of an antidepressant about 20 years ago, in which case a trip to the ER had to take place, and that’s how I found out what that was, but it was also including vomiting and diarrhea. Now I just feel like ice is going through different veins on and off, and I pretty much stay fatigued and nauseous. My headache has come back."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 14, 2022

For Urinary Frequency "Getting Botox for OAB was the worst decision I ever made. My life is exponentially worse right now. Prior to the procedures, I had frequent urination and had to go 4-5 times a night on average. I tried the Botox the first time, and I think I had one night where I only woke up twice. The worst effect was the retention; the inability to go, knowing I had a full bladder. They said, 'you have to do it again for it to really work,' so I did. I now get up 8-9 times at night, can't empty my bladder, and have the worst pain all night long. I would give anything to go back in time and not have this done."

• geo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2023

For Urinary Frequency "I have had the worst experience, 6 UTIs in a row in just over 3 months. I cannot drink caffeine or alcohol, as I could before. I was in such pain to the point of not wanting to live. I went to Harley Street, they found I have a chronic embedded infection in my bladder wall. The NHS does not run tests to find this. I cannot go on holiday, I cannot work. Something needs to change. At no point was I informed this could happen. Looking at all these reviews, I realize I am not alone."

• Anonymous
• September 19, 2021

For Urinary Incontinence "Never again. I had Botox for the first time under sedation, it worked great for a month, but it did not last. Had double the dose the second time, no sedation. Omg, it hurt. It has been over three weeks, I ended up with a nasty UTI, and I am still having an overactive bladder, running to the bathroom all the time. So Botox was a big waste of time, also switching doctors!"

• Nit...
• October 5, 2017

For Cervical Dystonia "I am about to get my second dose of Botox and very scared to do so. Three months ago, I received my first dose. It was very painful and took 3 1/2 weeks for the pain to go away, the pain was very extreme. The doctor said the shots were supposed to ease the pain, well, that was not the case. He explained that the next round of shots might be worse since he knows I have bad reactions to it and asked me if I wanted to bear that pain. After reading reviews, I decided to go ahead with the dose in November, even though I am scared, but according to y'all, it only gets better. Hoping for the best."

• S H...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2017

For Facial Wrinkles "This neurotoxin sent me to the hospital with leg convulsions, extreme anxiety, confusion, pain, depression, and difficulties swallowing. I'm 8 weeks post-Botox and still have to take meds to stop my legs from convulsing. My anxiety is still through the roof. It's a very scary thing to be told by medical professionals that there is NOTHING they can do to help you. The only advice I was given was to call 911 if my throat started to close and I'd be put on a ventilator. Every day I'm one day closer to hopefully making a full recovery. But please, if you are considering using Botox, do your due diligence and be informed on the risks. I had had it many times before with no problems, this time my body decided enough was enough!"

• Don...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 4, 2019

For Urinary Frequency "Nov 18 ... What can I say??? My life was not good, wanting to pee every 2 minutes or so, it felt like that... I'm going for my second lot in September, it's made a massive improvement in my life. Yes, it's painful when they do it, but for me, the pain only lasted a bit, then I'm good. Yes, I had to self-catheterize for a few weeks, but like I say, it's worth it (for me)."

• Hor...
• July 26, 2020

For Overactive Bladder "Female, 80. 3 single births within 2-1/2 yrs, the 1st being largest, 8 lb, 10 oz. Over the years, diagnosed with urge incontinence, stress incontinence, and OAB. Sling surgery earlier this year for stress incontinence - has worked like a miracle for coughing/sneezing but nothing else. Meds didn't do much for urge or OAB (sample Myrbetriq/too $$, a few months of oxybutynin, then trospium). Botox about 3-1/2 wks ago. Was very uncomfortable and post-op, pain was intensifying. I started suspecting UTI and was correct. Probably caused by leaky bowel (an entirely another problem!) since culture showed E. coli. Now that that's cleared up, I can evaluate the Botox procedure as being 50%-75% successful. Fewer pads, less laundry, and overall more comfortable. My urologist said treatment should last 6-9 months. As of now, will repeat. Am glad I did not research it prior to surgery. I believe the failures posted would have made me very hesitant. I am so sorry for those who went through pain and failure."

• Tin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2021

For Cervical Dystonia "I received my first Botox injections 4 weeks ago for my torticollis. I was in pain a few days after, but it got better. It was about 85% better, and then the last few days my neck has been twitching much worse. Especially during the day, which wasn't a problem to begin with. It was the nights where it drove me crazy. Is this common? I only received 200 mg. My doctor said 300 mg was the norm. I am so frustrated! I have sent messages to my nurse, and she will get back to me. Is this common?"

• cat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2023

For Urinary Frequency "Well, I must be like one in a million who suffered extreme pain when they were injecting the Botox. I was literally screaming in pain, it was like I was being injected with acid. Absolutely awful, it didn't help much with the incontinence either."

• mel...
• January 21, 2016

For Migraine "I'm on my third set of shots, and I'm experiencing a few problems, and I don't know if these are severe and should I be worried. On my left side, my scalp is a little raw. I have a huge knot behind my ear. I'm getting more knots in my head. I'm nauseated, dizzy, have diarrhea. I can't sleep, I can't brush my hair. My left side hurts. This is the worst headache I have had yet. My neck hurts, my left side is numb, the left side of my face is swollen, my eye is swollen also, only the left side. I get my next round of shots in March, it will be my fourth set of shots. I haven't had side effects like this before. Can anybody help me?"

• suz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 4, 2021

For Cervical Dystonia "I have cervical dystonia from a spinal cord compression from a fall 3 years ago. I had an amazing pain management doctor to help me with my diagnosis and began Botox as soon as my insurance approved it. I switched to Xeomin (not much better) when it comes to post-injection side effects. The injections themselves do not hurt, but 3 days after the injections, the spasms, swelling, and pain are unbearable for about 2 weeks. They do help in the long run, but the frequency can cause 'injection fatigue' for those of us who don't tolerate the toxin."