Botox - New Treatment For Migraine Headaches
Although most people are familiar with the use of Botox for cosmetic purposes to reduce wrinkles, less are familiar with its use in the medical field, such as for muscle spasms in cerebral palsy, for example. One of the more popular uses of botox in the medical field is in the treatment of migraine headaches.
It is estimated that between 300 million and 400 million people in the world suffer from migraine headaches. Because of these numbers and the fact that a lot of medications for migraine may have side effects, botox treatment for migraine headaches is getting more popular with physicians.
As usual, the discovery of the efficacy of botox for treatment of migraine headaches was accidental. It was noted that quite a few persons coming in for botox for their wrinkles noted that their headaches had lessened considerably.
Botox treatment for migraine headaches has not yet received FDA approval, but that has not stopped a lot of doctors from going ahead with treating their patients with headaches with botox injections into the muscles of the forehead, back of scalp, neck and shoulders, wherever there is muscle spasm which is commonly associated with migraine headaches. Pain relief obtained tends to last for 4 to 6 months, the duration of action of the botox. It is said that pain is relieved by reduction of the tension of the muscles due to the effect of botox. Some practitioners theorize that the pain relief is contributed to by a blockage of the transmission of pain signals.
The cost of botox treatment for migraine headaches may be quite high initially, and may reach even up to $300 to $500 in any one area due the volume that has to be injected into the larger muscles. This compares unfavorably with the relatively cheap cost of painkiller tablets. However the pain relief obtained by botox can be 4 to 6 months, and the duration of pain relief itself is reason enough for persons to prefer to use botox.
Filed Under botox treatment, medical uses for botox, treatment for migraine headaches |
Tagged With treatment for migraine headaches, treatment of migraine headaches
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Botox is more than just a solution to beat wrinkles. It can even be used as a pain medication to fight Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), according to a new study.