There has been many new uses for botulinum toxin injections in recent years in the cosmetic medicine industry. Applications in cosmetic surgery and muscle spasticity disorder are now well recognized and are offered at a number of different centers all over the world. 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. Eye muscles can be relaxed this way, as well as muscles in other areas, of a patient's body, which can help rebuild muscle tone and restore function to higher levels.
Botox for migraine treatments
The release of serotonin which is a neuro-chemical, is how migraines are mediated. Treatments of botox do not affect that, but there is evidence that shows patients who find relief from migraine pain from the treatments.
While this is exciting news, it is still under investigation and there does not appear to be a clear reason as to how it can help reduce migraine headaches. The recommendations from the studies is to inject the botox into the scalp at around 31 -39 different points in patients. There are a number of theories that have been postulated:
Number one would be that pain signals in nerves are blocked by these injections.
Then, the blood pressure in the brain is reduced by the scalp muscles being relaxed.
Patients are reporting less headaches, and less severe when they occur, although the research to document this is still ongoing at this time.
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. Analgesic overuse headaches happen when a patient over5uses painkiller medications, so this must be examined for patients as well.
Treatments should be stopped if 2 cycles of botox injection treatments have failed, or the character of the migraine has changed and no longer meets the criteria of occurring on 15 days of a month.
Any risks?
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.
Conclusion
The uses of botox are still growing and its application in migraine is novel. It's looking good for the future of botox for treating chronic migraine symptoms, but more studies need to be done to have more conclusive evidence.
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. Eye muscles can be relaxed this way, as well as muscles in other areas, of a patient's body, which can help rebuild muscle tone and restore function to higher levels.
Botox for migraine treatments
The release of serotonin which is a neuro-chemical, is how migraines are mediated. Treatments of botox do not affect that, but there is evidence that shows patients who find relief from migraine pain from the treatments.
While this is exciting news, it is still under investigation and there does not appear to be a clear reason as to how it can help reduce migraine headaches. The recommendations from the studies is to inject the botox into the scalp at around 31 -39 different points in patients. There are a number of theories that have been postulated:
Number one would be that pain signals in nerves are blocked by these injections.
Then, the blood pressure in the brain is reduced by the scalp muscles being relaxed.
Patients are reporting less headaches, and less severe when they occur, although the research to document this is still ongoing at this time.
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. Analgesic overuse headaches happen when a patient over5uses painkiller medications, so this must be examined for patients as well.
Treatments should be stopped if 2 cycles of botox injection treatments have failed, or the character of the migraine has changed and no longer meets the criteria of occurring on 15 days of a month.
Any risks?
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.
Conclusion
The uses of botox are still growing and its application in migraine is novel. It's looking good for the future of botox for treating chronic migraine symptoms, but more studies need to be done to have more conclusive evidence.
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