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Gil, Hi there :) Botox injections were (are) so very helpfull for my little guy.... his legs were twisted around and the scissoring was so bad that we had to "pry"his knees apart just for diaper changes, had night spasms, and limited mobility..it's been 9 months since his last Botox injections :) he's doing really well we still see the "torsion" but he's potty training and can open/close his own legs, best of all no more crying from "pain"!!! Botox is manufactured by Allergan .... it's purpose is to releive spasticity...help prevent contractures. It's litterally "just a shot(s)" (a toxic one but it's not considered "lethal" by a long shot) .... some MDD's use an EMG as a "guiding" light (the EMG registers the spasticityin the muscles among other things) ... Cory's Dr. gave us the option of the EMG or not... his tight muscles were easily palpatated so we chose to forgo that one... the EMG is a bit uncomfortable. The Botox injections litteraly "paralize" that "bad" muscle... it's benifits are that it's fully reversable... your should notice "changes" within 14 days , and that it last usually 3 months... some times more sometimes less depending on the "actual" muscle and number of "mouse units" used to inject. Botox A has been used for at least 15 years ... most of the Dystonia gang have been using it's benifits to fight everything from Blemospasm (involuntary closing of eyelids) to like Cory using it to fight the contracting muscles... there is a small chance of building up antibodies to it.. that's normally associtated with large amounts of units used often and the use of "boosters"... you really need to wait the full 3 months before going back in... but there are many "studies" being done on alternate forms of the Botox... B is about to be released for those that have antibodies for A ... and F is used sometimes.... though I'm sure your Doctor will be able to help you make that choice. If you like I'll dig around to find the number to call Allergan so that you can request more detailed information for your specific "area". I can say that I researched several "medical interventions" before deciding to go with the Botox for my "then 4 year old" ...he's 5 now and full of vinegar <G> Some of the "other" things that my husband and I considered were : IBT -intheral Baclofen Theraphy- implanted pump that delivers Baclofen directly to the spine (we are still considering this... depending on how invovled the Dystonia progresses) SDR-Selective Dorsal Rhysotomy - not reversable: actually cuting selected "fibers" in the spine ( NO WAY!!! too many risk factors!!) IBX - Botox injections (All 3 injections have helped ...and we used extensive PT during the peak times... BIG changes and benifits:) Baclofen - oral pills (actually we tried this one... too many side effects out weighed the benifits) Tendon Release surgery - namely the hip/hamstring and ankle releases... for "us" this procedure would be the 'last' option after the IBX, IBT ... there is still a "risk" but not nearly as much as with the SDR. There is another "injection" that is in the testing stages... it's ITX (with all this alphabet soup acronism I have forgotten what the T stands for) but it's similar to the Botox only it's reported to use "less" and last longer with less "dispersion" in the injected site. The reason injesting Botulism(toxic bacteria found in food) orally is because it "paralizes" what it comes in contact with ... shuting down the system.... with the injections that are "processed/refined" over and over ... and since it's used on "site" it doesn't dispers (sp?) except for where it's injected. If you have any specific questions , I'll be glad to add my 2 cents <G> this is a topic really "close" to me.... I spent close to 6 months tracking down other parents/patients who had used IBX, read any and all published articles on it's use~ findings that I could get my hands/eyes on .... debated the pros and cons with family members, doctors, and myself. If you have a few minutes (days) you will be able to read some of the articles at the PubMed website (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?db=m) just type in Botox .... be forwarned that will bring up lots of results... you might want to add "AND Feet" or something along those lines to filter out a few hundred reports. Good luck and Best wishes from an Elf in TN... Romona Elf wife to Tony (my hero), and mom to Tori (age 9, nda), Zach (age 7, multichallenged), Cory (age5, multichallenged). The boys have no definative Dx but several labels... nystagmus, strubismus, Dystonia, Parkinsonism, Asthma, Execma, Hypotonia, Spaticity....ect Collectively the Dystonia/Parkinsonism effects the boys from eyes to toes. Currently Zach's taking Sinemet, Lodosyn and Cory is taking Amantadine and Gabapectin. He's also had 3 rounds of Botox, uses a walker or WC for mobility http://members.aol.com/Elf808/index.html In a message dated 97-10-06 03:53:43 EDT, you write: << On 10/5/97,Aliza was examined for the first time by a neurologist specialist in movement disorders. He suggested the possibility of injecting "Botulinum Toxin"(Did I spell it right?) in Aliza's left big toe which rigidly sticks up and interferes with her walking. We would like to know if anyone knows what this is and has any experience with it. Thanks. Gil Lieberman,CG for Aliza 74,PD 2+ P.S.He also recommended a CT of her head,weekly physical therapy,walking continuously at least 45 minutes per day,stressed being active, daily multivitamins,and eliminated her Selegiline which he said was not suitable for an older person with heart problems which Aliza has. >>