In recent times, the uses for botulinum toxin treatments has increased significantly. Not only do clinics offer patients options to enhance their appearance using botox, there are other disorders that are treatable this way as well, including muscle spasticity. Migraines are one of the newer conditions that botox has been used to treat.
In this article we shall take a brief look at this new application of botox injections.
Background behind this idea
The results of botox injections into muscle tissue is that nerve signals are paralyzed, which blocks signals to muscles so they stay relaxed. A bacterium called Clostridium botulinum causes this result. Its primary use is to relax the muscles around the eyes and other parts of the body, helping restore muscle tone and improving overall function.
Botox for migraine treatments
The release of the neuro-chemical serotonin is the main way for migraines to be mediated. Botox does not have any effect on this, but studies have shown that it can still help reduce pain in patients suffering from migraine.
This is still being researched and the reasons for the correlation are not clear at this time, but people are still pleased with the results they receive for their migraine issues. Botox has been suggested to be injected at 31 to 39 different points in the scalp. The most common theories that have been put forth:
The first thing is that nerve signal pain is stopped from being received.
Next, that it relaxes the scalp muscles and may help reduce blood pressure within the brain
The research is still preliminary, but at this point, it seems that patients are finding that their headaches are less painful and frequent, and they are happier in general.
If other treatment methods are not effective for a patient and they have at least 15 days a month of migraines, this is when botox injections are typically suggested by a medical professional. A condition called 'analgesic overuse headache', which is headache due to overuse of painkillers, also needs to be ruled out.
If they treatments make it so that less than 15 days a month are headache free, or if they have at least 2 cycles of botox without seeing any relief, then this may not be the right treatment for that particular patient.
What risks are there?
It's possible to have an allergic reaction or some neck pain from botox treatment, but that only happens to a tiny percentage of patients.
Summary
Migraines are now being treated by injections of botox, but it's still a new application for this condition. Botox treatments for chronic migraine look like they are effective, but at this time, further study needs to be concluded in order for these claims to be verified.
In this article we shall take a brief look at this new application of botox injections.
Background behind this idea
The results of botox injections into muscle tissue is that nerve signals are paralyzed, which blocks signals to muscles so they stay relaxed. A bacterium called Clostridium botulinum causes this result. Its primary use is to relax the muscles around the eyes and other parts of the body, helping restore muscle tone and improving overall function.
Botox for migraine treatments
The release of the neuro-chemical serotonin is the main way for migraines to be mediated. Botox does not have any effect on this, but studies have shown that it can still help reduce pain in patients suffering from migraine.
This is still being researched and the reasons for the correlation are not clear at this time, but people are still pleased with the results they receive for their migraine issues. Botox has been suggested to be injected at 31 to 39 different points in the scalp. The most common theories that have been put forth:
The first thing is that nerve signal pain is stopped from being received.
Next, that it relaxes the scalp muscles and may help reduce blood pressure within the brain
The research is still preliminary, but at this point, it seems that patients are finding that their headaches are less painful and frequent, and they are happier in general.
If other treatment methods are not effective for a patient and they have at least 15 days a month of migraines, this is when botox injections are typically suggested by a medical professional. A condition called 'analgesic overuse headache', which is headache due to overuse of painkillers, also needs to be ruled out.
If they treatments make it so that less than 15 days a month are headache free, or if they have at least 2 cycles of botox without seeing any relief, then this may not be the right treatment for that particular patient.
What risks are there?
It's possible to have an allergic reaction or some neck pain from botox treatment, but that only happens to a tiny percentage of patients.
Summary
Migraines are now being treated by injections of botox, but it's still a new application for this condition. Botox treatments for chronic migraine look like they are effective, but at this time, further study needs to be concluded in order for these claims to be verified.
