Have you heard of using Botox for pain?
Botox is usually associated with youth and beauty, but it can be used for far more than your physical appearance. Due to its reputation as a beauty treatment, many people do not realize that Botox injections are a valuable medical treatment. Crossed eyes, spasms, and chronic pain can all benefit from Botox.
How Botox Treats Pain
Clostridium botulinum is considered a toxin, but botulinum toxin type A is used in Botox injections. This toxin acts as a muscle relaxant to treat a variety of conditions. Temporarily making muscles immobile can help smooth wrinkles.
An injection procedure in the head and neck can provide long-term pain relief from headaches and muscle stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Botox eliminates the tightness and discomfort that accrues during prolonged muscle tension. It has seen increased use as a means of effective pain management.
By using a number of different diagnostic tests, our medical office in Rock Hill, SC can determine which of the muscles or muscle groups are responsible for your pain. Once this has been determined, treatment is not unlike the Botox treatment used for wrinkles and anti-aging. A series of injections are placed into the muscle or muscle group responsible for the pain you are experiencing.
The effects of Botox diminish on their own. In some cases, no additional injections are necessary. Effects last for several weeks to several months. This may make Botox a better option for long and short-term pain relief than pain medication.
Efficacy of Botox Injections
Despite the frivolous nature attributed to Botox injections, Botox can actually be an important medicine. Many of the conditions that experience relief using Botox are debilitating and can cause a large degree of pain and anxiety. Some of the conditions that are successfully treated with Botox include the following:
- Arthritis. Early on in the evaluation phase of Botox development, studies demonstrated its power in reducing arthritic pain. These same studies demonstrated dramatic improvements in shoulder, knee, and hip pain, making Botox an invaluable treatment for arthritis patients.
- Back Pain and Stiffness. A 2001 study determined that 60% of chronic back pain patients experienced marked relief following Botox injections. Pain relief lasted for 3-4 months, which provides far greater relief than standard medication and other pain relief treatments.
- Headaches. The FDA approved Botox as a treatment for migraine headaches in 2010. A series of injections applied to the head and neck every 2-3 months dramatically reduced headache incidence and intensity.
More recently, the American Academy of Neurology evaluated Botox as a treatment method for cerebrospinal headaches. These headaches are caused by spinal fluid leaks. Leaks typically occur as a result of a spinal block or complications from epidural administration, and Botox is an effective intervention. - Neuropathy. Neuropathy is the term used to describe nerve damage from a variety of causes, including diabetes. Neuropathy is characterized by pain and numbness and usually affects the hands, feet, and legs. Botox injections may help reduce the frequency and severity of neuropathic pain.
Botox works in the treatment of chronic pain and other long-standing issues. Myofascial pain syndromes, joint disorders, and chronic migraines can all experience significant relief following botulinum toxin injections. Our office provides therapeutic Botox to patients in Rock Hill, SC, and Charlotte, NC to ease symptoms of chronic pain and other conditions.
To learn more about our Botox for pain services, schedule an appointment with our office today!
