Botox As A Migraine Treatment

By Cali Marinaw


The use of botulinum toxin injections has advanced tremendously over the last few years. 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.

Here, we will be discussing how botox injections can now be utilized for this purpose.

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

Migraine is primarily mediated by the release of the neuro-chemical serotonin. Treatments of botox do not affect that, but there is evidence that shows patients who find relief from migraine pain from the treatments.

While this is exciting news, it is still under investigation and there does not appear to be a clear reason as to how it can help reduce migraine headaches. There are 31 to 39 different injection points in the scalp for botox. The basic theories that have been presented so far:

The first thing is that nerve signal pain is stopped from being received.

Next, that it relaxes the scalp muscles and may help reduce blood pressure within the brain

Even though research is still in early stages, there appears to be good evidence supporting its use particularly because it can help reduce the frequency of headaches and also improve the quality of life of patients.

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.

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.

Any risks?

There have been rare reports of allergic reactions or neck pain from botox scalp injections.

Summary

The uses of botox are still growing and its application in migraine is novel. Botox treatments for chronic migraine look like they are effective, but at this time, further study needs to be concluded in order for these claims to be verified.




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