After Botox Injection I Now Have a Stiff Neck and Difficulty Opening Mouth and Swallowing, is this normal?

Question

I am concerned that following whiplash my Doctor injected botox into my neck muscle. Now I'm having difficulty swallowing,eating, stiff neck, opening my mouth and the feeling of a lump in my throat. .

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

This is a serious and concerning side effect of Botulinum toxin (Dysport and Botox) and you should discuss this with your surgeon. You may require monitoring.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

Depending on which site(s) were injected, there may be improvement of the whiplash effect, but secondary and temporary changes in nearby muscles that might be worthwhile in order to decrease the whiplash muscular painful spasm. Secondary effects can occur depending where in the neck the treatment is, in terms of swallowing and neck movement and swallowing.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If you are having difficulty swallowing and opening your mouth,, you should contact your doctor immediately to make sure you are ok.

Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD, FACS · Answer

You should go back to your doctor who injected you immediately and tell him/her about the symptoms you are having.  I'm sure he/she'd want to know about your symptoms and make sure there isn't some other underlying problem.

	Dr. Cat Begovic M.D.

Henri P. Gaboriau, MD, FACS · Answer

The symptoms you described can be attributed to either your neck injury or to the Botox injections. Neck injury (Whiplash) will create spasms to your neck muscles with some of the effects you are describing. But the fact that you are having difficulty swallowing could be due to the temporary effect of Botox on some of the muscles that are involved in the swallowing process. Such effects are usually very short lived (few days to about 2 weeks).

After Botox Injection I Now Have a Stiff Neck and Difficulty Opening Mouth and Swallowing, is this normal?

Answers (5)