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. For a short time now, some patients have been receiving botox injections in order to treat their migraines.
Below, we will be going over how botox treatments have been used as of late to for this reason.
Background
The results of botox injections into muscle tissue is that nerve signals are paralyzed, which blocks signals to muscles so they stay relaxed. Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium contained in these injections, and that is the cause of the effect. 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 in migraine
Migraine is primarily mediated by the release of the neuro-chemical serotonin. This is not affected by botox, however, patients notice a decrease in pain from migraines after having the treatments.
People are looking forward to the new research that is being done that seems to show that migraines can be reduced using these treatments. There are 31 to 39 different injection points in the scalp for botox. The basic theories that have been presented so far:
Number one would be that pain signals in nerves are blocked by these injections.
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.
Botox injections are recommended for chronic migraine sufferers who have had headaches for more than 15 days in a month and in those who have not responded to different drug treatments. There is another condition that migraine sufferers sometimes are face with at times called analgesic overuse headaches, which are caused by the overuse of painkiller medication.
Each patient is different, so in cases where botox is administered 2 times and the patient has no benefit then other options should be considered, but if it makes headaches occur less than 15 days per month, this is another signal of success.
Are risks a factor?
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. Research is still being conducted and the results so far have been promising, making it a treatment that is currently approved in managing chronic migraine.
Below, we will be going over how botox treatments have been used as of late to for this reason.
Background
The results of botox injections into muscle tissue is that nerve signals are paralyzed, which blocks signals to muscles so they stay relaxed. Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium contained in these injections, and that is the cause of the effect. 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 in migraine
Migraine is primarily mediated by the release of the neuro-chemical serotonin. This is not affected by botox, however, patients notice a decrease in pain from migraines after having the treatments.
People are looking forward to the new research that is being done that seems to show that migraines can be reduced using these treatments. There are 31 to 39 different injection points in the scalp for botox. The basic theories that have been presented so far:
Number one would be that pain signals in nerves are blocked by these injections.
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.
Botox injections are recommended for chronic migraine sufferers who have had headaches for more than 15 days in a month and in those who have not responded to different drug treatments. There is another condition that migraine sufferers sometimes are face with at times called analgesic overuse headaches, which are caused by the overuse of painkiller medication.
Each patient is different, so in cases where botox is administered 2 times and the patient has no benefit then other options should be considered, but if it makes headaches occur less than 15 days per month, this is another signal of success.
Are risks a factor?
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. Research is still being conducted and the results so far have been promising, making it a treatment that is currently approved in managing chronic migraine.
