ROBERT D.
CHRISTINE, I WAS JUST RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH SPAS. TORTICOLLIS WHICH IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. I AM 42 YEAR OLD, PLAY SOFTBALL AND GOLF AND CAN NOT DO EITHER RIGHT NOW. THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH BOTOX IS THAT IT IS NOT APPROVED BY THE F.D.A. AND IN MOST CASES THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL NOT PAY FOR THE TREATMENT. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT IT MAY HAVE SOME SIDE EFFECTS LIKE THE WEAKENING OF THE NECK AND SO ON. INSTEAD I WENT TO A PAIN CLINIC DOCTOR OF ANESTESIOLOGY AND HE HAS INJECTED (2) STEROID EPIDURAL SHOTS INTO THE BACK OF MY NECK SO FAR. I AM ALSO ON KLONOPIN, CELEBREX AND ZANAFLEX. HE FEELS THAT EVENTUALLY THIS TREATMENT WILL HELP ME. IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE I STARTED THIS TREATMENT SO I CANNOT TELL IF IT IS GOING TO WORK OR NOT. THE DOCTOR HAS TREATED OTHER TORTICOLLIS PATIENTS THIS WAY AND HAS HAD GOOD RESULTS. I'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED IF IT WORKS ON ME. GOOD LUCK, ROBERT