What is Botox?
Botox is an injectable medication formulated from Clostridium botulinum, a substance found naturally in forests, soil, and lakes. Highly toxic in specific concentrations, the volume used in medical applications is perfectly safe. Botox is an effective treatment for several conditions, including:
- Chronic migraine
- Cervical dystonia
- Spasticity
- Torticollis
- Hyperhidrosis
- Cranial hyperhidrosis
- Underarm hyperhidrosis
- Hands and feet hyperhidrosis
- Blepharospasm
Botox is a neurotoxin and works by impeding the ability of targeted muscles to perform their full range of motion. That is what makes Botox such an effective treatment for wrinkles because your facial muscles are temporarily unable to pull your skin into folds and creases. That same effect can also go a long way toward reducing pain.
What is muscle spasticity, and how can Botox treat the condition?
Spasticity is a medical condition characterized by continuous muscle contractions. These contractions occur spontaneously and are not directly tied to a triggering event.
When your muscle tissue experiences ongoing contraction, those muscles can become tight or stiff. You may begin to experience problems with your speech, gait, or movement.
The most common cause of spasticity is damage in the area of your brain that enables voluntary movement. The signals that travel through your nerves and direct your muscle tissue can become imbalanced. Researchers estimate that more than 12 million Americans experience spasticity.
Botox can treat spasticity by paralyzing selected muscles. When Botox is injected into targeted muscle tissues, those muscles will relax for around 12-16 weeks. Some patients enjoy functional improvements even after the effects of the initial injections have worn off.
Dystonia is a similar disorder and is characterized by excessive activity within your muscle tissues. The condition can cause cramping, tremor, muscle contractions, and even changes in the posture of affected areas. Botox can also improve many of the symptoms of dystonia.
How can Botox help treat migraine pain?
Botox is FDA-approved for treating migraine pain. A series of injections in your head and neck work to prevent the release of chemicals that help transmit pain through your nervous system.
This approach can reduce muscle contractions for around three months. Because those small contractions cause many migraine symptoms, pain levels are reduced. The pain activation response within your brain is temporarily deactivated.
It usually takes multiple treatments to achieve optimal results. You can explore the role that Botox plays in pain management during a personalized visit at Advanced Pain Specialists. Booking takes just moments online or over the phone, so don’t delay.
