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Anyone had experience with Botox injection in legs for spasicity?
I had my first injections yesterday of Botox for leg spasms. I wanted to try something other than the standard muscle relaxers that most of the time come with side affects. I also have a foot drop in my right leg. Has anyone had an experience with Botox injections (in leg) for this purpose - spasicity and/or foot drop? Although only temporary, injections - if improvement in symptoms is evident - would be repeated usually between 3-6 months. My five year journey with myelopathy - lesion on spine with unknown etiology - has taken me through the medical maze of scans, blood tests, infusions, medications, physical therapy/rehabilitation. Two years at local and state(WI) clinics and almost three years in Rochester, MN, at Mayo in neurology have yielded no definitive health care plan. My Mayo nuerologist referred me to a specialist( physical medicine and rehbilitation) at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, WI (closer to my home). My mobility is a major concern, going from running four miles a day five years ago, to walking, to treking poles, and now to a walker. I have had no pain, but an unrelenting (24-7) numbness from my waist down to my toes. This recent trial of botox injections offers me yet another hopeful possibility of recovering what is left of my limited mobility or at least stabilizing my current symptoms. Any insight into this botox therapy would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi there- I don’t have personal experience with Botox for spasticity, but we have considered it for my father, who had a stroke in 2022. He’s lost function in his left arm and most of it in his left leg. So far, we haven’t had to use it yet, because his condition has improved and we want to see the effects of PT (because Botox would temporarily weaken the muscles, his doctor said) but it would also be our treatment of choice if needed. We’ve seen it be very successful in reducing tension in her other patients. She’s also suggesting to consider Botox for his salivary glands because the stroke caused overactive salivary glands and any medications that address that have significant side effects.
Hopefully others will respond and you’ll be able to get more direct insights. But I wanted to reply in case it helped while you consider options. I personally get Botox regularly for hyperhidrosis—at 3-6 month intervals as you said—and it’s worked well, with zero side effects. The principle is similar; it temporarily inhibits the nerves that are overactive and causing me excessive sweating. Both my dad and I are significantly sensitive to medications, so that’s why we both considered Botox.
I feel it’s worth trying, especially if you have someone who does it and it gets covered by insurance. The risk is pretty low and it’s unlikely you’d have the level of side effects you’d have from muscle relaxants. Wishing you all the best!
Emo - thank you very much for the response and positive thoughts. I'll post a response to let people know how this new care plan shakes out.
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2 ReactionsSure, I’d love to hear how it goes, because it’s very much something we’re considering for my dad if his spasticity doesn’t improve after PT. Good luck!
In the past I had Botox injections in my calves and feet. I got injections every 4 months yet I only benefitted from them about 6 weeks. It took 2 to 4 weeks to feel the benefits of botox then it lasted only 6 weeks, I have had a balclofen pump for the last 5 years. For me it has been a great solution. You get a constant level of muscle relaxer 24/7.