When most people think of BOTOX®, they think of a time-tested, popular way to treat lines and wrinkles. While that’s certainly one application, BOTOX has other uses that have been around even longer than the wrinkle-fighting regimens it’s become known for.
In fact, in the 1970s, BOTOX use was being explored as a treatment for strabismus (crossed eyes). During those studies, researchers noticed the injections didn’t just relieve muscle spasms — they smoothed out wrinkles in the eye area, too.
Over the decades, researchers have learned that BOTOX was a useful treatment for other medical conditions, including those associated with chronic or recurrent pain. Today, BOTOX is a popular treatment for nerve-related pain, including migraine headaches and chronic neck pain due to uncontrollable muscle spasms (a condition called cervical dystonia).
The team at Superior Pain Relief routinely prescribes BOTOX injection therapy for chronic pain, particularly pain associated with chronic migraines, when they determine it’s a good option to relieve your pain. Here’s how BOTOX therapy works and what to expect during treatment.
BOTOX derives its name from its primary ingredient: botulinum toxin, a neuromuscular agent that works on the pain signaling pathways between your muscles and your brain.
For wrinkle treatment, BOTOX injections block chemical nerve signals between your facial muscles and your brain, preventing muscle contractions that form lines and wrinkles. For pain treatment, BOTOX works in a similar way, but it targets different muscles.
Although migraines are common, researchers are still learning why and how they happen. To date, many believe migraines are a combination of factors, including abnormal pain responses involving nerves combined with intense muscle spasms leading to tension-related pain.
This nerve and muscle involvement makes BOTOX an ideal treatment for migraine symptoms. During treatment, your provider places BOTOX injections in specific areas around your head and neck. The neuromodulator blocks pain signaling that triggers pain sensations and muscle spasms, relieving tension and dramatically reducing or eliminating pain.
We perform BOTOX injections right in our office, typically in under an hour. Prior to your injections, your doctor evaluates your anatomy, reviews your symptoms, and maps out precise locations for your injections.
BOTOX uses a fine needle, and most people report very little discomfort, likening each injection to a tiny pin prick. If you’re extremely sensitive, we can apply a topical numbing cream before your injections.
The injection part of your treatment only takes about 10 minutes. Afterward, you’re free to go about your regular routine without any downtime involved.
The FDA has approved BOTOX for chronic migraines, defined as 15 or more migraines per month. To keep symptoms under control, you need a series of BOTOX treatments, typically every three months or so. Your treatment regimen depends on your symptoms, the frequency and intensity of your headaches, and how well you respond to the effects of BOTOX.
Chronic migraines can be debilitating, causing pain and other symptoms on a regular basis. With BOTOX therapy, you can find relief for headaches by controlling their intensity and their frequency so you can focus on the things you enjoy.
To learn more about BOTOX injections and how they can help you manage your chronic migraines, request an appointment online or over the phone today at Superior Pain Relief in Houston, Baytown, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas.
