mardi 11 juin 2013

Using Botox To Treat Migraines

By Cali Marinaw


There has been many new uses for botulinum toxin injections in recent years in the cosmetic medicine industry. 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. 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. Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium contained in these injections, and that is the cause of the effect. 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.

Migraines and botox

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. There are 31 to 39 different injection points in the scalp for botox. The basic theories that have been presented so far:

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

The research is still preliminary, but at this point, it seems that patients are finding that their headaches are less painful and frequent, and they are happier in general.

If other treatment methods are not effective for a patient and they have at least 15 days a month of migraines, this is when botox injections are typically suggested by a medical professional. 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.

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

Botox injections are still relatively new when it comes to treatment for migraines, but it is gaining in popularity. 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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