Botox

What is Botox?

Botox is a medicine made from botulinum toxin (a potent neurotoxin produced by certain bacteria). After your provider injects the medication, it stops the nerves from releasing neurotransmitters. The results depend on where Botox was injected.

Nerves communicate using neurotransmitters. When Botox blocks that activity, the lack of communication can relax muscles and stop pain messages. Both actions can significantly relieve your pain.

When might I benefit from Botox?

Your experienced Center for Neurology and Spine provider specializes in using Botox to treat three conditions:

Chronic migraines

You may qualify for Botox if you have 15 or more headache days every month, with each migraine lasting at least four hours. Botox stops pain signals, reducing the number of migraines you have and decreasing the pain when a migraine occurs.

Botox gradually wears off, so you’ll need treatments every three months to maintain the results.

Cervical dystonia

Cervical dystonia causes uncontrollable and painful muscle contraction in your neck, causing your head to twist to one side. Botox prevents the contraction by relaxing the muscles.

Like all Botox injections, the treatment lasts several months before the medicine wears off, but you can get repeat treatment once every three months.

Spasticity

Spasticity is a painful condition caused by tight, stiff muscles. You could have mild tightening, excruciating muscle spasms causing uncontrollable movement, or severe tightness that limits movement and causes muscle or joint deformities.

The most important predictor of successful treatment with Botox is having a highly experienced provider who can identify the correct muscles and choose the appropriate dose for your spasticity. You can depend on the expertise of the Center for Neurology and Spine team.

What happens during a Botox procedure?

Your experienced provider injects Botox with a small needle, minimizing discomfort. However, they also ensure comfort by applying a topical anesthetic that temporarily numbs sensation.

The injections go directly into carefully selected muscles. For migraines, your provider injects specific muscles around your head and neck. If you need Botox for cervical dystonia or spasticity, they identify and inject the muscles involved.

You may have minor pain or swelling at the injection sites, but this improves quickly. Your provider answers your questions and gives you self-care instructions before you leave the office.

Call the Center for Neurology and Spine today or connect online to request an appointment and learn if Botox can ease your migraines, dystonia, or spasticity.