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. 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.
The origins of using this treatment for migraines
Botox injections work by paralyzing the nerves and blocking the flow of nerve signals, thus relaxing the muscles. 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
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
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. A condition called 'analgesic overuse headache', which is headache due to overuse of painkillers, also needs to be ruled out.
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.
What risks are there?
Botox injections into the scalp may cause neck pain and allergic reactions, but these are rare.
Conclusion
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.
In this article we shall take a brief look at this new application of botox injections.
The origins of using this treatment for migraines
Botox injections work by paralyzing the nerves and blocking the flow of nerve signals, thus relaxing the muscles. 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
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
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. A condition called 'analgesic overuse headache', which is headache due to overuse of painkillers, also needs to be ruled out.
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.
What risks are there?
Botox injections into the scalp may cause neck pain and allergic reactions, but these are rare.
Conclusion
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.
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