This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Jess Newman. Find her on Instagram at @_jess_n_. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
There are a lot of cruel things in this world and migraines are no exception. If you suffer from migraines, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I’ve had migraines since my preteen years and as I got older they continued to get worse. Recently, I finally gave in to trying Botox injections and I’m here to tell you how it went.
What is Botox and how does it work?
Botox aka Onabotulinum toxin A was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2010 to treat chronic migraines. According to the American Migraine Foundation, “When the Botox botulinum toxin is purified and used in tiny doses in specific areas, it temporarily reduces muscle contractions for approximately 3 months.” When it comes to migraines, Botox is often recommended for patients who have very frequent migraines. “Each treatment typically involves 31 injections in seven key areas of the head and neck.” The location of botox injections for migraines mirror each other on both sides of the head and neck, but the odd injection out is placed in between the eyebrows. If you get migraines due to neck tension, the injections located in the upper traps help this as well.
I love that the poster in this TikTok shows the location of botox injections. I don’t like how she says she cries from the pain. Please take this with a grain of salt because she could have been being dramatic. Everyone is different. The injections are quick and simple, but because there is a needle involved they aren’t comfortable by any means. For me, the Botox injection sites felt a little bruised the next day, but I would much rather deal with this pain instead of getting migraines almost every day!
My Experience
I have always been deathly afraid of getting any kind of injections, especially in my head. My worst fear is having an allergic reaction. I was recommended Botox back when I was 16, but the more I looked into it I decided to pass. Botox is approved for patients 18 and older. When it is recommended for adolescents, it’s hard to get insurance to cover the cost of the injections because it is considered “off-brand”. When I finally gave in and really decided to consider Botox for my migraines, I quickly found out that it takes a while for the injections to be authorized by insurance. Keep this in mind and try to plan ahead.
Due to moving around the country, I’ve seen a handful of different neurologists. When I was younger, I found that the doctors were throwing any and all kinds of migraine medications at me to see what would work. When I lived in South Carolina the neurologist had me cut out all caffeine and chocolate from my diet. I also had to stop taking any breakthrough pain relievers to include Tylenol. This made my life even more miserable than it already was and didn’t even help my migraines. My next and current neurologist didn’t believe in the whole “detox” protocol I was on and said as long as I wasn’t drinking coffee every day all day then I would be fine. He thought I would be a perfect candidate for Botox and since it has been around for a while, I decided to give it a try.
My Botox was finally approved and the injections took maybe 10 minutes. If you’ve seen any of your favorite influencers on socials get Botox, you know the needle is short and tiny. It feels like a little pinch but honestly getting my blood drawn hurts more in comparison. The injection sites may be tender the next day or so, but DO NOT rub or massage them. This can cause the Botox to move. If you tend to rub your forehead, you need to be extra aware and stop yourself. This will move the Botox around and your eyelid can become impaired. This can last the ENTIRE 3 months the Botox is effective.
My Botox has cut the number of migraines I have by more than half. I have only had to take breakthrough migraine medication twice since I received Botox. If you are suffering from chronic migraines, I would 100% recommend Botox. You should talk to your doctor and check with your insurance to see if it is a realistic option for you. If you need more immediate headache relief, you should try Gua Sha.
Have you gotten Botox for your migraines? Would you consider giving it a try?
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