Small Things Make a Difference
My doctor told me that the tightness I experienced in my left arm and hand was actually a condition called upper limb spasticity. At that time, those words didn't mean much and I didn't know how drastically it would affect my family's day-to-day life.
Due to this debilitating condition I experienced soon after my stroke, muscles in my left arm were so tight that my arm was pinned to the side of my body. And, my left hand would uncomfortably clench if something, like a blanket or person, even brushed against it.
As a mother of two young daughters, ages two and five at the time, I was not able to make use of my left arm and hand to bathe or dress myself much less help my daughters groom themselves. When my daughters asked to have their hair braided, I wasn't able to help because of the muscle tightness in my left hand. I remember once my daughter started to cry because I wasn't able to unclench my fist to braid her hair, and as a mom, it was difficult to not be able to give my daughters that kind of support and to put that burden on my husband, Evan. In some cases, my daughters helped me take care of daily tasks such as holding a piece of toast so I could use my right hand to spread butter on it.
Seeing me struggle with simple everyday things that our young daughters were able to do on their own was extremely frustrating and heartbreaking for Evan. “What Sabrina was unable to do for the girls because of the upper limb spasticity in her left arm, I would have to do it. Let's face it, men can do a lot of things, but they're not ‘mom'.”
After physical therapy, my doctor and physical therapist suggested treatment with BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA) to relax the muscle tightness in my left arm and hand. Treatment with BOTOX® for upper limb spasticity enabled me to open my hand to better engage in my physical therapy sessions. With continued treatment with BOTOX® every three months and regular therapy, I am able to open my arm enough to stabilize a piece of toast while my other hand butters it – a task that comes in handy during meal preparation. Seems so small to most people, but it's these small successes that make a difference in my family's day-to-day life.
As a mom, being able to have my left arm relax enough to move away from my body and allow my daughters to cradle inside my arm and shoulder is comforting to me and my daughters. It's all the motivation I need to keep making progress in my rehabilitation.
Individual results may vary.
Sabrina and her husband Evan currently reside in Ohio with their daughters Elizabeth and Allie.
"Whatever Sabrina was unable to do for our young daughters - even things like braiding their hair - because of upper limb spasticity, I would have to do for her. Let's face it, men can do a lot of things, but they're not 'mom'." -Evan, (caregiver to wife Sabrina)
"Open Arms: Raising Awareness for Upper Limb Spasticity" Educational Campaign Advocacy Partners. Sponsors of the Open Arms educational campaign do not endorse any specific treatment for upper limb spasticity
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BOTOX® is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to treat increased muscle stiffness in elbow, wrist, and finger muscles with upper limb spasticity in people 18 years and older.
It is not known whether BOTOX® is safe or effective for other types of muscle spasms.
BOTOX® may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX®:
- Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months.
- Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice (dysphonia), trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria), loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing.
There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX® has been used at the recommended dose to treat severe underarm sweating, blepharospasm, or strabismus.
The dose of BOTOX® is not the same as, or comparable to, another botulinum toxin product.
Serious and or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. These reactions include itchy rash, swelling, and shortness of breath. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you experience any such symptoms, further injection of BOTOX® should be discontinued.
Do not take BOTOX® if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® or Dysport®; have a skin infection at the planned injection site.
Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease], myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including severe dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and respiratory compromise (difficulty breathing) from typical doses of BOTOX®.
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you have: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles, such as trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (It is not known if BOTOX® can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to breastfeed (It is not known if BOTOX® passes into breast milk).
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal products.
BOTOX® may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, or vision problems. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.
Other side effects of BOTOX® include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes.
For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see full Product Information, including Medication Guide for BOTOX®.