NEED GREAT "Cosmetic" Botox dr. ASAP-for pain (Los Angeles: tenant, landlord)

[BeBe Blazfemi]

Warning, this is LOOONG! But I NEED help with this!

I searched botox before posting this but didn't find too much info for what I need. I moved here about 6 weeks or so ago, (am FINALLY moving into new apt. in Hollywood despite reservations about the landlord-tenant laws & wanting to live in Weho, I just moved from Philly,) and it's been more than six months since my last "cosmetic" botox injections and the reason I put it in quotes is because for 30 years, I've been plagued by first crippling migraines which went away just as a new form of equally crippling headache started- one that eased in both severity and frequency the MINUTE I got my first forehead botox injections.

I didn't even realize I'd not only always been tight/had pain in my FOREHEAD, (along with the "pain" face, aka, the "11s" between the brows that I originally got it for,) but realized afterward, that injections into this area lessons the NECK PAIN that can get so bad a few times a month from tight/damaged muscles related to a car accident- (T-boned and spun 180 degrees while in a 1975 Chevy impala as a passenger, no seatbelt, by a 1950's truck doing about 50 mph!) about 30 years ago, in which no one even realized the damage that was done to the tendons, etc. OR checked me out because I walked away without a scratch.

However, I have had neck pain that extends to my head and shoulder blade, on alternating sides that is the LITERAL equivalant of having a sustained leg cramp, (charlie horse,) that lasts no LESS than 24 hours when it happens, usually precipitated by an extreme change in the weather of any kind.
I have several other health issues, including Ehler's-Danlos hypermobility disorder, (contortionists have this, the joints bend beyond a "safe" point,) which has caused early degenerative disc disease and joint osteoarthris- and it STARTED in my neck, where I slowly lost 2 discs and they told me in 2002 that because my muscles & tendons react to trauma to my spine or joints by TIGHTENING to support the structure, my pain wouldn't be relieved, and surgery IS "trauma," both my orthopedic surgeon AND my neurosurgeon told me disc surgery on my neck wasn't possible because the other discs are losing fluid, too & a fusion would put more load on them. My neurosurgeon DID recommend botox for my neck, but in 2002, the idea scared me. I didn't get it in my face until 2006, and have to pay out of pocket even though it helps my pain, (though not as much as directly into the neck muscles that are the main problem, which I'm starting to pursue as well, I just need a "quick fix" because I've been in pain A LOT lately.

Since then, I have 3 more herniated discs in my lumbar & thoracic spine.
My rheumatologist told me last year, after discovering that I had Ehler's-Danlos and the damage its done, "You're only 45 years old and you're literally falling apart."

I've had ALL the conservative treatments- from physical therapy to cervical epidural steroid injections as well as one in my spine- nothing helped.

nSAIDS never helped, and I also have major stomach issues FROM taking so much over the years.

So I'm on a low, short acting doses of morphine pills after the first opioid treatment I was given, Fentanyl patches, pretty much could've killed me when it released to much into my system when I overheated at a concert- something I wouldn't have been able to even GO to if I hadn't been put on such a strong med, and could easily have just brushed it off as heat exhaustion until it was too late, but instead, removed the patch, called the dr. emergency line and was told what I already knew- and that it'd take up to SEVENTEEN hours to leave my system. By this time, I'd already been vomiting.
So, at my next appt., we agreed upon a tried and true opiate, morphine, (which has a 200 year history in U.S. history, and much longer in other cultures,) not a new synthetic opioid, and at a dose that only lasts about 4 hours at a time.

However, for some reason, probably because the side effects don't allow me to take more than 1 or 2 pills a day when I have pain, it does NOTHING for these "I-want-to-shoot-myself-in-the-head" headaches that start in the back of my skull and shoulder blade, and the pain goes up one side of my head, around my ear, and behind one eye.

I'd been prescribed many muscle relaxants, antidepressants, even anticonvulsants but ONE thing worked- VALIUM.

However, I'd had to be on it, (as needed) for 6 YEARS and had a high tolerance to it from day 2, so it takes a LOT to make it go away. Lucky for me, I don't have side effects- high metabolism, but eventually, even I started to become tolerant to the doses that worked, and it was such a high dose to begin with, I decided to go off of it rather than take more.

[NOTE! Never try this- I barely tapered for more than 2 weeks and went through really bad physical withdrawel for 2 mths, as well as ]
This made the decision to go back ON it after being off for over a year scary, esp. since I'm also on morphine and Adderall- (I have ADHD- BONA FIDE, test-proven- I'm not of those people who's just forgetful or ditzy who likes to SAY they have it.)


Bottom line is I need to get the botox to help this pain a bit while I got through the likely very long process of having doctors diagnose the cause of my pain- though I know what it is...and, I'm starting to look my age again!

Thanks for ANY recommendations- but please don't refer me to a doctor that is prone to making people look plastic and not do it the way the client wants to look.

[Inter441]

typical girls come to LA

[BeBe Blazfemi]

Originally Posted by Inter441

typical girls come to LA

Uh, I AM in LA, and I'm HARDLY typical. Thanks, that was SOOO helpful.

[PeppermintChapstick]

Hello Bebe and welcome to L.A. I'm sorry I can't be any help re the Botox. I've never had the money or need for it thus far. If you've established a regular doctor here, perhaps they can guide you. Or another poster may come along and advise you. Most of the posters on the LA forum are great, but, as with most anything, there is always a jerk or two.

I have been in a car accident this past spring and am still in pain. Nothing like the hell you've been through from what you described, but depressing nonetheless. I hope you find what you need.

I wanted to comment on your remarks about Valium. It's a hot button with me, so I hope I don't go overboard. Valium is a benzo, as you probably know. And while I certainly think benzos have their uses, they are nasty for long term use.

I know quite a bit about them from going through it myself after a continuing line of doctors prescribed them to me during the stress of my divorce. They are hell on one's central nervous system, tolerance rolls around fast requiring a higher dose or a change to another benzo and/or the addition of an anti-depressant, etc. In addition, many have reported that the very symptoms that benzos are first prescribed for return during use and can worsen.

Then getting off them is an entirely different kettle of fish as you've already experienced. Six years use with a two week taper......I can imagine it was hell. And I also can imagine that there were lasting effects. If you ever decide to go off it again, there are proven, safe ways to do it with minimal withdrawal symptoms.

I would strongly encourage you to go over to Benzodiazepine and read posts. You can do it without being registered. Even if you're not going to drop the Valium now, I believe you'd find it interesting reading over there.

At the risk of being called a flake and looney, I do believe that doctors prescribe the stuff for much longer than is appropriate due to ignorance which results in the patient's detriment. Big Pharma (yes, I hate them) want to sell, sell, sell, and they have no concern for people.

It is through the experience of others (and there are many) that we learn about these dangerous drugs and the damage they do to our central nervous systems.

I'll step off my soapbox now.

Best to you and I hope someone comes along with a suggestion re finding a doc for your Botox.

[ILdÐÆMcº³]

@Inter441 Weirdly enough Botox does work for migraine treatment, I'm not sure about the mechanisms behind why. However, I wouldn't insult someone for it even if it was purely cosmetic.

I would speak to a specialist in LA about it before you see a cosmetic doctor about botox. Mostly to see if there are any better options, I think I read something about an LSD derivative without the psychoactive effects that is supposed to be very effective. You never know...

Here is a decent resource for cosmetic doctors that do botox: Top Los Angeles Botox Doctors - RealSelf

Good luck and I hope you find success in getting rid of your migraines.