Insurance approved me for Botox injections! I go to the Dr. next week, then I wait. The nurse who did all of the pre-auth., told me that there was about 31 needle sticks involved...ouch. Pre-medicating with Valium! I know I've had more than 31 needles in my life(mostly in my butt!), so I'm no stranger. But I'm sure they're a little more painful in my head!! BUT at this point I will do anything. I'm crossing my fingers.
I will keep you updated.
I tried this but did not get anywhere with it. I had two treatments with 8 shots each but no relief from either tx. Let me know how long it takes to feel any improvement. I would like to know if I just did not go far enough with the program and gave up too soon, or if it was just not the program for me.
Good luck!
Tired of head pain,
I just had the Botox done a few days ago, and my Dr. used 31 needle sticks, not 8. Maybe yours didn't use enough of the medicine and that's why it wasn't effective. Why don't you get another Dr's. opinion and see what they say. Even when I look on-line, they show the that they give 31 shots and where they are on your head and neck. Just a suggestion!
Deb :)
First, I'd like to thank everyone for their hopeful and positive comments! It's so "good," for lack of a better word, to know that I'm not the only one out there who feels this actual pain and the depression that comes along with it. I'm just thankful that there are others out there that I can "talk" to.
Anyway, I had my first Botox injections on Tues., Aug. 2nd. It took 2 minutes! The Dr. talked longer than that, which is good--he was very informative. 31 sticks, which I knew, and it wasn't pleasant, but at least it was quick! 2 days later and my forehead is sore and my neck. Now I just wait--2 to 3 weeks he said to start feeling relief, IF it works. I'll be on vacation then at the beach. I haven't had a pain-free vaca. in years! So I'm hoping this is the first one!! The Dr. said the Botox is supposed to have excellent results, so if anyone is thinking about getting it done, I'd check with your Dr. and go for it!! Good Luck!!
I am away right now, but I am going to talk to my doc about this and look into another doc who does this more on a regular basis. I am not sure I got the right person to do it, and I certainly did not get 31 sticks at the first procedure. Waking up without pain, even for a few days would be a miracle! Thanks for keeping us up on all of this. I hope it works for you! I am waiting for your next report.
I am just looking into this now, after 20 years of suffering....better late than never. Please let me know how you are doing now. How is the pain reduction? I'm so glad you said it only took 2 mins....now I can breathe again!
20+ years for me too. I just want to make sure you understood that I meant the procedure only took two minutes, and it's been 3 days now and I still feel like crap. They say it takes 2-3 weeks to take effect, then (hopefully!) lasts for about 3 months, on average. I've got quite a boomer coming on now. When I feel somewhat good, I over-do it, and right into a migraine! I just took a Relpax. Sometimes I just feel guilty because I don't spend enough time with my girls, so I go out anyway and that will do it too. But I'll take 3 days of agony if I can spend a nice day with my girls!
Hope everything works out for you. I'll keep posting. Good luck!
Deb :)
I did the same thing. Last December my neurologist got pre-cert from my insurance for Botox injections for migraines. The insurance went ahead and pre-certified me. I had them done mid-Dec 2010. I was quite anxious about the multiple injections since I hate needles. There were about 32 injections and they all stung-the worse were in the back of the neck and top of shoulders. It helped a little and would have gone another bout in June of this year but the insurance at 1st denied the procedure after authorizing it saying it was experimental and not medically needed to which the dr office and myself fought stating the FDA approved Oct 2010 for migraines. The insurance then decided to apply it to my deductible and now it's an out of pocket expense-it came to $1400.00 and our per person deductible is $2500.00 so I cannot afford more treatments at a higher dose which would probably have helped me more. We appealed Blue Cross Blue Access decision to the IDOI and of course they sided with Blue Cross. So BEWARE-even if the insurance pre-authorizes it that doesn't mean they will pay for it. They got out of it stating it was not in their guidelines of preventive care!!! Bunch of BS!!!!!!!!
Believe me, I understand all about insurance BS!! I've been dealing with BCBS for A YEAR for some claims on my daughter--I finally got fed up with them not paying and I paid the balance due to the Dr.
BCBS is actually my secondary insurance tho, I have Medicare because after YEARS of appealing, I finally got approved for Disability for my migraines, and this was almost 13 years ago!! It was exhausting, and discouraging, and I really just wanted to give up most of the time--but that's what they want. That's how they weed out the people who REALLY need it, like us, from the people who just want free money!! They make it time consuming, and keep rejecting you, and make you go back for ANOTHER appeal. If your Dr. is onboard, and you got all the paperwork and a good lawyer, keep going and you'll get it!! And what a day it will be!! With the Disability, you should also get Medicare, and that covers almost all of the cost of the Botox procedure. Just keep breathing and take it one day at a time my friend!
Deb:)
I am on disability for migraines, which I finally got in November last year, and the Medicare came through in May of this year. I am happy to hear that they will approve the botox, because I have never tried to get a pre-cert from them before. I have good A-B & and Gap coverage so it should not cost me anything unless it comes under part D and then I will have to fight for it. It will be worth it though, if it works. I am going to see a new headache doc in the fall, and he may prescribe it through a person who does the 31-32 sticks. I am not afraid of needles since I give myself shots all the time.
Yes the insurance companies are a major pain-you pay for coverage and don't get it when you need it the most. As for the SSD I'm in the process of my 2nd appeal for disability. That is a bunch of BS too! You work for years and you pay into SS and your employer matches it and the goverment think THEY own it and have more rights to it than you do!!! I'm so disgusted and discouraged with the whole situation! If I was an illegal imigrant I'd have NO problem getting benefits from the government and FREE healthcare and EVERYTHING would be covered-I would not have to fight tooth and nail like I, and millions of other people are currently doing!
Trust me, I'm not giving up! I've been fighting mirgaine disease for over 20+ years and that alone has made me even more determined than ever not to lie down and let them all walk over me! It gets discouraging, depressing and frustrating beyond belief, but I will not give up!!
Thank you for the encouraging words 
Re Disability Insurance - I went through Binder & Binder - and had Disability withing 6 months. I had be out of work for a long time because of the migraines - I was having 4-5 episodes a week and could not hold down any kind of job with any regularity - in fact if I did work for more than 3 days in a row it would send me into a 5-6 day bout of screaming pain. However, they were great, helped me with all the forms, which I hate to do, did all the contact with the social security people, and because over 40+ years I had such good medical documentation it was a no brainer. If you are in this category, and after 20 years most of you should be, give them a call. They know all the ins and outs of the system, they take a fee which is proscribed by law and is low, and really know what they are doing. They have offices all over the country and everything was done by mail, phone or fax. It was so much easier than doing it by myself. In fact I don't think I could have done it myself. I am single and have no support system to help me. If you are in the middle of the process or just starting, I would highly recommend them. You all have enough to deal with. Let them do the paperwork. I did not have to do any appeals. It was just done in one shot. I hope you will all at least make a call and get some good advice. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
That's amazing!! I've seen they're commercials many times, but you never know who or what to believe. And the fact that you didn't have to go anywhere is great! I had to make multiple trips to my lawyers office, to hearings, to see a judge so he could see if I was really sick or just faking it--PLUS at that time I was 3 months pregnant!! I thought that was actually going to be a deal breaker. But my entire 2nd pregnancy was a 9 month migraine. It was the pits, to say the least.
Anyway, you should let more people know about Binder and Binder and your experience with them. It's nice to hear some good news now and then!!
Deb:)
That is why I put it in this forum - so I hope some people see it. I know we are not supposed to mention people by name, but in this case, I thought it would be OK since I know what trouble people have getting disability, and it should not be that way. I think all our posts are screened before they go up anyway for this kind of think and I don't think anyone would find this kind of source objectionable. That is what we are here for, to help each other, right? If you call them let me know how you make out.
Thanks for your reply. Sorry you had to go through 3 rejections, but that seems average for everyone who does it on their own. Keep in touch about your progress with the Botox injections and let us all know your progress as the weeks progress. I have read some people don't get the full blast until 7 weeks and they get 3 tx 8 wks apart. Your doc said you should see some improvement at 2 weeks so I am anxious to hear about it. Also the numbing and where it is, and how you are handling that trade-off for the migraine pain. It sounds like a good trade-off, but in reality, I don't know. i remember when I broke my ankle and the L side of my foot was numb for several years, and what a pain that was until new neuro-pathways grew back. It took about 8 years (bad break). Less wrinkles perhaps, but at what cost. I'll be interested to hear what you have to say. Thanks for sharing it all.
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Best of luck to you! I am so happy with the results I've had with botox for muscle spasms in the neck, shoulder, and back. Cuts down on the pain levels so much!
I hope it works as well for me as it does for you.
Thanks for the well-wishes!
Deb