I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Can Botox help my muscle pain?

Question

I have fibromyalgia and the past 2 and a half years have been torture. I have extreme pain/muscle spasms in both sides of my neck, collar bones and shoulders. No amount of medications has helped. It keeps me awake at night and as a result I'm mostly bedridden with pain and exhaustion. I have tried massage, tens machines, every lotion and potion and I'm desperate, as a result I'm suffering chronic headaches. Would botox in these muscles help?

Kurt Kuhlman, DO · Answer

Botox works great for this. Insurance will pay for Botox treatment of chronic headaches, but not fibromyalgia. Fortunately, the Botox headache protocol includes the neck and shoulders. A physical medicine physician with experience with Botox in Chronic migraine headache and fibromyalgia would be your best option.

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

If you have in neurologist who's taking care of you for your fibromyalgia, they should be able to tell you if and how Botox can be used in helping you with dealing with the symptoms of fibromyalgia. So I would start by speaking to your neurologist first, second you can definitely help your symptoms of fibromyalgia by changing your diet. Lowering the amount of carbohydrate intake will reduce some of the inflammatory effect. Also trying to follow a macrobiotic diet may help you as well. Before you do anything speak to your neurologist first and good luck from New York City

Melvin Elson, MD · Answer

It is not likely Botox will help but it sounds like you have not seen a neurologist which you should do

I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Can Botox help my muscle pain?

Answers (3)