Botulinum Toxin Therapy (BOTOX)

[MsBunky]

I have been suffering from chronic pelvic pain for a number of years, in addition to Fibromyalgia, Myofascial pain, IBS and Painful Bladder Syndrome. I am under the care of both a family physician, who is excellent, and a pain management team at the Chronic Pain Centre in Calgary, AB (also excellent).

The team at the CPC have diagnosed a "serious psoas trigger point, associated with obturator internus trigger point" and the doctor wrote in his findings that while the rest of the pelvis was quite normal, "the psoas muscle, certainly on the right side, was very tender and quite dramatically abnormal".

I've been scheduled for an MRI to see if there is an acetabular tear, and I've had one injection of local anesthetic into the psoas muscle that offered some relief, albeit only for a couple of days.

I'm scheduled for botox injections at the end of November, to see if that will help relax the psoas muscle, and allow my pelvic physiotherapist to work with the triggers to try and offer some relief. My question is, if the botox does work, is it something that can be done on a continuous schedule (i.e.: every 4 months) for an unlimited time, or do you need to take breaks from it?

My secondary question would be, if the botox doesn't work, what other options/alternatives are there to try? I am currently off work on disability as the pain is too much to manage. I am on 10mg sustained relief Oxycontin, with Percocet for break thru pain, along with Nortriptyline 10mg to help with sleep. I am not able to function well with the various drugs, and would like to not have to use them, but I get no pain relief at this point unless I do take them.

I will be seeing a neurologist this coming week, to address some other issues, including dizziness and issues with balance that have occured prior to starting these medications, as well as since I've been on them. I also have muscle issues with my neck from a whiplash injury many years ago, and two falls...my neck is in constant pain, and any pressure on it (such as a pillow) seems to cause numbness and tingling in my shoulders, arms and hands.

At any rate, I'd love to hear from others who may have experienced botox for the same reasons, or just how it's worked in general. Thanks so much!