The use of botulinum toxin injections has advanced tremendously over the last few years. 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. A bacterium called Clostridium botulinum causes this result. The main usage is for muscles different parts of the eyes, face and body to be relaxed, which will increase muscle tone and make the general muscle function be improved.
Botox in migraine
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.
People are looking forward to the new research that is being done that seems to show that migraines can be reduced using these treatments. 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:
First, that it blocks the nerves from transmitting pain signals.
Next, that it relaxes the scalp muscles and may help reduce blood pressure within the brain
Patients are reporting less headaches, and less severe when they occur, although the research to document this is still ongoing at this time.
When a patient reports migraine headaches that happen for over 15 days a month, and do not receive relief from other types of treatment are sometimes recommended to have botox injections. A condition called 'analgesic overuse headache', which is headache due to overuse of painkillers, also needs to be ruled out.
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.
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. 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. A bacterium called Clostridium botulinum causes this result. The main usage is for muscles different parts of the eyes, face and body to be relaxed, which will increase muscle tone and make the general muscle function be improved.
Botox in migraine
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.
People are looking forward to the new research that is being done that seems to show that migraines can be reduced using these treatments. 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:
First, that it blocks the nerves from transmitting pain signals.
Next, that it relaxes the scalp muscles and may help reduce blood pressure within the brain
Patients are reporting less headaches, and less severe when they occur, although the research to document this is still ongoing at this time.
When a patient reports migraine headaches that happen for over 15 days a month, and do not receive relief from other types of treatment are sometimes recommended to have botox injections. A condition called 'analgesic overuse headache', which is headache due to overuse of painkillers, also needs to be ruled out.
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.
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. 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.
