I Have Learned How to Make Two Hours of Misery Fun

And you can, too

I’m living with severe dystonia from a stroke I had 20 years ago. This means that the muscles in my left upper extremity have abnormal muscle tone. They never receive the signal from my brain to relax. Constant muscle contraction is very painful. You can imagine this if you make a tight fist and hold it that way for 24 hours. My left hand has been in a similar state for 20 years. My elbow is often bent with no intention from me to do so. The back of my shoulder has developed into a solid brick which no amount of massage can break up. The only treatment that has shown a modicum of success is Botox injections every three months.

We think of Botox as being a cosmetic procedure. This is because when used cosmetically, it temporarily paralyzes muscles in the face that produce wrinkles. When injected intramuscularly into large muscles, it weakens them until the nerves are regenerated, usually in about three months. This makes the muscles more comfortable and in some cases, more functional.

I’ve been going for these injections every three months since 2007. I need about 20 injections at a time because so many muscles are affected. The procedure is lengthy and extremely painful.The doctors have to use an EMG needle which provides feedback regarding the level of activity in the muscle once…