Botox shot help please

Kayla - posted on 11/29/2012

oh ok thank you that helps the Dr. said there putting her to sleep for all botox injections. and about the drooling hes going to a nueroligist next month and ill ask Dr about that medicine. makes me feel better about my daughter getting the injections it scared me when they said they were gonna do them. im a young mother so this is all confusing...

Tonya - posted on 11/29/2012

My son, who is 11, has been getting injections since he was 2 and he gets them in his calves and thighs, hamstrings. Both of my children have received them for years with great results. It is an injection so there is some pain, but my children receive the spray right before the injection and neither of them every cry.



As far as your son with the drooling...does he have CP also, or any developmental delays? The doctor can prescribe a medication called Robinul that will help with the drooling, it will dry it up his saliva some so that there is less. I would see if speech therapy is necessary, sounds like it might be.



I don't have any advice for the hair issue...sorry.

Kayla - posted on 11/29/2012

i have twins that are two and a half boy/girl. they were 28- weeks premature my little girl has cp and dont walk but shes having her first botox injextions in her legs deceber 12. im so nervous. the dr said she may end up needing it in her upper thighs to. has anyones child had the injections in the thighs to? And also her hair is gradually falling out ..shes not bald but her hair is really thinning out falling out alot.. drs wont tell me whats wrong or do any test. does any one know what this could be. and also my son her twin has bad drooling i have to change his shirts all day long and his speech is really bad...got any advice please

Carol - posted on 03/31/2011

Brenda. What is the baclofen pump and how does it work

Amanda - posted on 03/30/2011

My 10 year old son has cerebral palsy and has had two courses of botox. My only advice to you would be that after the botox has been administered, get into the physio and continue the physio at home. We did not have the funds to have physio as often as needed and were not really given any advice of what to do at home. Ask the questions and get the answers you want, don't stop until you do.
I wish you all the best.
Amanda Shambrook

Suky - posted on 03/29/2011

My son, Danny, had botox injections in his leg over 2 years ago. Yes, the actual shots hurt a lot but a promise of pizza and ice-cream after helped ease the pain! I also have heard bad things but as others have said, each child is different and if it works, it's an invaluable treatment. My son has hemiplegia and is affected down all of his right side. The botox has actually made his arm less tight too. I suggest you have a look at and maybe join a blog group called "hemikids" or hemihelp. It's a charitable blog run by Chase and is of parents and children all over the world who are affected by hemiplegia and their actual real life experiences.

I would have faith in the doctors and be strong for your little one. It could go really well like my Danny or maybe not be effective like some others. The alternative is surgery which is much more invasive. Good luck

Brenda - posted on 03/29/2011

My 11 year old son has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy...his legs are mainly affected. He started doing botox at age 5. He walked independently at this point of his life He only used the AFO's. (Ankle Foot Orthotics) He was going to a children's hospital and the first time he went they did not even tell me that they had numbing cream...we had opted for versed, an oral sedative. 45 minutes after taking the sedative, we are still waiting and my son is getting nervous. I finally ask what is taking so long and they tell me they are waiting for the medicine to kick in! Found out he should have had the desired affect within 15 minutes so I said just give him the shots...the anticipation is worse for him. He cried during the shots (3 per leg) and then for about 5 minutes after and then he was fine! As soon as casting was ready they put his casts on both legs right after the shots. Sometimes the casts were left on for weeks or sometimes they were cut off and another one put on each week (serial casting). His first shots lasted him 9 months. Each time after they didn't last as long. This is normal. We switched hospitals after a couple of years and love it! The last 2 times he received botox shots they used a machine to gauge whether it was in the correct muscle and yes this made it more uncomfortable, but it made the shot better cuz of it's placement. They also didn't cast him until a week later which made more sense to me. If the botox takes 7-10 days to actually kick in, then until it does, my son was in casts in a perpetual stretch for 24/7!!! which would be extremely painful with his tight muscles. We always used the numbing cream and versed to help relax him so he's not anxious ahead of time. I loved the botox and the fact that it worked...it wasn't as invasive as surgery and that was ok with us. However my son continued to get worse (his tight legs) and we started questioning a very invasive surgery (SDR - selective dorsal rhizotomy) we were told there was a trial for it and found out it worked very well, but they weren't sure if he could strengthen his legs so we asked the dr his opinion...he suggested a baclofen pump. We have done the baclofen pump and then the heel cord lengthening almost a year later on both legs.

Tips to make the visit easier - buy a special small toy that you know your child would LOVE...they get to open it right before treatment...also if you are at a hospital they might have child life...they brought all sorts of toys and movies to play with my child and they help keep him occupied so I can be his mom and not his entertainer as well. If there are side effects it's usually from the sedative which typically makes kids cranky! Someone mentioned the scare of death on here...We spent one whole visit that was supposed to be used getting the shots and instead we questioned the dr!!! It was the scariest thing to see on the news...the dr assured us that giving the shots in the legs shouldn't cause any harm..as with any procedure there are always risks. Please feel free to message me if you need to know anything...I've gone through hell and back for my son and would loved to have talked to someone who had 'been through' it before!!! Good luck.

Terry - posted on 03/26/2011

My daughter is 3 years old. She has gotten boxtox injections around 5 times. They help her lots...we can tell the difference when they are wearing off. She never had any side effects n never cries when she is getting them. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. Good luck to u!!

Renee - posted on 03/25/2011

Patrina, please keep me posted. It sounds like you will be doing this before me. Everyone on our team seems to think it will be very beneficial but it is still so scarry!! When are you going to start?? Thank you so much to all you other moms out there helping putting our minds at ease cuz we are freaking out!

Pamela - posted on 03/25/2011

why botox shots you need a second doctor to tell you the same thing

Tonya - posted on 03/25/2011

I forgot to mention that they should offer a couple of options for numbing the skin prior to the injection...either a spray right before or a cream about 30 minutes prior to. Good luck.

Patrina - posted on 03/25/2011

Thanks so much ladies, I have been so nervous, because I read about deaths I got so scared. Now I have to see how she will handle the pain.

Tonya - posted on 03/25/2011

I have two children with CP who have been receiving botox injections for several years now, they have helped so much. For my son the anticipation of the injections is worse than the injections themselves, but after the appointment is over both of the kids are fine...no pain, no side effects.

Chantel - posted on 03/24/2011

My 11 year old is scheduled for his next round of Botox on April 25th. I find it does help, if its done every 6 months. With his age, his CP has gotten worse and we have to do the shots every 6 months for a definate muscle response. He is scheduled to go under for his Botox just because it takes almost 6 people to hold him down! (and he's only 65 pounds!) Yes, we also have a baclofen pump, hydro-therapy (in place of PT, works much better!) and speech, gets PT, OT and Speech at school. We've been doing Botox for around 5 years now, so if you have any other questions, I will help all I can. (I also work with other disabled children who do Botox, too)

Beth - posted on 03/24/2011

I have a 25 weeker with CP. Diplegic spastic CP. Is he in AFOs? Has he seen an Orthopedist? My orthopedist is talking about Botox shots in several years if her time in her AFOs don't help. Don't feel bad about getting another opinion. GL!

Carol - posted on 03/24/2011

Renee, the shots did hurt but it was the combination of the age the pain and the antisipation coming. He also received 6 shots a visit. And thank you for your kind words

Danelle - posted on 03/24/2011

My daughter did botox shots and serial cast for 4 years, it did help but eventually stopped progressing with results so we stopped, she has surgery after and the cut 2 parts of the tendon to straighten her leg. She still wears an orthopedic brace day and night ( flexes her foot all night). To help them through the appointment get him excited about picking your cast color, or we would decorate it when we got home, occupy them with books or snacks to distract them, it gets better after time the first few where tough!

Renee - posted on 03/23/2011

Patrina, I have 2yr old little girl who has CP. We are also considering Botox in the next 6 - 12 months to help with her walking. She is currently doing just a very little walking with a walker. Does your son do any walking at this point? Carol, are you saying the shots were extremely painful for your son and that's why he had to be sedated??? Yikes!! :( you mentioned you were still trying to get him walking... I love that you haven't given up!!! You are the kind of person that inspires me! You are amazing and I plan to follow your footsteps!

Carol - posted on 03/23/2011

He did fine after it was prior to the shots that was horrible ..... he screamed and fought so hard that even mild sedatives didnt work eventually he had to get them while under anesthesia. He has had his heel cords lengthened, along with something released behind his knees and most recent. titanium plates put in both knees to try to. straighten how he trys to walk. He has CP. What does your 3 y/o have

Patrina - posted on 03/23/2011

Thanks for the info Carol, when he did the botox how did he respond afterward? Was he sick or had bad side effects?
You said he had surgery, what type of surgery did he have?

Carol - posted on 03/23/2011

my 9 y/o went thru a series of these shots but unfortunately they were not successful for him. He has had 3 surgeries. And lots of PT and still trying to get him walking. But remember every child is different and responds differently.