Botox for migraines review

I have had migraines since I was sixteen years old. I have a lengthy relationship with headaches, neurologists, and the vast drugs used to treat migraines and the common headache. I consider myself somewhat of a headache expert and at the same time realize the complexity of the headache is so unique to each individual that I am not even sure the experts understand them. The headaches I began getting at sixteen were migraines that began with an aura which is basically like flashing lights or zig zag lines in your vision that increase in intensity. For me it lasts exactly for a half an hour every time, you can set your watch to it, and then the headache that follows is the feeling of having been hit in the head with a baseball bat. For me that pain last about twenty four hours, sometimes more. At sixteen I had no idea what was happening to me the first few times this occurred and it was very scary as I thought there was something wrong with my eyes every time. It also took time to realize that the headache followed. After all the pieces came together the journey began and I went to my first Neurologist. It was actually years later after suffering some time. In those years I realized I was also getting many headaches that didn't start with the aura as well, lucky me, I am just prone to headaches in general. I tried all the different medications that were specific to the migraine with and aura such as imitrex and I did not find relief from that type of drug. For me the greatest relief I have ever found for my migraine with an aura has been Fiorocet. If I take this when the aura begins I can pretty much bypass the pain at this point. I went through many drugs to to find that was what worked for me and everyone is different and I have talked to people it did not help. That being said in the past couple years I have been struggling with a new type of headache that I have not yet been successful in finding something that works that well. I have been struggling with a one sided temple headache which doesn't seem to respond to any over the counter medications such as tylenol or aleve, and of course then I went the Neurologist route where they started me on a steroid which didn't help. Then he thought it was an indomethacin marked headache in which it would respond to the drug indomehtacin, in which it did not. All the while this headache really doesnt go away so I would have it months at a time. At this point I was begging my neurologist to please try botox on me because I was beggining to feel desperate and out of options and I wanted to stop the drug merry go round, the problem is you have to be approved by your insurance and it is costly. I was convinced Botox was the answer because my temple actually felt sore like an over worked muscle and I thought if it was just numb maybe I wouldn't feel the pain. While they worked on getting approval through my insurance company they decided to try two more drugs, topamax and tizanidine. I had tried topamax in the past and although it does help with my headaches it does come with side effects. The tizanidine I had never tried, it is a short acting muscle relaxer. I gave the drugs a chance and they did help with the headache. In the meantime I was approved by my insurance and I felt like a child on Christmas when they told me I would be able to get the treatment. The day I went for the procedure I actually had a hell of a headache so I wondered if it would be like a magic bullet and I would feel instant relief, they told me it was not like that and that some people didnt actually get relief until the second treatment three months later,(are you freaking kidding me, do they realize how long I have been suffering for?) I was also told to stay on all medication. As far as the injections they were not bad or painful and I think it took under a minute for him to put all 30 injections in. They do them in your forehead and temples(I asked for extra in the temple and he said no, killjoy!)and neck. It has been three months since I had it done and it was not a magic bullet as I hoped it would be, I did not get instant relief that day nor have my headaches stopped all together. And I am still on medication to boot. I am hopeful after the next round I will have better news and I will at least be off all meds. Lastly if you are looking to get free botox keep this in mind, a neurologist is not a dermatologist and does not pay attention to details like a dermatologist does, they are there to relieve your headaches. I have had a funny eyebrow since getting my botox but I could live with that to get rid of the headache. Update 1/27/16 Still doing botox for the headaches and it has been over a year and I think I am on my fourth round as you get it every three months. I wish I could say it has cured my headaches or reduced them drastically but it hasnt. My neurologist chose to keep me on meds with the Botox as some people do both and at this point neither seems to be helping. It does help alot of people it just doent seem to be helping me. I have constant headache that is on my left side in my temple, that radiates often into my tooth at its worse. At this point I am seeking help from a headache specialist in Boston, fingers crossed he will be able to help. Also trying to get off all meds and go with a more natural approach if possible.