There has been many new uses for botulinum toxin injections in recent years in the cosmetic medicine industry. There are clinics that offer effective treatments for cosmetic reasons and also for muscle spasticity disorders as well. In the recent past, its use has now been extended to treating migraines.
In this article we shall take a brief look at this new application of botox injections.
Background
The results of botox injections into muscle tissue is that nerve signals are paralyzed, which blocks signals to muscles so they stay relaxed. It is produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium. 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 the neuro-chemical serotonin is the main way for migraines to be mediated. 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. 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:
The first thing is that nerve signal pain is stopped from being received.
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.
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. Analgesic overuse headaches happen when a patient over5uses painkiller medications, so this must be examined for patients as well.
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.
Are risks a factor?
Botox injections into the scalp may cause neck pain and allergic reactions, but these are rare.
Summary
Botox injections are still relatively new when it comes to treatment for migraines, but it is gaining in popularity. 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.
In this article we shall take a brief look at this new application of botox injections.
Background
The results of botox injections into muscle tissue is that nerve signals are paralyzed, which blocks signals to muscles so they stay relaxed. It is produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium. 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 the neuro-chemical serotonin is the main way for migraines to be mediated. 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. 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:
The first thing is that nerve signal pain is stopped from being received.
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.
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. Analgesic overuse headaches happen when a patient over5uses painkiller medications, so this must be examined for patients as well.
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.
Are risks a factor?
Botox injections into the scalp may cause neck pain and allergic reactions, but these are rare.
Summary
Botox injections are still relatively new when it comes to treatment for migraines, but it is gaining in popularity. 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.
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