Jump to content


- - - - -

27yrs And Getting Botox


  • Please log in to reply
9 replies to this topic

#1 *jlo*

*jlo*
  • Guests

Posted 30 April 2008 - 01:02 PM

So I have to question anything the VA wants to try.
I have had bladder spasms for a couple of years and
nothing seems to work. The VA wants to shoot BOTOX
into my bladder to paralyze it, thus making it unable
to spasm. Anyone heard of this, or am I again being the
governments GINIPIG! :yawn:

#2 GettingTired2

GettingTired2

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 14 posts
  • Country:Two Harbors, Minnesota
  • Spinal Injury Level / Relationship:C2VentDependent/Wife

Posted 30 April 2008 - 01:31 PM

Hi there,
I was curious about this, so I've done some checking, and found a few sites that actually say it's helpful... Botox shows potential for bladder spasms and leakages. http://www.news-medical.net/?id=33254
I'd be interested to know if it actually works. Take care.
Tammy

P.S. It seems clinical studies just started in Dec 07.

“Damaged nerves may send signals to the bladder at the wrong time, causing its muscles to squeeze without warning,” said Dr. Lemack. “The Botox prevents the bladder muscles from having these spasms that lead to urinary frequency and urgency. The treatment will vastly improve bladder function in the majority of patients for a period of six to nine months.”
http://www.scienceda...71205095354.htm

Hope this helps.

Edited by GettingTired2, 30 April 2008 - 01:36 PM.


#3 Yong

Yong

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 229 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Country:Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  • Spinal Injury Level / Relationship:T6 Complete
  • Injury Date:22-04-2007

Posted 30 April 2008 - 02:06 PM

I was signed up for this study down here at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. My doctor (who is a T1) told me that he had gotten this botox injection and suffered severe AD the first couple nights but was okay afterwards. He advised me to get the injection (i also have MASSIVE bladder spasms) especially if the research center was going to pay for it.

The problem with botox is that you would have to get injections every so often just like any botox injection. As of now, I don't think insurance will cover the cost.

Right now, I've decided against the botox injection because I've heard of a new PERMANENT way to solve incontinence.

It's a new procedure called bladder augmentation where they go in and biopsy a piece of your own bladder. They grow it in a lab for 3 months and add it back to your own bladder, thus increasing the volume. They've done it in the past with your bowel, but that caused more infections. Taking your own bladder, growing it, and adding it back on would cause little to no infections or rejection by the body.

I had urodynamics done just a couple days ago and was told that my bladder would only contain 130 mL before refluxing. The pressure of the reflux was 120mmHg, which is 80 above normal. The doctors were very surprised that I didn't have any backflow into my kidneys.

The operation would increase my bladder capacity by 450mL, making it about 550mL. It won't solve the problem of my bladder squeezing..but I will be able to retain more urine between ICs.

Ask about the bladder augmentation procedure to your urologist.

#4 *jlo*

*jlo*
  • Guests

Posted 30 April 2008 - 02:21 PM

View PostYong, on Apr 30 2008, 08:06 AM, said:

I was signed up for this study down here at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. My doctor (who is a T1) told me that he had gotten this botox injection and suffered severe AD the first couple nights but was okay afterwards. He advised me to get the injection (i also have MASSIVE bladder spasms) especially if the research center was going to pay for it.

The problem with botox is that you would have to get injections every so often just like any botox injection. As of now, I don't think insurance will cover the cost.

Right now, I've decided against the botox injection because I've heard of a new PERMANENT way to solve incontinence.

It's a new procedure called bladder augmentation where they go in and biopsy a piece of your own bladder. They grow it in a lab for 3 months and add it back to your own bladder, thus increasing the volume. They've done it in the past with your bowel, but that caused more infections. Taking your own bladder, growing it, and adding it back on would cause little to no infections or rejection by the body.

I had urodynamics done just a couple days ago and was told that my bladder would only contain 130 mL before refluxing. The pressure of the reflux was 120mmHg, which is 80 above normal. The doctors were very surprised that I didn't have any backflow into my kidneys.

The operation would increase my bladder capacity by 450mL, making it about 550mL. It won't solve the problem of my bladder squeezing..but I will be able to retain more urine between ICs.

Ask about the bladder augmentation procedure to your urologist.




Thank you for all the great info. Why doesn't the VA give me all the options. Kinda makes me mad.
Very helpful thank you!

View PostGettingTired2, on Apr 30 2008, 07:31 AM, said:

Hi there,
I was curious about this, so I've done some checking, and found a few sites that actually say it's helpful... Botox shows potential for bladder spasms and leakages. http://www.news-medical.net/?id=33254
I'd be interested to know if it actually works. Take care.
Tammy

P.S. It seems clinical studies just started in Dec 07.

“Damaged nerves may send signals to the bladder at the wrong time, causing its muscles to squeeze without warning,” said Dr. Lemack. “The Botox prevents the bladder muscles from having these spasms that lead to urinary frequency and urgency. The treatment will vastly improve bladder function in the majority of patients for a period of six to nine months.”
http://www.scienceda...71205095354.htm

Hope this helps.


Thanks makes me feel more confident about it. I guess it will last for three months or so. If
it doesn't do the trick its not permanent!

#5 Tired of hurting

Tired of hurting

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 199 posts
  • Country:Northern Ca. USA
  • Spinal Injury Level / Relationship:T 11-12

Posted 30 April 2008 - 03:28 PM

I've had bladder spasms for 3 1/2 yrs. In the am I take vesicare 10mg, at night kolonpin It's the only thing that has helped me. I can hold 900cc now thats a spasm. My Dr. ordered Botox but insurance won't pay for it. I'm afraid it would make me leak which isn't a problem now. I really don't need anymore problems. Keep me posted on how it goes, or PM to talk. No one realizes how uncomfortable bladder spasms are, until you have them. Good Luck..

#6 Motor

Motor

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 611 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Country:South Florida, USA
  • Spinal Injury Level / Relationship:Incomplete T-6 para

Posted 01 May 2008 - 04:03 AM

View PostTired of hurting, on Apr 30 2008, 11:28 AM, said:

I've had bladder spasms for 3 1/2 yrs. In the am I take vesicare 10mg, at night kolonpin It's the only thing that has helped me. I can hold 900cc now thats a spasm. My Dr. ordered Botox but insurance won't pay for it. I'm afraid it would make me leak which isn't a problem now. I really don't need anymore problems. Keep me posted on how it goes, or PM to talk. No one realizes how uncomfortable bladder spasms are, until you have them. Good Luck..
I have several friends that I play basketball with and they swear by it. They are in a trial at "The Miami Project To Cure Paralysis." They say they do not leak any more when they are playing hard and excerting themselves. The injection is I believe done through the anus and into the bladder! I used Vesicare and all that stuff but it constipated me real bad. I finally went to a Supa Pubic Cath!

Good Luck

Richie aka Motor
:H2kOther (26):
"CHEAP WOMAN AREN'T GOOD AND GOOD WOMAN AREN'T CHEAP"
"NEVER 4GET 9/11/01 THEY ARE GONE BUT NOT 4GOTTEN"
"I MUST CRAWL BEFORE I WALK (AGAIN)"
"LIVE EACH DAY LIKE ITS YOUR LAST"
"RIDE IT LIKE U STOLE IT"
Richie aka MOTOR :-)

#7 *jlo*

*jlo*
  • Guests

Posted 01 May 2008 - 06:25 PM

Well guys I'm all set up to get it done
the end of this month. I will let you all know how
it goes. I can't wait to get rid of the catheter and
bag. I know it will boost my confidence a ton.
Thanks to everyone that responded.


Joe

#8 Yong

Yong

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 229 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Country:Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  • Spinal Injury Level / Relationship:T6 Complete
  • Injury Date:22-04-2007

Posted 01 May 2008 - 07:05 PM

View Postjlo, on May 1 2008, 02:25 PM, said:

Well guys I'm all set up to get it done
the end of this month. I will let you all know how
it goes. I can't wait to get rid of the catheter and
bag. I know it will boost my confidence a ton.
Thanks to everyone that responded.


Joe

Best of luck to you Joe!

Oh man...I can feel you on the condom cath and leg bag sh*t. I went out today to play tennis in shorts and had to have the leg bag dangling from my leg...not a very pretty sight... especially with urine in it. Haha. Best of luck to you again..and i pray you won't have any AD.

James

#9 qbounce

qbounce

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,024 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Country:So.Calif, USA
  • Spinal Injury Level / Relationship:C7 Complete (so I'm told)

Posted 01 May 2008 - 08:47 PM

Hey guys,

I tried Vesicare, didn't do me any good. Then Detrol, again, still had spazms and leakage issues. then, FINALLY I was perscribed OXYBUTYNIN, 5 mg's 3 times a day and, BINGO!! I haven't had any problems with bladder spasms since.

Long story short, try different med's/ methods until you find the one that works for you. Everyone's different, and I'd rather take med's first than go under the knife or get injections from doctors, but that's just me.

To each his own. . . whatever it takes to get us back out among the living!
When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. - Mark Twain

#10 macsmaker

macsmaker

    Lurker

  • Members
  • 1 posts
  • Spinal Injury Level / Relationship:None

Posted 05 August 2008 - 10:12 AM

I don't have an SCI, so my posting here may be inappropriate. If so, I apologize.

I have had botox injections three times over the last year or so for urge incontinence cause by some surgery. All three times it has been successful at controlling my spasms for at least 5-6 months.

For those of you without access to insurance coverage for Botox, the makers of one strain of Botox, Allergan, will under certain circumstances, donate the botox itself. They won't pay for the procedure.

I usually have to self-cath for short period of time (several weeks) afterwards, but that is small price to pay for months of being dry. Other than that I have had no problems with it.

Just thought I would pass this along.




1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users



This website is a way for those with spinal cord injuries to share experiences and advice. Any medical matters, treatments or alternative therapies discussed on this website should be thoroughly reviewed by a medical professional or therapist before being acted upon. Under no circumstances should you alter prescribed medication or a medical care plan without consulting your doctor or care plan supervisor first.