Botox

Botox® injections are recognized for their ability to smooth wrinkles, but did you know they can also help people with severe migraines? Consultants in Pain Medicine: Stephanie S. Jones, MD, in San Antonio, Texas, uses medical Botox to help reduce migraine pain and frequency. If you suffer from repeated migraines that limit your ability to live a normal life, call Dr. Jones today to inquire about Botox treatment. You can also book an appointment online.

What is Botox?

Botox is an injectable medication derived from botulinum toxin, a naturally occurring substance that has a powerful effect on nerve function. You’re likely most familiar with Botox as an aesthetic wrinkle treatment; however, it also has several medical uses, treating nerve-related conditions such as:

• Postherpetic neuralgia
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injuries
• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• Stroke pain
• Postsurgical neuralgia
• Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis or wry neck)

Botox’s most common medical use is in treating migraines and Dr Jones has been using Botox for migraines for over 20  years with great success.   

What are migraines?

Migraines are severe headaches that can considerably impact those who experience them. In addition to intense head pain, migraines cause symptoms such as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Light and sound sensitivity
• Weakness and dizziness
• Fatigue
• Visual disturbances

Some people get these recurring headaches infrequently, while others suffer from migraines regularly. The symptoms can be so overwhelming that it’s impossible to function normally. As migraine effects can last several days, having them frequently is disabling.

When is Botox used to treat migraines?

Botox isn’t the first treatment offered to patients with migraines. Identifying and avoiding triggers (things like red wine and excessive stress that increase your risk of a migraine) is vital.

Your provider can also prescribe medications that help prevent migraines and/or reduce their severity. Many people find complementary treatments like acupuncture and biofeedback helpful.

The Consultants in Pain Medicine: Stephanie S. Jones, MD team might recommend Botox if you routinely experience 15 or more severe headaches each month (eight of which are migraines) and other treatments aren’t helping.

How does Botox treat migraines?

Botox disrupts pain signal transmission between your head’s nerves and your brain. It achieves this by preventing messaging chemicals called neurotransmitters from connecting with the nerve endings in your head and neck.

Treatment involves having Botox injections into the nerves using tiny needles. Your provider tailors Botox treatment to your requirements, but a typical program would involve several Botox injections at 12-week intervals.

Providers usually inject equal amounts of Botox into each side of your head. However, if your migraine headache is particularly severe in one area, they might administer extra injections there. Results generally take about 2-3 weeks.

Research into Botox injections for migraines indicates that they successfully reduce migraine attack frequency, often by up to 50%.

Call Consultants in Pain Medicine: Stephanie S. Jones, MD, today to see if you could benefit from Botox migraine relief. You can also schedule a consultation online.