Which Pain Symptoms Can Botox® Successfully Treat?

The future of pain management is closer than you think!
 

Headache. Botox® gained FDA approval for the prevention of chronic migraine headaches. In 2010, two randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were conducted using 1,382 patients. The pooled results demonstrated that onobotulium toxin Botox® is an effective preventative treatment for chronic migraines. Based on these study results, in October of 2010 the U.S. FDA approved BOTOX® injections to prevent headaches in adult patients with chronic migraines. BOTOX® prevents the recurrence of migraines for up to three months when used as directed - which means undergoing up to 39 very small injections into different sites of the head and neck. And interestingly, most of these injection sites are the same ones used to treat facial wrinkles. If you meet certain symptomatic criteria, treatment with Botox® for the prevention of chronic migraines is covered by most medical insurance plans.

Arthritis. In preliminary reports, Botox® was found to help shoulder, knee, and hip pain caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. One small study of patients with arthritis shoulder pain found that 38 percent of those who got a single Botox® injection showed improvement on pain scores, compared with 9 percent who got a placebo shot. Allergan is beginning to study Botox® for knee arthritis pain.

Neck pain. Do you have cervical dystonia? Cervical dystonia is a condition that causes muscles in your neck to spasm and tighten without your control. The spasm in the neck is constant hence the term "dys" or abnormal "tonia" tone. The cause of the painful muscle contraction tends to be linked with injuries of the head, shoulders and neck but the exact cause remains unknown. The painful spasm may cause one to be forced into abnormal head positions and or for ones head to tilt in an unusual way.

Back pain. A 2001 study found that 60 percent of patients with chronic back pain who received Botox® injections had pain relief for three to four months; however, a Cochrane review of several studies of Botox® for lower back pain and sciatica says there isn't enough evidence that the drug works better than placebo, acupuncture, or standard treatments like steroids for these conditions. Botox® is not FDA-approved for treating back pain.

Nerve pain. Otherwise known as neuropathy, this type of pain affects the hands, feet, and legs is common in diabetes. A study published in the journal Neurology found that 44 percent of patients with nerve pain found relief after Botox® was injected into skin at the top of the foot. Botox® is not FDA-approved for treating neuropathy.

Results: BotoxA was significantly superior to placebo for reducing the number of headaches days per 28 days from baseline to 21-24 weeks post treatment.

Good Advice: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery notes that doses used for medical Botox™ treatments are also much higher than those used in cosmetic surgery, and that it's wise to receive injections from a physician who is board-certified in the specialty that you're seeking help for. If you are interested in Botox® injections for pain, seek out the specialists at Manhattan Medicine - don't go to a plastic surgeon.