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Botox and does it work

Posted , 17 users are following.

nicole1972
nicole1972

Hi all

I posted a few weeks ago about a horrendous fissure. I had a colonoscopy and they saw the fissure and its quite small. How can something so small cause so much pain? Its beyond belief now and my quality of life is so bad.

I have tried coconut oil, sitz baths, rectogesic and even got a special topical cream made up but they do zero! Nothing helps - except wine which relaxes me! But thats no answer.

I wanted to leave it go and see if changing my diet, drinking more water etc...helped. But it hasnt. In fact having more fibre is a killer. I have no idea why ppl say this helps? Its the spasms that are killing, me - not the cut itself. I basically have water or just a bit firm BM and it doesnt matter. It still goes crazy.

Im now heading towards botox but am scared because there appear to be quite a few horror stories out there.

Can any one who has had botox injections please shed some light on what to expect, if it worked etc...also I have heard that it wears off, but some people have nerve damage and that just leads to worse things.

Please note - I have delayed healing ability for whatever ever reason, so that scares me too. What I dont want is to have another complication or thing to deal with.

I am only 37 and feel 60.

1 like, 32 replies

32 Replies

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  • dee09196
    dee09196 nicole1972

    Posted

    Hi - My daughter (age 22) has a very painful chronic fissure & has tried lots of different approaches. She had botox surgery & it helped for a while - she had it again the following year - with some relief. However pain is back - she was offered the advancement flap surgery - but after researching it as much as possible - decided it was a big risk - surgeon has agreed to try botox again - so will try this. He also suggested possibly suturing the fissure - so if anyone has had this procedure or knowledge of it - I would love your advice. She tried the Diltiazam cream again recently - but this time she has come out in a very itchy rash so had to stop this. I spoke to the pharmacist & they have changed the brand of Diltiazam tablets they use - so I am wondering whether she is allergic to a different ingredient that the different brand is made from ? Again if anyone has had this issue - please reply. She has been getting some relief (after painful bowel movements) with a warm wheat bag (it is long with 3 sections - so can be moved to fit the painful area) I have just been reading about Nifedipine suppositories - does anyone have any experiences with these ?  

    Good Luck with your decision Nicole1972  - Hope it goes well smile 

    • jeff11
      jeff11 dee09196

      Posted

      Sorry to hear about your daughters ongoing pain :-(

      I have had 3 rounds of botox now - over a period of 3-4yrs - nothing has permenantly solved the fissure issue but it is apparently beginning to heal.

      My problem is a very tight anal muscle which is unforgiving and spasms at will.  I had a double dose of botox in June and this helped but I think it is starting to wear off some and the paralyzed b'std muscle is awake again.

      I am due in next week for more botox but reluctant as its day surgery and its a bit of a cattle market with a lot of people getting same done in a short space of time.  I had one really bad experience (2nd time) where I was def injected in wrong area and was in worst pain of my life ever - no compraison with fissure pain - this was off the scale.

      In June I was in general surgery and colorectal surgeon used ultrasound to get to correct place - hardly any after pain (well apart from 1hr in bath getting 'packing' out - I now know what giving birth might start like!).

      I am today undecided whether to go in next Thurs for yet more botox - but if I do this is the last time - I will demand I get the LIS on the muscle done next time - to hell with passing wind if it deals with things.

      Dilitazem cream after a while caused me to itch like hell (I was using cream) and I stopped it.

      Only things I can suggest are:

      Gabapentin and Naproxen for pain management

      Diazepam to help relax when totally stressed out and spasming

      Hot water bottle and donut ring to sit on - the dunlopilo donut ring from Amazon is good (I have 2) and I found a small kids hot water bootle that fits in inside the ring inner.  The heat does help.

      Keeping strong is difficult when your life is being ruined by this condition and I really do not think doctors have a real appreciation of the agony it causes.  My docs whilst ok I am sure think I overstate the pain - Id like to see them on it for a few years and then ask them how they are doing.

      Wishing your daughter and all the best for recovery.

    • nicole1972
      nicole1972 jeff11

      Posted

      Hi all, I haven't written for a while as I was getting heaps better and in fact up until 3 days ago, had been pain free for 10 days.

      What I had been doing different was

      -increased Accupuncture for muscle relaxation,

      -magnesium tablets,

      -meditating and trying to stay in state of calm

      - increased blood pumping exercise to increase blood flow- this helps

      -and trying real hard to keep bm like water basically.

      Went off my strict regime and I got sick so stopped exercise and Accupuncture, so it started hurting again.

      I was too scared to do botox.

      My problem is also a tight sphincter. But I've learned how to try and localise that and relax it a bit- meditating helps.

      So all these things helped it to start to heal.

      The paper I referred to was about meditation. Several apps available, lots of info on line too.

      One thing that people don't realise is that it

      worrying makes it worse, literally. So what I found this time that I just accepted that I had a fissure and tried not to worry about it

    • mmarcus151910
      mmarcus151910 dee09196

      Posted

      I would definately advise to get the sphicteronomy surgery....If interest I can give you a full account of my experience... I tried diltazem ointment for first four weeks..gave up due to it not helping...and decided to get the surgery...best decision of my life!!!
  • npearson5837
    npearson5837 nicole1972

    Posted

    I had annal fissures for years with all kind of pain and disconfort.  The absolute best thing I ever did was purchase a bidet toilet seat.  This has changed my life for real.  My fissure and hemrohoids are basically healed after a couple of weeks.  I use it to keep everything clean and it healed up with no issues.  I do have flare ups from time to time be this heals it right up in a couple of days.  I would suggest getting one.  The one i bought did cost but about 500.00.  Not cheap but it works.  Please try it if you can.
  • anna_sarah92736
    anna_sarah92736 nicole1972

    Posted

    Hi Nicole --

    I had the Botox procedure 2 weeks ago & for me it was definitely worth it. I had tremendous pain -- like a 9/10 at the worst -- & having a BM (which I do daily!) was an event that took 10 hrs. to recover from. After the Botox, I'm no longer bleeding (after 5 or so days), I can poop OK (still hurts but not too bad), & I don't have to recuperate for hours after pooping. I'm still hurting (like I have a stick up my a**) but life is way better since the Botox! I think I'm really on the mend, though not all back yet, 2 weeks after. The dr. said that my healing is on course for someone who's had as much pain as me.

    Recommendations:

    1. Schedule & do the Botox. It will most likely help. Give it a chance.

    2. Ask your dr. now for the painkiller Meloxicam (15 mg). It helped cut the pain from a 9/10 to a 6/10.

    3. Pour warm water down the back of your butt instead of using toilet paper. Then get straight into the bathtub in warm/hot water. Soak for a while several times a day.

    4. Lie down with your butt on a heating pad & your legs up to take the pressure off your tush. Live on that heating pad. Heat helps. Try to stay horizontal.

    5. Take a laxative with stool softener so your poop is super soft. Slow down a bit on the fiber, maybe. I was wondering if maybe it was irritating my bottom, too.

    I'm so sorry you're suffering so terribly. Hang in there & keep breathing. Get the surgery because it helps the vast majority of people & it probably will help you.

    • ian05229
      ian05229 anna_sarah92736

      Posted

      Hi Anna, your situation sounds the closest to mine that I have read, I'm now 2 and a half days post injection.

      Did it feel like it had initially tightened everything up as oppose to relaxing?

      Could it be just swelling from injection site maybe? I hope so!

      Had 1st BM and it was really soft, didn't hurt as bad as before so fingers crossed!

      Thanks, Ian.

    • anna_sarah92736
      anna_sarah92736 ian05229

      Posted

      Hi Ian --

      There was lots of swelling from the operation itself, yes. My day after surgery was pretty darn painful & I took the narcotic painkiller given to me, but only on that first day after.

      It was all kind of a mess down there for 3-4 days. By day 4 or 5, the bleeding had completely stopped. For a bunch of days, it was a little bit better each day. The first day I was vertical for 5 or so hours (at 1 week postoperative), I paid for it the next day. Now, at 2 weeks postoperative, I'm doing ok; not improving by leaps & bounds but better in the sense of not needing 5-10 hours to recuperate from a BM. I still feel I have a stick up my a** & am still sore, but the worst of the spasms are gone. Soreness & achiness have replaced spasming.

      My doctor referred me to a physical therapist whose specialty is pelvic floor disorders (tight ass problem). I also got a book called something like Heal Your Pelvic Pain. Also, I'm making an appointment with an acupuncturist. I look forward to the day when I don't notice my butt! Plus, I'm trying to do everything I can to prevent this from happening again.

      Keep me posted on your recovery, Ian! Hope you're getting better each day!

    • ian05229
      ian05229 anna_sarah92736

      Posted

      That's great news! I'm pleased you sound like you are healing! When you say operation, did you just have the Botox or the LIS?

      I was really swollen after Botox up until this morning but now a few hours later I feel like it is going down a bit. Had a BM this morning and it was really soft, hurt a little and after I was really sore but not from the fissure but from the sphincter spasming around swelling.

      If the swelling continues to go down and don't get pain from fissure I will be over the moon!

      Please keep me updated.

    • anna_sarah92736
      anna_sarah92736 ian05229

      Posted

      The spasming has really calmed down for me, 2 weeks in. It still hurts like it's raw, & aches in a dull way, but it's not nearly as bad as before. And I, like you, had the Botox treatment.
    • heather00775
      heather00775 anna_sarah92736

      Posted

      Hi , just reading through everyone's comments . I have a scared 21 yr old son going for Botox next week and wanting to cancel . He's into his fourth year of treatments , started with surgery for tags and a tear and latterly been treated for the now formed fissure . Creams for over a year that's done nothing .  Have you found the Botox has been beneficial and did you have leakage which he's really worried about .  He Feels it's going to wreck his summer further .

    • anna_sarah92736
      anna_sarah92736 heather00775

      Posted

      The Botox treatment was definitely beneficial to me & I had a really bad tear (like a trauma wound). Over 3 months, I healed about 70% of the way, then just had a second round of Botox in order to help me heal the rest of the way.

      I did not really experience leakage, I don't think. Or maybe I did, very mildly once or twice. But it's hard to tell because I'm now on laxatives that make me poop more often anyway. So it's hard to say if that counts as leakage. I would say the benefits have far outweighed any down sides, for me.

      By the way, it's really only the day after the procedure that's really painful & narcotic pain relief made it manageable for me (I'd been in a lot of pain, though). Days after that were a little up & down, but moving in the general direction of healing. Best of luck to your son!

    • ian05229
      ian05229 heather00775

      Posted

      Hi, the Botox was 100% the best thing for me as I had a very deep fissure (Surgeons description) and he wanted to try injection first.

      If I had known how it was going to work I wouldn't have spent over £300 on all the creams/ointments I could find.

      I'm now 3 months post injection and the fissure seems as though it's healed and the only discomfort (not pain) is the odd swollen pile with tiny amount of blood but nothing compared to pain of fissure.

  • caroline27124
    caroline27124 nicole1972

    Posted

    I am a couple of years younger than you, and I know what you mean about feeling older!

    I had botox and banding two weeks ago, after nearly a year of sheer hell.

    I tried scheriproct, GTN creams, fibre supplements, laxatives, fasting etc.

    I ended up surviving on lactulose & tramadol, eating virtually nothing.

    Finally, I was seen by a specialist who couldn't even examine me because the area

    was so sensitive. I made him do the exam and passed out but at least confirmed

    I had a deep fissure and internal haemarrhoids.

    I have had botox and banding done.

    It is not perfect yet. I am religiously taking Movicol which is for constipation, twice a day.

    I have drunk fruit smoothies, eaten a lot of cereal & chicken with rice.

    Not going to sugarcoat it: the first hour after waking up from the op,

    I was in a lot of pain and was given oxycontin. I got sent home and took

    Ibuprofen max strength, paracetamol max strength and tramadol forever ever 4-6 hours.

    I pulled out the padding inserted into me after the first day because it was vexing me. It took

    an hour of deep breathing and sitting on the loo, but once it was out, the pain alleviated

    greatly.

    I have had several movements since which ached but didn't bleed.

    I got arrogant and cut down on the Movicol and paid the price on Thursday.

    Whatever they tell you to do after botox, follow it to the letter.

    Demand painkillers from a doctor but no codeine based ones.

    I am not out of the woods, not yet, but it has certainly improved.

    Good luck.

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