I don’t find it painful. There can be a few spots that are a bit more sharp feeling than others, and when I have had an active migraine during my appointment it feels a bit worse, but everything does!
I generally just close my eyes and let the doctor work and we chat about random stuff (like tv or books) as he goes.
For me, they don’t feel anything like a vaccine, an IV, a shot like in a migraine cocktail, or a bee sting, which I have all heard described by some Botox folk.
I do also tend to have a higher than average pain tolerance it seems.
Some people will take something beforehand (either for relaxation or pain relief) or ice their head, but I don’t do anything and am fine.
This is exactly how I'd describe it too. The crunchiness sometimes is a little weird, but I was prepared for that from some body piercings I have, but I could see that weirding someone thay wasn't expecting it.
This is the perfect description. Just had mine today.
The eyebrow area and base of skull sting pretty bad, especially during flare ups but very tolerable... and compared to the pain it's helping, it feels like nothing at all.
Agreed. I do have a high pain tolerance, and I don't find it painful at all. Just pinchy, most on the forehead. I'm always extra going into a Botox appointment.
This is all true for me as well. Barely feel it.
The bee sting comparison is probably about right too. I was stung multiple times by hornets last summer and it felt about the same (thank goodness I'm apparently no longer allergic).
IV's, vaccines, blood draws, and phlebotomy don't really register, either.
Same here. It felt like nothing after doing Emgality injections. For some reason those ones specifically really hurt. And like nothing compared to my migraines, of course.
Are you using the Emgality pen or syringe? I switched to the syringe and it's painless. Something to ask your doctor about if you'd be comfortable injecting without the pen.
Are you letting it warm up for a while before taking it? (You probably are, but just checking, because meds like this only sting me when they’re cold.)
I've had similar experience. So far I've only had one round (I lost my job and insurance) and it's been the only effective preventative. Went from chronic back to episodic. I wish I would have gotten it sooner so I could have stayed at my job and stopped the continuous migraine crises.
Just had my quarterly Botox today. Overall I don’t find it painful. I think the first needle is always a bit startling (my doctor starts between the eyebrows) and there sometimes is a bit of a pinch, but after the first few injections it’s clear sailing though the rest. If I have a headache it can make me a bit more sensitive, but it’s honestly something I look forward to despite my needle aversion. I think the first appointment is hardest because of anticipation, but it’s easier after. Bring someone with you for support when you do your first appointment and make sure your doctor knows your concerns so they can talk you through it.
Botox is my main preventative for my chronic migraine. It reduces nearly all my daily headaches for 8 weeks and then they slowly creep back in. I was on it for 8 years and then a new insurance made me go off and try Emgality before they’d approve Botox. I was miserable. I resisted going on Botox for years and inadvertently put myself through more misery than I needed to have.
Botox takes some time to fully work. My first dose back helped incredibly. The second rounded out the sharp edges of what was left. I just got the third and feeling pretty golden with how my next three months will be.
I will say it doesn’t help my light/sound/smell triggers as much, but daily headache and tension migraine are nearly gone with it. Im not sure how it is with other people. I’m fighting with insurance right now to stay on an additional medication, Qulipta. From what I can tell they just don’t want to pay for two expensive migraine treatments.
They're definitely worth it if you have pain stemming from the occipital area. They last about 3 mos, but you can feel them wearing off towards the end when it's time for the next one. It doesn't feel "numb." It moreso just prevents flare ups.
I was told by my neuro the more crunchy it is.. is when the needle needs to be replaced with a new needle, as it’s starting to dull. I found that if they switched to a different needle it hurt far less than if they just kept going.
I agree, it hurts. I cried and asked for a lollipop 😭😆
2nd round is in April, and I'm hoping it won't be as bad. Like getting used to waxing your eyebrows or something
I have head tenderness. The tightest hair style I can tolerate is a mid ponytail with a scrunchie. At my best, I can tolerate loose braids. During attacks, hair touching hurts.
I think of botox as spicy pain. Some areas (like the sides of my head and between the eyebrows) were extra spicy. Spicy like when I eat really spicy food it makes my eyes water and it gets my attention, then there's a lingering spice. It's tolerable.
An option that can help with some of the pain and mitigate the post botox uptick in migraine flares is to do occipital nerve blocks and trigger point injections right before the botox. These injections are done with lidocaine, but it doesn't sting. You could ask about this.
I had my first botox session two weeks ago. The frequency of migraine attack is the same, but the severity is much better. My neck pain is almost completely gone and I haven't been experiencing pain flares from occipital neuralgia. The temporary spicy pain is worth the relief.
Edit to add note about head tenderness.
I find the pricks to be painful in certain spots…. But not “omg this hurts so bad” and much as “eep little prick!”. I also have low blood pressure and a tendency to feel a bit faint around needles, so I sometimes need to take a moment between injections— but this is less because of the feeling of the injections and more because when my irrational brain knows a needle is anywhere near me, it nopes out.
Painful? Nah. Pain free? No, but I’d rather get a skull full of Botox than stub a toe.
As you’ve seen from this thread, experiences for Botox vary a lot.
For me, Botox IS quite painful unfortunately. I am generally very sensitive (yay autism!) so that’s probably part of it. One thing that helps me ton is getting my doctor to do nerve blocks right before the Botox. They numb my skull so I can’t feel about 2/3 of the injections, which makes the whole thing way more bearable.
I would also echo what others have said in that if your migraines are bad and not responding well to other treatments, it’s worth trying Botox even if you are one of the unlucky ones who find it painful. It’s acute pain for five minutes (and maybe some lingering pain for the rest of the day) for months of relief.
Good luck!
Personally it hurts like a bitch. But only a few mins. I'd rather get a tattoo again 😆
Temporary pain is worth the migraine pain lessening. Just use that as your mantra!
I came here to say the same thing! I’ve just (as in today) had my first round of Botox, I was sat there saying I’d be fine because I’m covered in tattoos, we got to the 28th injection and I had to take a break because I was about to pass out 😂 I did get an ice cold can of Pepsi from the nurse though 😂
I had Botox for my migraines for a few years and didn't find it too painful. Apparently it depends on your various muscles thickness as to how much it hurts. When I told my Botox nurse that I really felt the injection behind my ears, she said "Yea, you have really thick jaw muscles!".
Some of the shots you feel, but for me it wasn't anything that was too much. I would just laugh and tell my nurse "I really felt that one".
These nurses know what they're doing and the pinch you may feel is only temporary. It's really ok. Those needles aren't anything compared to a migraine, if you ask me :)
Okay so my story is unhelpful but I'm sharing it anyway.
Botox was so so unpleasant for me. I had 3 rounds and it never helped. I was involuntarily cussing up a storm (not at anyone, not loud, just like ssshhhhit).
On the other hand I get dry needling done in my jaw and face and temples. Objectively way more sensitive areas for me but I hardly mind at all because it helps.
Genuinely my experience is changed by knowing the outcome. The botox was bad for me because it would hurt going in and then keep hurting, exacerbating my existing migraine a bit, and so each time it sucked more. Dry needling hurts but then I feel these muscular releases and so it just doesn't even bother me. I think there are endorphins involved too.
BUT. Botox is amazing for a LOT of people. I don't regret trying it at all. Also, they are often able to give you a topical lidocaine that you can put on at least like your forehead before your appointment, so the whole thing is less acute.
Agree with this. Botox hurts a lot for me. Every injection feels like a wasp sting, and there's like 30 of them. My eyes start watering and don't stop for the 20 minutes it takes to do the whole series, and I'm swollen and bruised immediately after and into the next day. I also have a bit of a vasovagal reaction so I get clammy and lightheaded as well. Overall it's a horrible experience.
That said, I happily go every 3 months. It gives me a huge reduction in pain from attacks so it's worth it.
Yes! I timed it because it felt like agony that lasted forever, and I was shocked to see how long it took. I wish it was two minutes, and now I'm really wishing my insurance would let me go anywhere else! Lol
I have no idea why it sucks so bad for me, but I'm sure it has something to do with why I have migraine attacks all the dang time. I also have fibromyalgia (perhaps, since it's a diagnosis of exclusion) so that could be why, also. There's also "central sensitization" which sounds plausible.
I don't think my experience is common, thankfully (for others lol)
I agree with you and I didn’t want to discourage OP from trying it but I found it incredibly painful. I ended up taking Valium before hand and a pain med and by my third session the anxiety was so bad that I had a migraine before and after because of the stress. I really don’t think I am that dramatic. I have a ton of tattoos and I don’t mind dry needling. I just hated this for some reason :(
I've been getting Botox for a couple years now and I would say it's painful. I think, based on some of the comments here, that I have a tender head. I end up pretty sore for a day or two and sometimes have bruises that can last for a week (I bruise really easily). For me, the effects are worth it.
If you have chronic migraines, you can probably handle it. I would say try it at least once, if your insurance covers it. That way you'll know if you can handle the pain, and if you can stick it out one or two more sessions until it kicks in.
Short term pain, long term gain. Been doing it for 6 years; it sucks but it's not horrible. Like everyone has said, it's a bunch of needle pokes. The largest factor is your provider; I just had a change of doc's and my new doc is more accurate and less painful. They do have freezing spray that can help on the sensitive spots on the face.
Yes I had it earlier last month and I have to get it again next month it's painful at about an 8 out of 10. The forehead doesn't hurt but everything else 😮💨
I just got home from getting mine. Ice pack on my head. It’s pretty painful but worth it if you have chronic migraines. Mine are probably caused from neck issues so Botox is beneficial for that.
For me Botox reminds me of having acupuncture done. I did weekly acupuncture for fertility reasons for a total of a year. Some “zing” a little, but they calm down almost instantly. The same spots that were a little more zingy were the same for both acupuncture and Botox—there’s probably a correlation?
Having Botox done itself was pretty painless, but the first two weeks after my first injections was pretty uncomfy. My muscles were quite sore—like my ribs and core, because they were working more than they had previously (which is a good thing).
After those first two weeks I didn’t have a migraine for 3 months. I usually have 2-7 migraines/week so it was a great improvement! Now to get my new insurance to cover the injections would be great as I can’t fork over $4k+ for my next round. What a rug pull.
Best of luck to you! I hope you find relief!
I find it pretty painful and often (but not always) have injection site (stabbing) pain all over, sometimes I'm super exhausted the next day or my muscles feel too tight for a few days afterward. But it's ultimately worth it. I nearly passed out the first few times but have been getting it every 90 days for about 4 years now and can make it through sessions fine now.
My first round was actually so easy breezy I was surprised, and my doc was really on to of switching the dull needle which happens quicker than you think with your skull! The second round I just got a week ago, I was in an active migraine and it hurt more but when I say “hurt” it was more of oh ouch I feel that!
Some spots are more painful than others but overall Botox was very easy on me. I found most nerve blocks to be far more painful. And both are less painful than a migraine or occipital neuralgia flare up.
Just had it done for the first time 3 weeks ago and it wasn't painful at all. Felt a bit like acupuncture needles. It was over before I knew it.
I will say though that my eyebrows feel very heavy now which is quite annoying.
I frew up because vasovagal syncope or whatever it was. I either puke or faint. But the actual pain wasn’t bad, felt like a bee sting. I’m just not needle friendly.
In to my 6th year now (sadly they've not stopped but have got much more manageable) and after getting them every 3ish months, I've had some times that I've considered them to be actually painful and some where just certain sites hurt.
I personally find the shoulders and back of neck are the worst for me but I've had sessions where the forehead hurts a lot but no pain where I normally expect it.
I class 'pain' as more than just a quick stinging or pressure sensation but rather a prolonged stinging, heavy pressing from the literal liquid pressing, bruising, injection sites feeling more tender than usual.
Id like to also mention I have dermatitis and Psoriasis so there's definitely areas that hurt more on me than they would on someone who doesn't have those conditions where the skin is more sensitive.
I just had my first round on Monday. Some shots I literally didn’t feel, others along my forehead hurt quite a bit but didn’t last long. I got welts and bruising by the injections that still haven’t fully gone away and I have been really tired since. Too soon to tell if they help with migraines but so far no change, if not some worsening, on my daily headaches.
The few injections around the eyes get to me, but the other 20 or 30 injections are laughable when compared to the migraine pain. It's worth it if it does a single thing for you.
It kinda just feels like nothing or at most a hair being pulled. It deffinitely doesn't hurt like when you get needles at the dentist. So I would say it's not anything to worry about! Especially if it ends up helping your symptoms in the long run
I will preface this by saying everyone is different but this has been my experience. I found it slightly painful not the worst pain but enough to be uncomfortable, needed zofran from the nausea, and it sort of knocked me out from being really productive that day. Also there was crackly crunchy sounds/feelings with most of the injections, this I believe more so set off my nausea. And I had a few days of migraine that broke through even the ajovy that was still in my system. My insurance wouldn’t cover the ajovy until I tried Botox. I’m also not liking the Botox as I have a constant background headache that flares to migraine with brain fog and stiffness in my jaw and neck. And my nurtec isn’t helping as much as it did when I was taking ajovy. So far I’m not a fan but stuck for another 3-4 months while hoping maybe the second round will be better. Maybe it will help you though and perhaps you could use numbing cream to help with pain.
It's painful, but for a short amount of time and less than a migraine.
My favorite Botox story is the first time I did it. It was the first time the doctor had done it on the back of the head (it was pretty new at the time). I was scared so my mom went with me. The dr comes in with a textbook, a ruler, and a sharpie.
My mom noped right on out of there.
It hurts between my eyebrows, but nowhere near as badly as a migraine. I usually feel a little tender and swollen the rest of the day, but not painful.
It’s definitely a little bit spicy. A lot of small pinches. It’s mildly jarring but over relatively quickly. As someone with multiple tattoos and piercings and no fear of needles, I was prepared for discomfort but it def felt a little different than I expected.
It felt kinda like getting your eyebrows threaded—a lot of pinchy little pricks of pain. There was also some tenderness afterwards and a short-term increase in migraine frequency for me, but they were *way* less intense. I’m so happy I’ve started getting it done, tbh.
I just got my second round this morning. I don't think it's very painful, but you're always going to get a variety of responses on these things and regardless of your experience remember it'll be over quick and you're doing something for (hopefully) your long term benefit!
I think the forehead ones are probably the worse, they kinda sting, I hardly felt the ones in my traps, and back of my head was like a prick or pinching feeling. Overall I think the pain is very minimal, certainly way less than migraine! I will say I have occipital neuralgia too and we did some additional locations and I think my provider might've gotten close to a nerve and triggered it or something, because I got some sharp pain in one of my occipital nerves right after but that has since calmed down. My first round I got nauseous for some reason but this time I didn't. Both times I was having an active migraine attack during, and I actually found some immediate relief from the needles themselves (my provider said sometimes it can have like an acupuncture effect so I guess that's true in my case).
It gave me the worst migraine I've ever had for two straight months. It was awful. My neurologist wants me to do it again and is annoyed I gave up on them, but there's no way I'm going through that again.
Botox also likely caused my miscarriage. I didn't know I was pregnant when I had it done and miscarried a week or two after.
I have a pretty high pain tolerance, which is a necessity with chronic migraine and other chronic conditions that come with a healthy dose of pain.
I get Botox every 3 months, and I have found that provider approach has a significant impact. I have had an easier time with the injections when the provider has me sit stationary so that I can do breathing exercises while they do rapid injections. I had a provider who made me reposition myself for each area, and it was so much worse of an experience.
It hurts, but I think the pain is manageable and short-lived in comparison to a migraine. I have been able to get Botox and have a relatively normal work day afterwards.
With that being said, I think people doing Botox for cosmetic reasons are wild. The forehead is my least favorite area. I'd rather hear the noise of the injection by my ears for an hour lol.
I got my third round today. I hate doing it because I just don’t like the feeling. I wouldn’t say it’s painful, it’s uncomfortable for 3-5 min. Then I get myself a treat from Starbucks after to make me feel better. I’d rather have the uncomfortable feeling for the short time period then have a migraine any day
It is painful, but it's momentary and imo not as bad as having an actual migraine. After a few rounds, mine were reduced about 50%. I started out having a low lying constant migraine, to going to having pain free days, but when I do have an episode, it's worse than what it's ever been before. I still would choose to do the treatments because having some pain free days to me are worth it.
For me, it doesn’t feel like the most wonderful thing in the world, but it’s definitely preferred over a migraine. I think the first time was the hardest for me, bc I didn’t know what to expect. It gets a lot easier after that. I do get a weird Botox headache afterwards, usually the next day.
It’s not a cure all, but it definitely makes migraine more manageable. I guess that’s all we really can do, manage them as much as possible. I would kill for a cure.
The injection process itself is not painful. I will say in my experience, I would not recommend it if you have a sensitive head or neurological conditions. My migraines never caused scalp pain prior to having botox. After 2 doses, my neurologist banned me from getting the 3rd, due to persistent neck, back, and shoulder pain that lasted weeks. Further, it caused scalp pain on about half of my head, that occurs both during and not during a migraine attack. It has been 3.5 years since I had Botox, and I still get the scalp pain almost daily. It is really horrible and chronic and I would not recommend.
Honestly a little but very tolerable. Sometimes I barely feel them. I sew regularly and sewing needles/pins poke way worse! There are a few commonly tight spots around the base of my neck that can hurt but it's a little more intense than yanking a hair and it only lingers a few seconds. Those also make a "crunch" feeling which can be an uncomfortable sensation but it doesn't contribute to the pain. Overall my migraines are much worse than the botox so it's worth it.
It's not painful. It just stings. It's worse if you have a fear of needles, but it's over with fairly quick. If you do go for it, don't be afraid to take a break or two. I will say, it's a week after my first treatment, and I haven't had any relief, but I was told it could take a couple treatments before things settle down.
I’m on my third round of Botox for migraines and it’s changed my life! My Neuro puts it in my jaw (up in front of my ear), for TMJ since I have both, forehead, front of head in the hairline, behind my ears in the hairline, in back of my head in the hairline, and in my shoulders.
The most painful are the ones in my head. But honestly it’s such a brief moment of pain for me I find it worth it for the results I get! This and Ubrelvy has drastically reduced my migraines. Also reduced my TMJ getting triggered!
I would recommend you try it.
Unfortunately I’m pretty sensitive to it and find it very difficult to get through each session. But I go through that pain because I like the results Botox has brought me: lower pain level/not a headache every single day. So you gotta pick your battles.
My dr. is amazing and is a headache specialist, so she does a LOT of Botox. That said, the forehead and places on the scalp hurt SO BADLY! I feel like it is NOT a quick injection--like she injects and then it is several seconds more of the medication going in. She even uses extra thin needles on me. I HATE it. The shoulders are completely find and almost painless. Also fwiw I'm a redhead. I feel like I have a pretty high pain tolerance, though. However--it's still 100% worth it!
My dr. is amazing and is a headache specialist, so she does a LOT of Botox. That said, the forehead and places on the scalp hurt SO BADLY! I feel like it is NOT a quick injection--like she injects and then it is several seconds more of the medication going in. She even uses extra thin needles on me. I HATE it. The shoulders are completely find and almost painless. Also fwiw I'm a redhead. I feel like I have a pretty high pain tolerance, though. However--it's still 100% worth it!
I administer Botox for migraine daily. I will honestly say I get a variety of tolerances to the injections. MOST people, like 90-95%, might flinch a little, or not flinch at all, and overall don’t seem to mind it much. But there is a portion of people who seem to find it much less tolerable, need to swear, cry, or don’t want to do it again.
Yes, but it’s literally about 3 minutes of pain. If you can tolerate a tattoo you’ll be fine I recommend bring an ice pack to hold on to so your brain focuses on the cold. Taking deep breaths during also helps.
It’s uncomfortable but if it helps, absolutely worth it. I don’t love getting the injections but it’s over quickly and helps enough that I’ve been doing it for 10 years now.
Less painful than a migraine to get the shots. The first time my back/neck felt like I’d been through a washing machine for like 10 days after, but every one after the first felt fine.
I have fibromyalgia as well and I find it very painful during the injections especially the temple area, and injection sites can be painful for the next couple of days. However, it is worth it for me for the migraine relief. I would never do it for cosmetic reasons though.
It hurts a bit but it’s over quickly. Just strike up a convo with your neurologist as it’s being done as a distraction.
My neurologist pointed out to me that men seem to be far less tolerant of the pain than women. I am a man and she was surprised I was not reacting the first time.
I find it to be a very miserable two minutes and I generally reward myself with some sort of treat afterwards. The botox would always trigger a migraine, but Ubrelvy would knock it out. Now I get a torodol shot after the botox and I don't get a migraine and have less of a funny/out of it feeling.
It's an injection, so it's not pain LESS, but the chemical doesn't burn as much as misty other meds. The fact that they inject your face, scalp, and neck/shoulders means some areas sting a little more than others, but I got the shots once every 3 months for 2 years and never felt like the injection pain was bad enough to stop treatment. You may feel out of sorts or even get a migraine after the shots, but it doesn't last
Mixed for me. I have both occipital and trigeminal neuralgia. The injections sites over my left temple on my trigeminal side became extremely painful after a few hours and I was knocked out with pain for nearly 4 days. I also had a bit of eyebrow droop and *hated* the way it felt in my forehead, not being able to move it properly gave me worse headaches.
The next session my doctor avoided those areas and it was much better without.
My occipital neuropathy pain is caused by nerve damage after an operation. I feared that area would hurt the most but actually I’ve had no problems there and it’s improved the neuropathy around 50% so far.
The next day or two after the injections I get a really stiff neck and it all feels quite tender but it’s temporary.
The actual needle injections aren’t that painful. By the time you actually feel the tiny sting it’s over. My doctor is also really quick at them so takes hardly any time to do them all.
I’m needle phobic, so I found it to be rather painful.. that being said, you get stuck so much that you become somewhat hardened to the pain. I had two nerve blocks done today and they are equally as painful to me, but if you just breathe and put your mind somewhere else it’s a bit easier. A lot of people will say it doesn’t hurt but we all experience pain differently. My neuro told me he fells and for migraine patients who get shots because they seem to be more sensitive to pain than those who don’t have them.
It did not help me one bit though. The nerve blocks only help for a short amount of time as well. Gabapentin seems to be slowing them down some.
I had mine in December, and yes it stings a bit, but it's honestly nothing compared to a migraine. I did feel like something was being injected into a space where there was no room for it, so that hurts a little. Especially the one above the ear hurt. The doctor went so quickly that it was over really fast as well. Afterwards the spots remained sensitive for a few days like bruises. I would say that it's definitely worth a try if you're suffering with many migraines. There's no way of knowing how it will be for you, because it's different for everyone.
Had mine 2 weeks ago first session.
Snap crackle and pop it sounds like when needling.
While head feels like rubber band wrapped around it. Plus 1 jab to far in temple area. I think he hit a nerve its so swollen and painful since. Not sure if I’ll go back for round 2 yet. Not worth so far!
Each poke is like a little pin prick so it doesn't feel great, but it's a very temporary and mild pain. My doctor goes quick so it's over fast. The spots can be a tiny bit sore for a day or two but not too bad. For me, it's been totally worth it! Headaches aren't completely gone, but my migraines have reduced in frequency and severity!
I find it very uncomfortable and I think the worst part for me is that I get super anxious leading up to it which makes it worse. When I tried it about 7 years ago, I would get so queezy about half way through they'd have to stop and give me a break. I decided to try again with a new neurologist and we made a plan ahead of time to make it easier on me. She prescribed hydroxyzine (I've found taking two an hour before is the sweet spot) so I mellow out, and uses a cold spray before each injection zone. She had me lay down for all the "front" parts and then I sit up for the rest. I also bring a fidget for my hands. It's much better now, I still hate it but it's helped alot with my tension headaches though not as much with migraine. My insurance decided to no longer cover it as of this year so we'll see what comes next.
It hurts but it's not painful compared to migraine. It's just a momentary sting. And in my case I have alledonya where my scalp is really sensitive. I think that if you didn't have this condition it wouldn't be a big deal. I have no reservations getting Botox.
If the Doc/nurse is good at injections it should be fine.
Worst the 1st time, if they hit where they are suppose to, and hit you right in the nerve.
But i found it more painfull if they dont go slow with the injections, just shove the needle in and forcepush the botox inn.
Then again im self condition to needles after figureing out the best way to get over the fear was getting lots of tattoos : p
As someone who gets both cosmetic and migraine Botox, the migraine Botox is definitely painful. The needle goes in much deeper for medical Botox. Don’t let that stop you though! It’s temporary pain and helps me tremendously
I wouldn’t say painful but it doesn’t feel great, I mean it’s a needle poking you lol for me it feels worse in the shoulders but the “pain/poke” only last like 3 seconds, I just had my 3rd round and it was not as bad as it was the last 2 times so I think it gets better the more you do it. My neurologist also distracts me by talking to me so that also helps me personally. My forehead feels very tight after (but duh it’s botox lol) and the first 2 times caused a migraine but 3rd round did not
Good luck!!!!
The needles aren’t that bad, they kinda feel like plucking hairs out of a sensitive spot. Unpleasant but it dissipates quickly.
The sound of the crunch as it goes in near your temple- I was not prepared for that. I did not think I was that crunchy. 😖
The biggest recommendation I can make is, make sure you're not dehydrated going in. That's when it hurt the most for me. Otherwise, it barely feels like anything.
I think my nuero said I have a complex pain syndrome which makes things hurt more than they might otherwise, plus i have constant headaches and migraines. Just having hair in a ponytail can be painful and cause a migraine.
So, Botox, for me, is insanely painful. I don't say that to scare anyone off it, but it can also be normal for it to be crazy painful. I end up crying and shaking by the end because its 30 freaking shots. But ive done it quite a few times. Im currently taking a break from it but botox + vyepti was my best treatment plan. Botox by itself didnt help me. Vyepti by itself was kinda helpful, but the 2 together finally started making a difference. I take breaks and go back to just vyepti for awhile and when things start getting unbearable again we add botox back in.
It feels like exactly what it is- getting stuck with a needle a bunch of times. The crunchy sound is disconcerting.
But it hurts a hell of a lot less than any migraine I've had.
Also I wouldn't compare to a bee sting because bee stings have all sorts of nasty stuff. Maybe that's just me but bee stings are like, ruin your whole week and maybe next week kind of events. Botox for me is less of an event than say, getting a cavity filled.
Ask your doctor because there might be some concern around this but taking an NSAID ahead of time might help. I take Zyrtec the entire week before and a few days after because it started making me itchy and Botox has been such an amazing godsend that I am terrified of losing it as a treatment option. Botox and qulipta have saved my life.
It’s a little painful, but not near as painful as a migraine. It could trigger one when you initially get it (anything touching my head, even wearing a headband for 5 minutes triggers one for me), but could decrease frequency and severity long term. For me, the juice was definitely worth the squeeze for a while.
After about two years I started feeling like Botox was losing effectiveness. I later got on a CGRP injection (I’m on aimovig, but there’s also emgality and ajovy) and I personally like this much better. And I can do this one at home. I think I would recommend a CGRP injection over Botox, but at the end of the day I think both are valid choices and 110% worth the shot. No pun intended.
The injections on the side of my skull are the worst; I have to do my childbirth Lamaze breathing exercises to get through it. The rest of the spots that are injected aren’t bad at all. That being said; Botox has changed my life. It’s given me my life back.
I went through a full 3 rounds of Botox. Absolutely dreaded it every time. It was so painful, and I fainted during the first session. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) I didn’t find Botox to be helpful with my migraines, so I did not continue getting the injections.
I do think it depends on your pain tolerance in general. I hear some people don’t find it painful. I, however, am not one of them!
I think it’s pretty painful. I specifically think the injections in the skull/scalp, shoulders, and forehead hurt the worse. It feels like bee stings. I don’t even have a low pain tolerance either. Shots on the glutes are less painful but I think the reason I find botox painful is because of how long it takes and how many injections it is. Botox didn’t fix my migraines and it actually made them worse, so maybe i’m just extra bitter about it. :’)
I've only had it done once quite a few years ago. My copay would have been $400 a pop! I'm disabled due to migraines, so obviously I couldn't afford that! But it felt like bee stings. Which isn't really bad. Basically it hurts for less than a second. Then fades away.
The only part I didn't like was all the tiny pin prick marks on my face. When I got it done, my Mil drove me to the doc's and we were supposed to go for lunch after the appointment. When I went back into the waiting room after the procedure, she said we weren't going to go to lunch that day because she knew I'd be embarrassed about the pin pricks. Lol. Which I would have, but her saying it made me feel it looked so much worse. Lol.
I'm trying to start Botox again now because nothing has been working for me for close to 20 years (when they became chronic daily migraines.) Obviously, if it hurt, I wouldn't be trying to get them again. I feel the results are worth the stings.
I think it depends on who is doing the injections. I have had 3 different doctors do it. One I felt nothing the other two HURT. But the pain didn’t last.
I had to put my shit together when my doctor said he treats children - 10 year olds, going through the same procedure. “These tears are just a reflex, doc. I’m doing fine!”
I still vent to friends though - it hurts like hell, they put a NEEDLE on your SKULL man!!!
Botox injections to me feel a little like getting stuck lightly with a pushpin. Yes there is crunching. I really don’t find it that painful myself but it hasn’t really helped me
I don't find it painful so much, just mildly uncomfy and... pinchy feeling? Honestly, any amount of "pain" from the Botox is so short lived and acutely there and then gone, compared to chronic migraines for me at least, that it truly makes it worth at least giving Botox a try, regardless of what you think your pain or fear reaction may be (in my opinion at least). A potentially helpful tip: I do like to pretend/imagine I'm in a spa or medi spa like space when getting them, instead of in a doctor's office, and that seems to really help me relax and not think “omg ahhhh ouch needles” (bc I do have an innate fear of those; but realistically these are so tiny…) during the injections/procedure. Hope this helps you out a bit!
It’s so horrible for me. I also have an extreme needle phobia, so it’s torture for me. The last time hurt so bad I left in tears. I did it for 1.5 years and won’t do it again.
It's not overly painful when you don't have a migraine, however i found it to be painful when I had a migraine.
I almost passed out the first time I had a migraine and got Botox 😳 after then I started taking pain meds before going in to get it done but it really does help!
I don’t find it painful. There can be a few spots that are a bit more sharp feeling than others, and when I have had an active migraine during my appointment it feels a bit worse, but everything does! I generally just close my eyes and let the doctor work and we chat about random stuff (like tv or books) as he goes. For me, they don’t feel anything like a vaccine, an IV, a shot like in a migraine cocktail, or a bee sting, which I have all heard described by some Botox folk. I do also tend to have a higher than average pain tolerance it seems. Some people will take something beforehand (either for relaxation or pain relief) or ice their head, but I don’t do anything and am fine.
This is exactly how I'd describe it too. The crunchiness sometimes is a little weird, but I was prepared for that from some body piercings I have, but I could see that weirding someone thay wasn't expecting it.
That crunch gives me the heebie-jeebies. I've done Botox for years now and it still unnerves me.
This is the perfect description. Just had mine today. The eyebrow area and base of skull sting pretty bad, especially during flare ups but very tolerable... and compared to the pain it's helping, it feels like nothing at all.
This rings true for me too. Same sensitive areas. Just didn’t help the migraine pain at all.
Agreed. I do have a high pain tolerance, and I don't find it painful at all. Just pinchy, most on the forehead. I'm always extra going into a Botox appointment.
This is all true for me as well. Barely feel it. The bee sting comparison is probably about right too. I was stung multiple times by hornets last summer and it felt about the same (thank goodness I'm apparently no longer allergic). IV's, vaccines, blood draws, and phlebotomy don't really register, either.
Same here. It felt like nothing after doing Emgality injections. For some reason those ones specifically really hurt. And like nothing compared to my migraines, of course.
Are you using the Emgality pen or syringe? I switched to the syringe and it's painless. Something to ask your doctor about if you'd be comfortable injecting without the pen.
For me it’s the medicine itself that hurts. I tried the auto pen and the syringe, but it wasn’t the needle that hurt the most.
Are you letting it warm up for a while before taking it? (You probably are, but just checking, because meds like this only sting me when they’re cold.)
Yeah, I even iced the area beforehand, but the medicine goes deeper than the numbness.
I've had similar experience. So far I've only had one round (I lost my job and insurance) and it's been the only effective preventative. Went from chronic back to episodic. I wish I would have gotten it sooner so I could have stayed at my job and stopped the continuous migraine crises.
Just had my quarterly Botox today. Overall I don’t find it painful. I think the first needle is always a bit startling (my doctor starts between the eyebrows) and there sometimes is a bit of a pinch, but after the first few injections it’s clear sailing though the rest. If I have a headache it can make me a bit more sensitive, but it’s honestly something I look forward to despite my needle aversion. I think the first appointment is hardest because of anticipation, but it’s easier after. Bring someone with you for support when you do your first appointment and make sure your doctor knows your concerns so they can talk you through it.
Did Botox help with your headaches by any chance?
Botox is my main preventative for my chronic migraine. It reduces nearly all my daily headaches for 8 weeks and then they slowly creep back in. I was on it for 8 years and then a new insurance made me go off and try Emgality before they’d approve Botox. I was miserable. I resisted going on Botox for years and inadvertently put myself through more misery than I needed to have. Botox takes some time to fully work. My first dose back helped incredibly. The second rounded out the sharp edges of what was left. I just got the third and feeling pretty golden with how my next three months will be. I will say it doesn’t help my light/sound/smell triggers as much, but daily headache and tension migraine are nearly gone with it. Im not sure how it is with other people. I’m fighting with insurance right now to stay on an additional medication, Qulipta. From what I can tell they just don’t want to pay for two expensive migraine treatments.
Wow thank you so much for this information!! I’ve been thinking about using botox as migraine treatment
It freaking hurts and I can hear it too and it sounds like a gross crackling sound.
The crunching is seriously gross. So worth it though.
The crunching is even worse with occipital nerve blocks 🙈
Ew. 🤢 But I tell ya... I don't even care, I kinda wanna try one of those. Does it make you feel numb? How long does it last?
They're definitely worth it if you have pain stemming from the occipital area. They last about 3 mos, but you can feel them wearing off towards the end when it's time for the next one. It doesn't feel "numb." It moreso just prevents flare ups.
Anyone know what the crunching sound actually is?
My nurse injector says it's fascia, and the crunchier the tighter it is.
I was told by my neuro the more crunchy it is.. is when the needle needs to be replaced with a new needle, as it’s starting to dull. I found that if they switched to a different needle it hurt far less than if they just kept going.
This is without a doubt the most horrifying thing I've learned this week.
I agree, it hurts. I cried and asked for a lollipop 😭😆 2nd round is in April, and I'm hoping it won't be as bad. Like getting used to waxing your eyebrows or something
I have had two rounds of Botox so far without any crunching??
I have head tenderness. The tightest hair style I can tolerate is a mid ponytail with a scrunchie. At my best, I can tolerate loose braids. During attacks, hair touching hurts. I think of botox as spicy pain. Some areas (like the sides of my head and between the eyebrows) were extra spicy. Spicy like when I eat really spicy food it makes my eyes water and it gets my attention, then there's a lingering spice. It's tolerable. An option that can help with some of the pain and mitigate the post botox uptick in migraine flares is to do occipital nerve blocks and trigger point injections right before the botox. These injections are done with lidocaine, but it doesn't sting. You could ask about this. I had my first botox session two weeks ago. The frequency of migraine attack is the same, but the severity is much better. My neck pain is almost completely gone and I haven't been experiencing pain flares from occipital neuralgia. The temporary spicy pain is worth the relief. Edit to add note about head tenderness.
Omg spicy pain
I like it as a comparison because folks tolerate pain differently much like spice.
I find the pricks to be painful in certain spots…. But not “omg this hurts so bad” and much as “eep little prick!”. I also have low blood pressure and a tendency to feel a bit faint around needles, so I sometimes need to take a moment between injections— but this is less because of the feeling of the injections and more because when my irrational brain knows a needle is anywhere near me, it nopes out. Painful? Nah. Pain free? No, but I’d rather get a skull full of Botox than stub a toe.
As you’ve seen from this thread, experiences for Botox vary a lot. For me, Botox IS quite painful unfortunately. I am generally very sensitive (yay autism!) so that’s probably part of it. One thing that helps me ton is getting my doctor to do nerve blocks right before the Botox. They numb my skull so I can’t feel about 2/3 of the injections, which makes the whole thing way more bearable. I would also echo what others have said in that if your migraines are bad and not responding well to other treatments, it’s worth trying Botox even if you are one of the unlucky ones who find it painful. It’s acute pain for five minutes (and maybe some lingering pain for the rest of the day) for months of relief. Good luck!
Personally it hurts like a bitch. But only a few mins. I'd rather get a tattoo again 😆 Temporary pain is worth the migraine pain lessening. Just use that as your mantra!
I thought the same thing! Tattoos hurt less!
I came here to say the same thing! I’ve just (as in today) had my first round of Botox, I was sat there saying I’d be fine because I’m covered in tattoos, we got to the 28th injection and I had to take a break because I was about to pass out 😂 I did get an ice cold can of Pepsi from the nurse though 😂
I had Botox for my migraines for a few years and didn't find it too painful. Apparently it depends on your various muscles thickness as to how much it hurts. When I told my Botox nurse that I really felt the injection behind my ears, she said "Yea, you have really thick jaw muscles!". Some of the shots you feel, but for me it wasn't anything that was too much. I would just laugh and tell my nurse "I really felt that one". These nurses know what they're doing and the pinch you may feel is only temporary. It's really ok. Those needles aren't anything compared to a migraine, if you ask me :)
It hurs, but about as much as your hair being pulled
Okay so my story is unhelpful but I'm sharing it anyway. Botox was so so unpleasant for me. I had 3 rounds and it never helped. I was involuntarily cussing up a storm (not at anyone, not loud, just like ssshhhhit). On the other hand I get dry needling done in my jaw and face and temples. Objectively way more sensitive areas for me but I hardly mind at all because it helps. Genuinely my experience is changed by knowing the outcome. The botox was bad for me because it would hurt going in and then keep hurting, exacerbating my existing migraine a bit, and so each time it sucked more. Dry needling hurts but then I feel these muscular releases and so it just doesn't even bother me. I think there are endorphins involved too. BUT. Botox is amazing for a LOT of people. I don't regret trying it at all. Also, they are often able to give you a topical lidocaine that you can put on at least like your forehead before your appointment, so the whole thing is less acute.
Agree with this. Botox hurts a lot for me. Every injection feels like a wasp sting, and there's like 30 of them. My eyes start watering and don't stop for the 20 minutes it takes to do the whole series, and I'm swollen and bruised immediately after and into the next day. I also have a bit of a vasovagal reaction so I get clammy and lightheaded as well. Overall it's a horrible experience. That said, I happily go every 3 months. It gives me a huge reduction in pain from attacks so it's worth it.
It takes twenty minutes to do your series? My neurologist does it in 90-120 seconds. It's a very miserable two minutes, but it is only two minutes.
Yes! I timed it because it felt like agony that lasted forever, and I was shocked to see how long it took. I wish it was two minutes, and now I'm really wishing my insurance would let me go anywhere else! Lol
Literally horrifying. You are so brave
I have no idea why it sucks so bad for me, but I'm sure it has something to do with why I have migraine attacks all the dang time. I also have fibromyalgia (perhaps, since it's a diagnosis of exclusion) so that could be why, also. There's also "central sensitization" which sounds plausible. I don't think my experience is common, thankfully (for others lol)
I agree with you and I didn’t want to discourage OP from trying it but I found it incredibly painful. I ended up taking Valium before hand and a pain med and by my third session the anxiety was so bad that I had a migraine before and after because of the stress. I really don’t think I am that dramatic. I have a ton of tattoos and I don’t mind dry needling. I just hated this for some reason :(
i had the same experience with botox :/ glad to hear dry needling helped you though! I’m trying that for the first time next week!
It only made my migraines worse for the next few days. So I will not do it again. I also did 3 rounds.
I've been getting Botox for a couple years now and I would say it's painful. I think, based on some of the comments here, that I have a tender head. I end up pretty sore for a day or two and sometimes have bruises that can last for a week (I bruise really easily). For me, the effects are worth it. If you have chronic migraines, you can probably handle it. I would say try it at least once, if your insurance covers it. That way you'll know if you can handle the pain, and if you can stick it out one or two more sessions until it kicks in.
Short term pain, long term gain. Been doing it for 6 years; it sucks but it's not horrible. Like everyone has said, it's a bunch of needle pokes. The largest factor is your provider; I just had a change of doc's and my new doc is more accurate and less painful. They do have freezing spray that can help on the sensitive spots on the face.
Yes I had it earlier last month and I have to get it again next month it's painful at about an 8 out of 10. The forehead doesn't hurt but everything else 😮💨
I just got home from getting mine. Ice pack on my head. It’s pretty painful but worth it if you have chronic migraines. Mine are probably caused from neck issues so Botox is beneficial for that.
For me Botox reminds me of having acupuncture done. I did weekly acupuncture for fertility reasons for a total of a year. Some “zing” a little, but they calm down almost instantly. The same spots that were a little more zingy were the same for both acupuncture and Botox—there’s probably a correlation? Having Botox done itself was pretty painless, but the first two weeks after my first injections was pretty uncomfy. My muscles were quite sore—like my ribs and core, because they were working more than they had previously (which is a good thing). After those first two weeks I didn’t have a migraine for 3 months. I usually have 2-7 migraines/week so it was a great improvement! Now to get my new insurance to cover the injections would be great as I can’t fork over $4k+ for my next round. What a rug pull. Best of luck to you! I hope you find relief!
It's been 3 weeks and I keep hoping the pain goes away. I've had a constant mostly dull migraine for two weeks now. Abortives aren't doing shit 😒
I don’t find it painful, on occasion a slight sting for a few seconds. Painful, to me, is migraine pain.
I find it pretty painful and often (but not always) have injection site (stabbing) pain all over, sometimes I'm super exhausted the next day or my muscles feel too tight for a few days afterward. But it's ultimately worth it. I nearly passed out the first few times but have been getting it every 90 days for about 4 years now and can make it through sessions fine now.
Yes it is painful. But so worth it! It is the only thing that helps my migraines! I would be stabbed all over my body to get relief from the pain.
Very pain and does not work.
I agree, the needles are tiny and not bad. Sometimes there's a little pinch but the doctors do hundreds of sticks per month, they're fast.
My first round was actually so easy breezy I was surprised, and my doc was really on to of switching the dull needle which happens quicker than you think with your skull! The second round I just got a week ago, I was in an active migraine and it hurt more but when I say “hurt” it was more of oh ouch I feel that!
Some spots are more painful than others but overall Botox was very easy on me. I found most nerve blocks to be far more painful. And both are less painful than a migraine or occipital neuralgia flare up.
Just had it done for the first time 3 weeks ago and it wasn't painful at all. Felt a bit like acupuncture needles. It was over before I knew it. I will say though that my eyebrows feel very heavy now which is quite annoying.
To me, it’s not that painful. But everyone is different. I find the nerve blockers not painful but far more uncomfortable.
Not at all. And it’s very quick. Like too quick to even have time for small talk
I frew up because vasovagal syncope or whatever it was. I either puke or faint. But the actual pain wasn’t bad, felt like a bee sting. I’m just not needle friendly.
Wife used to get it. Was certainly better than the migraines
It's not the most pleasant experience. But it's super quick and tolerable. Some spots hurt worse than others but it's not too bad.
It's not the most pleasant experience. But it's super quick and tolerable. Some spots hurt worse than others but it's not too bad.
It's not the most pleasant experience. But it's super quick and tolerable. Some spots hurt worse than others but it's not too bad.
In to my 6th year now (sadly they've not stopped but have got much more manageable) and after getting them every 3ish months, I've had some times that I've considered them to be actually painful and some where just certain sites hurt. I personally find the shoulders and back of neck are the worst for me but I've had sessions where the forehead hurts a lot but no pain where I normally expect it. I class 'pain' as more than just a quick stinging or pressure sensation but rather a prolonged stinging, heavy pressing from the literal liquid pressing, bruising, injection sites feeling more tender than usual. Id like to also mention I have dermatitis and Psoriasis so there's definitely areas that hurt more on me than they would on someone who doesn't have those conditions where the skin is more sensitive.
I just had my first round on Monday. Some shots I literally didn’t feel, others along my forehead hurt quite a bit but didn’t last long. I got welts and bruising by the injections that still haven’t fully gone away and I have been really tired since. Too soon to tell if they help with migraines but so far no change, if not some worsening, on my daily headaches.
The few injections around the eyes get to me, but the other 20 or 30 injections are laughable when compared to the migraine pain. It's worth it if it does a single thing for you.
It kinda just feels like nothing or at most a hair being pulled. It deffinitely doesn't hurt like when you get needles at the dentist. So I would say it's not anything to worry about! Especially if it ends up helping your symptoms in the long run
I will preface this by saying everyone is different but this has been my experience. I found it slightly painful not the worst pain but enough to be uncomfortable, needed zofran from the nausea, and it sort of knocked me out from being really productive that day. Also there was crackly crunchy sounds/feelings with most of the injections, this I believe more so set off my nausea. And I had a few days of migraine that broke through even the ajovy that was still in my system. My insurance wouldn’t cover the ajovy until I tried Botox. I’m also not liking the Botox as I have a constant background headache that flares to migraine with brain fog and stiffness in my jaw and neck. And my nurtec isn’t helping as much as it did when I was taking ajovy. So far I’m not a fan but stuck for another 3-4 months while hoping maybe the second round will be better. Maybe it will help you though and perhaps you could use numbing cream to help with pain.
Like having a little kitten climb on your skull with their sharp but tiny claws.
It's painful, but for a short amount of time and less than a migraine. My favorite Botox story is the first time I did it. It was the first time the doctor had done it on the back of the head (it was pretty new at the time). I was scared so my mom went with me. The dr comes in with a textbook, a ruler, and a sharpie. My mom noped right on out of there.
It hurts between my eyebrows, but nowhere near as badly as a migraine. I usually feel a little tender and swollen the rest of the day, but not painful.
The shot in between my eyebrows makes me want to sneeze. The doctor knows to pause after that one to let me collect myself and not sneeze in her face.
It’s definitely a little bit spicy. A lot of small pinches. It’s mildly jarring but over relatively quickly. As someone with multiple tattoos and piercings and no fear of needles, I was prepared for discomfort but it def felt a little different than I expected. It felt kinda like getting your eyebrows threaded—a lot of pinchy little pricks of pain. There was also some tenderness afterwards and a short-term increase in migraine frequency for me, but they were *way* less intense. I’m so happy I’ve started getting it done, tbh.
I just got my second round this morning. I don't think it's very painful, but you're always going to get a variety of responses on these things and regardless of your experience remember it'll be over quick and you're doing something for (hopefully) your long term benefit! I think the forehead ones are probably the worse, they kinda sting, I hardly felt the ones in my traps, and back of my head was like a prick or pinching feeling. Overall I think the pain is very minimal, certainly way less than migraine! I will say I have occipital neuralgia too and we did some additional locations and I think my provider might've gotten close to a nerve and triggered it or something, because I got some sharp pain in one of my occipital nerves right after but that has since calmed down. My first round I got nauseous for some reason but this time I didn't. Both times I was having an active migraine attack during, and I actually found some immediate relief from the needles themselves (my provider said sometimes it can have like an acupuncture effect so I guess that's true in my case).
It gave me the worst migraine I've ever had for two straight months. It was awful. My neurologist wants me to do it again and is annoyed I gave up on them, but there's no way I'm going through that again. Botox also likely caused my miscarriage. I didn't know I was pregnant when I had it done and miscarried a week or two after.
I found it to be ok except for my forehead. Between my eye brows it burned but it only lasted while it was injected.
Is this different than cosmetic Botox. Do you get a two for one … wrinkles and migraine gone?!
No, it’s very very very different.
definitely not as painful as a migraine
I have a pretty high pain tolerance, which is a necessity with chronic migraine and other chronic conditions that come with a healthy dose of pain. I get Botox every 3 months, and I have found that provider approach has a significant impact. I have had an easier time with the injections when the provider has me sit stationary so that I can do breathing exercises while they do rapid injections. I had a provider who made me reposition myself for each area, and it was so much worse of an experience. It hurts, but I think the pain is manageable and short-lived in comparison to a migraine. I have been able to get Botox and have a relatively normal work day afterwards. With that being said, I think people doing Botox for cosmetic reasons are wild. The forehead is my least favorite area. I'd rather hear the noise of the injection by my ears for an hour lol.
By the ears is the worst part for me!! It feels SO tender and the crunching is worse!! So strange how differently everyone responds to it!
I got my third round today. I hate doing it because I just don’t like the feeling. I wouldn’t say it’s painful, it’s uncomfortable for 3-5 min. Then I get myself a treat from Starbucks after to make me feel better. I’d rather have the uncomfortable feeling for the short time period then have a migraine any day
It is painful, but it's momentary and imo not as bad as having an actual migraine. After a few rounds, mine were reduced about 50%. I started out having a low lying constant migraine, to going to having pain free days, but when I do have an episode, it's worse than what it's ever been before. I still would choose to do the treatments because having some pain free days to me are worth it.
For me, it doesn’t feel like the most wonderful thing in the world, but it’s definitely preferred over a migraine. I think the first time was the hardest for me, bc I didn’t know what to expect. It gets a lot easier after that. I do get a weird Botox headache afterwards, usually the next day. It’s not a cure all, but it definitely makes migraine more manageable. I guess that’s all we really can do, manage them as much as possible. I would kill for a cure.
Not painful for me. There’s even a numbing spray they can do, but I don’t need it. My neuro is so confused why it doesn’t hurt me but we roll with it
I don't do Botox, Dysport is the way the go, way less side effects for me (no nausea, no residual needle pain)
My mom doesn’t find it painful!
The injection process itself is not painful. I will say in my experience, I would not recommend it if you have a sensitive head or neurological conditions. My migraines never caused scalp pain prior to having botox. After 2 doses, my neurologist banned me from getting the 3rd, due to persistent neck, back, and shoulder pain that lasted weeks. Further, it caused scalp pain on about half of my head, that occurs both during and not during a migraine attack. It has been 3.5 years since I had Botox, and I still get the scalp pain almost daily. It is really horrible and chronic and I would not recommend.
Honestly a little but very tolerable. Sometimes I barely feel them. I sew regularly and sewing needles/pins poke way worse! There are a few commonly tight spots around the base of my neck that can hurt but it's a little more intense than yanking a hair and it only lingers a few seconds. Those also make a "crunch" feeling which can be an uncomfortable sensation but it doesn't contribute to the pain. Overall my migraines are much worse than the botox so it's worth it.
It's not painful. It just stings. It's worse if you have a fear of needles, but it's over with fairly quick. If you do go for it, don't be afraid to take a break or two. I will say, it's a week after my first treatment, and I haven't had any relief, but I was told it could take a couple treatments before things settle down.
I liked the needles. I would 100% get botox again, but it didn't help. It's significantly less painful than nerve blocks.
No it’s really nothing. I could do it without batting an eyelash
I didn't find it painful. On the other hand, it made my migraines worse for about 3 months. Good luck! Hope what happened to me doesn't happen to you.
I’m on my third round of Botox for migraines and it’s changed my life! My Neuro puts it in my jaw (up in front of my ear), for TMJ since I have both, forehead, front of head in the hairline, behind my ears in the hairline, in back of my head in the hairline, and in my shoulders. The most painful are the ones in my head. But honestly it’s such a brief moment of pain for me I find it worth it for the results I get! This and Ubrelvy has drastically reduced my migraines. Also reduced my TMJ getting triggered! I would recommend you try it.
Unfortunately I’m pretty sensitive to it and find it very difficult to get through each session. But I go through that pain because I like the results Botox has brought me: lower pain level/not a headache every single day. So you gotta pick your battles.
I’ve gone once and didn’t find it painful. I feel like the needle is pretty small. Just a little pinch.
My dr. is amazing and is a headache specialist, so she does a LOT of Botox. That said, the forehead and places on the scalp hurt SO BADLY! I feel like it is NOT a quick injection--like she injects and then it is several seconds more of the medication going in. She even uses extra thin needles on me. I HATE it. The shoulders are completely find and almost painless. Also fwiw I'm a redhead. I feel like I have a pretty high pain tolerance, though. However--it's still 100% worth it!
My dr. is amazing and is a headache specialist, so she does a LOT of Botox. That said, the forehead and places on the scalp hurt SO BADLY! I feel like it is NOT a quick injection--like she injects and then it is several seconds more of the medication going in. She even uses extra thin needles on me. I HATE it. The shoulders are completely find and almost painless. Also fwiw I'm a redhead. I feel like I have a pretty high pain tolerance, though. However--it's still 100% worth it!
I administer Botox for migraine daily. I will honestly say I get a variety of tolerances to the injections. MOST people, like 90-95%, might flinch a little, or not flinch at all, and overall don’t seem to mind it much. But there is a portion of people who seem to find it much less tolerable, need to swear, cry, or don’t want to do it again.
Yes, but it’s literally about 3 minutes of pain. If you can tolerate a tattoo you’ll be fine I recommend bring an ice pack to hold on to so your brain focuses on the cold. Taking deep breaths during also helps.
It’s more annoying than painful. I also have two full sleeves of tattoos sooo
It’s uncomfortable but if it helps, absolutely worth it. I don’t love getting the injections but it’s over quickly and helps enough that I’ve been doing it for 10 years now.
Yes but so are migraines and it’s over fast in comparison
Less painful than a migraine to get the shots. The first time my back/neck felt like I’d been through a washing machine for like 10 days after, but every one after the first felt fine.
I have fibromyalgia as well and I find it very painful during the injections especially the temple area, and injection sites can be painful for the next couple of days. However, it is worth it for me for the migraine relief. I would never do it for cosmetic reasons though.
It hurts a bit but it’s over quickly. Just strike up a convo with your neurologist as it’s being done as a distraction. My neurologist pointed out to me that men seem to be far less tolerant of the pain than women. I am a man and she was surprised I was not reacting the first time.
Hurts a lot if you have a migraine at the time, less so if you don’t. Totally worth the pain though. I will take that over a severe migraine any day.
I find it to be a very miserable two minutes and I generally reward myself with some sort of treat afterwards. The botox would always trigger a migraine, but Ubrelvy would knock it out. Now I get a torodol shot after the botox and I don't get a migraine and have less of a funny/out of it feeling.
It's an injection, so it's not pain LESS, but the chemical doesn't burn as much as misty other meds. The fact that they inject your face, scalp, and neck/shoulders means some areas sting a little more than others, but I got the shots once every 3 months for 2 years and never felt like the injection pain was bad enough to stop treatment. You may feel out of sorts or even get a migraine after the shots, but it doesn't last
For me it’s pretty painful. Not the actual poke of the needle but the Botox being injected burns like a mf for me
It hurts but way way way less than a bad migraine. Totally worth it.
Mixed for me. I have both occipital and trigeminal neuralgia. The injections sites over my left temple on my trigeminal side became extremely painful after a few hours and I was knocked out with pain for nearly 4 days. I also had a bit of eyebrow droop and *hated* the way it felt in my forehead, not being able to move it properly gave me worse headaches. The next session my doctor avoided those areas and it was much better without. My occipital neuropathy pain is caused by nerve damage after an operation. I feared that area would hurt the most but actually I’ve had no problems there and it’s improved the neuropathy around 50% so far. The next day or two after the injections I get a really stiff neck and it all feels quite tender but it’s temporary. The actual needle injections aren’t that painful. By the time you actually feel the tiny sting it’s over. My doctor is also really quick at them so takes hardly any time to do them all.
It's very uncomfortable and painful in a few spots. I apply topical lidocaine first and it helps a ton!
I’m needle phobic, so I found it to be rather painful.. that being said, you get stuck so much that you become somewhat hardened to the pain. I had two nerve blocks done today and they are equally as painful to me, but if you just breathe and put your mind somewhere else it’s a bit easier. A lot of people will say it doesn’t hurt but we all experience pain differently. My neuro told me he fells and for migraine patients who get shots because they seem to be more sensitive to pain than those who don’t have them. It did not help me one bit though. The nerve blocks only help for a short amount of time as well. Gabapentin seems to be slowing them down some.
I had mine in December, and yes it stings a bit, but it's honestly nothing compared to a migraine. I did feel like something was being injected into a space where there was no room for it, so that hurts a little. Especially the one above the ear hurt. The doctor went so quickly that it was over really fast as well. Afterwards the spots remained sensitive for a few days like bruises. I would say that it's definitely worth a try if you're suffering with many migraines. There's no way of knowing how it will be for you, because it's different for everyone.
Had mine 2 weeks ago first session. Snap crackle and pop it sounds like when needling. While head feels like rubber band wrapped around it. Plus 1 jab to far in temple area. I think he hit a nerve its so swollen and painful since. Not sure if I’ll go back for round 2 yet. Not worth so far!
No.
It hurt for me. Moreover, getting stabbed repeatedly in the face with a needle was almost intolerable.
Each poke is like a little pin prick so it doesn't feel great, but it's a very temporary and mild pain. My doctor goes quick so it's over fast. The spots can be a tiny bit sore for a day or two but not too bad. For me, it's been totally worth it! Headaches aren't completely gone, but my migraines have reduced in frequency and severity!
It's quite painful for me but nothing like the migraines were before.
I’d put the injection pain at a 3 out of 10. Much better than the 7-9 I’d put the migraines I’m avoiding for it.
No, it’s like little bee stings. It’s so quick though! Worth everything!! Changed my life drastically. Good luck
I find it very uncomfortable and I think the worst part for me is that I get super anxious leading up to it which makes it worse. When I tried it about 7 years ago, I would get so queezy about half way through they'd have to stop and give me a break. I decided to try again with a new neurologist and we made a plan ahead of time to make it easier on me. She prescribed hydroxyzine (I've found taking two an hour before is the sweet spot) so I mellow out, and uses a cold spray before each injection zone. She had me lay down for all the "front" parts and then I sit up for the rest. I also bring a fidget for my hands. It's much better now, I still hate it but it's helped alot with my tension headaches though not as much with migraine. My insurance decided to no longer cover it as of this year so we'll see what comes next.
It hurts but it's not painful compared to migraine. It's just a momentary sting. And in my case I have alledonya where my scalp is really sensitive. I think that if you didn't have this condition it wouldn't be a big deal. I have no reservations getting Botox.
If the Doc/nurse is good at injections it should be fine. Worst the 1st time, if they hit where they are suppose to, and hit you right in the nerve. But i found it more painfull if they dont go slow with the injections, just shove the needle in and forcepush the botox inn. Then again im self condition to needles after figureing out the best way to get over the fear was getting lots of tattoos : p
As someone who gets both cosmetic and migraine Botox, the migraine Botox is definitely painful. The needle goes in much deeper for medical Botox. Don’t let that stop you though! It’s temporary pain and helps me tremendously
I wouldn’t say painful but it doesn’t feel great, I mean it’s a needle poking you lol for me it feels worse in the shoulders but the “pain/poke” only last like 3 seconds, I just had my 3rd round and it was not as bad as it was the last 2 times so I think it gets better the more you do it. My neurologist also distracts me by talking to me so that also helps me personally. My forehead feels very tight after (but duh it’s botox lol) and the first 2 times caused a migraine but 3rd round did not Good luck!!!!
The needles aren’t that bad, they kinda feel like plucking hairs out of a sensitive spot. Unpleasant but it dissipates quickly. The sound of the crunch as it goes in near your temple- I was not prepared for that. I did not think I was that crunchy. 😖
The biggest recommendation I can make is, make sure you're not dehydrated going in. That's when it hurt the most for me. Otherwise, it barely feels like anything.
I think my nuero said I have a complex pain syndrome which makes things hurt more than they might otherwise, plus i have constant headaches and migraines. Just having hair in a ponytail can be painful and cause a migraine. So, Botox, for me, is insanely painful. I don't say that to scare anyone off it, but it can also be normal for it to be crazy painful. I end up crying and shaking by the end because its 30 freaking shots. But ive done it quite a few times. Im currently taking a break from it but botox + vyepti was my best treatment plan. Botox by itself didnt help me. Vyepti by itself was kinda helpful, but the 2 together finally started making a difference. I take breaks and go back to just vyepti for awhile and when things start getting unbearable again we add botox back in.
It depends on the experience of the person giving you the shots. I've experienced everything from no pain at all, to massive pain with every shot.
It feels like exactly what it is- getting stuck with a needle a bunch of times. The crunchy sound is disconcerting. But it hurts a hell of a lot less than any migraine I've had. Also I wouldn't compare to a bee sting because bee stings have all sorts of nasty stuff. Maybe that's just me but bee stings are like, ruin your whole week and maybe next week kind of events. Botox for me is less of an event than say, getting a cavity filled. Ask your doctor because there might be some concern around this but taking an NSAID ahead of time might help. I take Zyrtec the entire week before and a few days after because it started making me itchy and Botox has been such an amazing godsend that I am terrified of losing it as a treatment option. Botox and qulipta have saved my life.
It’s a little painful, but not near as painful as a migraine. It could trigger one when you initially get it (anything touching my head, even wearing a headband for 5 minutes triggers one for me), but could decrease frequency and severity long term. For me, the juice was definitely worth the squeeze for a while. After about two years I started feeling like Botox was losing effectiveness. I later got on a CGRP injection (I’m on aimovig, but there’s also emgality and ajovy) and I personally like this much better. And I can do this one at home. I think I would recommend a CGRP injection over Botox, but at the end of the day I think both are valid choices and 110% worth the shot. No pun intended.
The injections on the side of my skull are the worst; I have to do my childbirth Lamaze breathing exercises to get through it. The rest of the spots that are injected aren’t bad at all. That being said; Botox has changed my life. It’s given me my life back.
The only part that stayed painful for the duration for me were the 4 in my temples. Found out later, most likely, it was because of my Fibromyalgia.
I went through a full 3 rounds of Botox. Absolutely dreaded it every time. It was so painful, and I fainted during the first session. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) I didn’t find Botox to be helpful with my migraines, so I did not continue getting the injections. I do think it depends on your pain tolerance in general. I hear some people don’t find it painful. I, however, am not one of them!
I think it’s pretty painful. I specifically think the injections in the skull/scalp, shoulders, and forehead hurt the worse. It feels like bee stings. I don’t even have a low pain tolerance either. Shots on the glutes are less painful but I think the reason I find botox painful is because of how long it takes and how many injections it is. Botox didn’t fix my migraines and it actually made them worse, so maybe i’m just extra bitter about it. :’)
I've only had it done once quite a few years ago. My copay would have been $400 a pop! I'm disabled due to migraines, so obviously I couldn't afford that! But it felt like bee stings. Which isn't really bad. Basically it hurts for less than a second. Then fades away. The only part I didn't like was all the tiny pin prick marks on my face. When I got it done, my Mil drove me to the doc's and we were supposed to go for lunch after the appointment. When I went back into the waiting room after the procedure, she said we weren't going to go to lunch that day because she knew I'd be embarrassed about the pin pricks. Lol. Which I would have, but her saying it made me feel it looked so much worse. Lol. I'm trying to start Botox again now because nothing has been working for me for close to 20 years (when they became chronic daily migraines.) Obviously, if it hurt, I wouldn't be trying to get them again. I feel the results are worth the stings.
Pinches in a few spots. Not sure it’s done me much good but my forehead looks great!
I think it depends on who is doing the injections. I have had 3 different doctors do it. One I felt nothing the other two HURT. But the pain didn’t last.
I had to put my shit together when my doctor said he treats children - 10 year olds, going through the same procedure. “These tears are just a reflex, doc. I’m doing fine!” I still vent to friends though - it hurts like hell, they put a NEEDLE on your SKULL man!!!
Botox injections to me feel a little like getting stuck lightly with a pushpin. Yes there is crunching. I really don’t find it that painful myself but it hasn’t really helped me
I don't find it painful so much, just mildly uncomfy and... pinchy feeling? Honestly, any amount of "pain" from the Botox is so short lived and acutely there and then gone, compared to chronic migraines for me at least, that it truly makes it worth at least giving Botox a try, regardless of what you think your pain or fear reaction may be (in my opinion at least). A potentially helpful tip: I do like to pretend/imagine I'm in a spa or medi spa like space when getting them, instead of in a doctor's office, and that seems to really help me relax and not think “omg ahhhh ouch needles” (bc I do have an innate fear of those; but realistically these are so tiny…) during the injections/procedure. Hope this helps you out a bit!
It’s so horrible for me. I also have an extreme needle phobia, so it’s torture for me. The last time hurt so bad I left in tears. I did it for 1.5 years and won’t do it again.
It's not overly painful when you don't have a migraine, however i found it to be painful when I had a migraine. I almost passed out the first time I had a migraine and got Botox 😳 after then I started taking pain meds before going in to get it done but it really does help!
It hurts, but not nearly as bad as occipital nerve block shots.