Botox shots in legs for spasticity

[Midsomer1]

Yesterday I went for my every three months of Botox shots in both my legs for spasticity. I get a total of 14 shots.

It really does help for the stiffness in my legs and foot drop.

Has anyone else had this done?

[jimeka]

Where do they inject the Botox?

[Midsomer1 in reply to jimeka]

I get them in both legs; calves muscles and upper leg muscles.

[jimeka in reply to Midsomer1]

Ouch 😣

[Ellmom in reply to jimeka]

Hey if it helps I'm all for it

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

I'm so glad it's working for you Midsomer1 😊 how do you find it helps with your foot drop?🤔 🤗💕🌠

[Midsomer1 in reply to Jesmcd2]

Nothing is perfect of course! But it loosens the muscles in my legs. I don't walk so stiff legged and lift my leg higher helping with the foot drop. Also helps with the pain of spasms and spasticity.

[starlight5]

Hi, my neuro suggested botox injections several months ago but I have not looked into it yet. I would be really interested to get more details from you. If you want you could PM me through the Chat link at top of page. Thanks

[kwhompus]

I consulted with a doctor about it and he thought that as long as I have some strength left in my left leg he didn't want to do it, yet I can,t walk w/o the help of a walker. Even with the walker I am only good for a very short distance. He thought It weaken my leg more. Please share more of your experience with the botox and more of your condition prior to using the botox.

[Midsomer1 in reply to kwhompus]

I have PPMS. I have a lot of stiffness in both my legs. Baclofen isn't doing enough for the stiffness I have in my legs. Stiff legged, spasms, pain and foot drop on my right foot. I have been getting Botox in both legs: calves and upper muscles for a couple years and find it does help. It relieves some of the spasticity, pain and foot drop. Of course, nothing is perfect!

It can weaken your legs depending on how much the doc injects for the spasticity. My doc started with a low dose. He could feel which muscles are the tightest.

Botox is very expensive. Thankfully my insurances cover the cost.

I hope this helps.

[kwhompus in reply to Midsomer1]

thank you midsomer1. I have PPMS as well and it sounds as if were on the same roller. coaster

[Ellmom in reply to Midsomer1]

I have secondary progressive ms (movin on up) and thankfully I still have my soon to be exhusbands union insurance and that covers the botox as long as it's not for cosmetic reasons 👍

[Midsomer1 in reply to kwhompus]

I also use a walker. I can walk by myself but not very far without holding on to a wall, chair etc. That is due to my balance because of the numbness in my feet.

[Ellmom in reply to Midsomer1]

Oh yes the "wall crawl" I know it well

[Violonchelo]

No. Never. It is interesting .Thanks 😻😻😻

[152114randal]

Does your insurance cover it? I am very interested how it helps with foot drop as my wife Hans it and just ordered a leg brace which is covered by Medicare.

[Midsomer1 in reply to 152114randal]

Yes, my insurance covers it. I have my husband's insurance and also Medicare. The botox loosens the muscles in my legs, helping me lift my leg higher therefore helping with the foot drop.

[Midsomer1 in reply to Midsomer1]

This Botox treatment is very expensive!

[152114randal]

Thank you Midsomer1. We are going to look into it. I guess you feel it is really helping you if you go back every three months. After your injection do you notice a big change in how your legs feel? Does your neurologist do the injections or is it your primary? Thanks again for the post, it is very helpful.

[Midsomer1 in reply to 152114randal]

You are welcome! I would look into it. This is my second day and I can feel less stiffness. I go to a doctor for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation who specializes in Botox injections for spasticity, amongst other things. I was referred to him by my neurologist. So as your neuro about it.

[IFwczs]

I have asked my neurologist for Botox a couple of times. He wouldn't give it to me. I thought my spasticity is only in the leg that has foot drop. But he said I have "general spasticity" (whatever that means), and that it was useless with it. Just as well - there have been enough posts here where people could no longer walk after these Botox injections.

[Humbrd in reply to IFwczs]

I was wondering what does spasticity feel like for those who have it? I think I have this but not sure. I have had pain starting in my shoulder and goes down my arm for over a year. It feels like the muscles are just pulling and pulling through out the whole arm and shoulder. Its my whole arm and it's like this all day and hurts when lying on it at night. It hurts terrible. And then my fingers get tingly. My neurologist did a nerve conduction test and didn't find anything with the nerves. When I'm walking and my arm is hanging down it gets soooo painful. I take baclofen to try to help. I don't know what to do to get rid of it.

[Midsomer1 in reply to Humbrd]

My leg spasticity does cause pain. My leg muscles are always contracted and resist being stretched. Can you bend your arm easily? Maybe more questions for neuro.

[Humbrd in reply to Midsomer1]

I can move my arm and stretch it out. It's a feeling inside the arm like the muscles have a feeling of being pulled. My neurologist didn't give me a reason for this. I wish I could find answers.

[Midsomer1 in reply to Humbrd]

Maybe go to your family doctor. Maybe they can order x-rays. I hope they can give you some answers.

[Humbrd in reply to Midsomer1]

Thanks. It's just such a mystery. I had thought that maybe because I have neck issues with a little pinching of the cord that maybe it was causing that. But the nerve conduction test didn't show anything last year. Maybe I'll ask to do it again. Ask my spine doctor if he knows. Maybe just ask every doctor I see. 😞

[IFwczs in reply to Humbrd]

My spasticity manifests itself in extreme stiffness. This causes my foot drop, and I can't bend that knee.

[Humbrd in reply to IFwczs]

Thank you for letting me know how it affects you. The only thing that has recently locked up is my hand. For over 3 months cannot make a fist. Can't close fingers to palm at all. So stiff. I went a couple of weeks ago and got steroid injection in Palm. Now can almost get it shut. Maybe need one more shot. But it's so painful to get the needle. I go back next week.

[Midsomer1 in reply to Humbrd]

Oh that sounds dreadful! Needle in your palm. Ouch! But if it helps especially with pain, it is worth it. Keep us informed. I’d like to know how it works out. Here’s hoping for the best results.

[Humbrd in reply to Midsomer1]

Yes, it was painful, I had a lie down for it. But now I can almost close my hand.

[IFwczs in reply to Humbrd]

I am very sorry to hear that. Is there any way to get a Botox injection in palm?

[Humbrd in reply to IFwczs]

I'm not really wanting to get that injected in me. Thanks for the idea though. 😆

[Ellmom in reply to IFwczs]

FOR EVERYONE Call the national ms society and find yourselves a Dr who specializes in only ms 18003444867 trust me it helps. I left one of the top neurological groups in nj to go to an ms center and have been going there for over 20 years

[Midsomer1]

I would listen to your neuro as he knows what is best for your situation. I know that the amount of Botox injected into muscles can make the muscle too weak. That is why my doc started with a low dose of Botox to see how it affected the strength in my legs. Everyone is different.

[Goldilockssearching]

I did and I thought it helped but I had a lot going on in my life at that time and I clashed horribly with the Doctor who was the only one my neurologist knew of that injected it for spacicity in my area.After two treatments he told me I really didn’t need it. He supposedly worked with MS patients but didn’t have a clue when it comes to the disease 🙄

[Ratsue]

I also get Botox injections, in my neck for head tremors. It really does help a lot, when he gets the locations right!

[rjoneslaw]

i was told it came weaken ur legs so i never did it

my neuro rehab dr always ask me if i want to do it

[Midsomer1 in reply to rjoneslaw]

I have a lot of stiffness in my legs. My doc started with only injecting a small amount of Botox in the areas where he could feel the muscle contracted. He is very careful and follows up with me two weeks after my injections.

[kandykone1]

WOW! Do you know how many units?

[Midsomer1 in reply to kandykone1]

It varies from 25 to 100 units.

[Cutefreckles72]

I have PPMS and I know about the pain of stiffness and foot drop. I plan to talk to my Neuro about the Botox shots. Have to do something. Thanks

[Midsomer1 in reply to Cutefreckles72]

It has helped me. Takes a few visits to get the right dose. I have come off Baclofen. One less pill! Yay!

[Cutefreckles72]

I agree. I am taking Tizanidine and Gabpentin. They don't relieve the stiffness and pain. I will be talking to my Neuro soon.

[Ellmom]

I haven't I'm looking forward to ha having botox bladder injections but you've inspired me to have it done for my legs. Thanks for sharing

[Midsomer1 in reply to Ellmom]

I have gotten use to the injections. Some are more painful than others. But I get 14!

[Ellmom in reply to Midsomer1]

Oh my, 14 injections 😳 Well all these years I look at it this way, if it's going to help me then I'll take it