Botox?

During my last visit with my neurologist, I mentioned that my spasticity (involuntary

muscle contraction/tightness) was really becoming a problem. It seemed that my legs

were always flexing. During the night when I was trying to sleep, I would often wake up

more than once with leg cramps.

Since the onset of HSP (hereditary spastic paraparesis) a few years ago, my gait has

shortened and my balance is way off. I walk with a cane. I tend to shuffle. In addition,

my left leg swings around my body (circumduction) instead of moving straight forward

before my foot hits the ground. This has been jokingly called “peg leg”—think of a pirate

with a wooden leg or Chester for you are old enough to remember the TV show

“Gunsmoke”.

Well, I walked like I normally do. I walked slowly and stiffly up and down the hall with

my left leg swinging to clear my hips. My doctor said “Wow, you really are tight” and

mentioned that he would like to try Botox injections to reduce my spasticity on my next

visit.

My first thought was that I’ll look like a DC politician or aging Hollywood

actor—plastic—and I don’t want any part of that.

After doing some research of my own (thanks Dr. Google), Botox just might help. It’s a

neurotoxin designed to temporarily relax the muscles and block the surrounding nerves

near the injection site. Since my legs are the targeted area, my face won’t look

unnatural.

What do you think?