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October, 2010, Botox was approved by the FDA for the treatment of
chronic headaches which last for at least 4 hours and occur at least 15
days per month.
Botulinum
toxin is a complex protein produced by the anaerobic bacterium,
Clostridium
botulinum. “botulinum”
injections can be used to treat
various focal
muscle spastic disorders
and excessive muscle contractions
such as
dystonias,
spasms, etc. It has also been proven
to
be effective
in treating chronic neck and
back pain as well as
chronic headaches.
One of those firemen suffers from chronic headaches
BOTOX has enabled him to work "headache free".
Botulinum
toxin blocks neuromuscular conduction by binding receptor sites
on motor
nerve
terminals, and inhibiting the
release of acetylcholine. When
injected
intramuscularly or
subcutaneously at therapeutic doses, botulinum toxin
produces
local
paralysis and allows
individual muscles
to be weakened selectively. It has the
advantage
of being a
potent
neuromuscular blocking agent with good selectivity,
duration of action,
with few side effects.
Botulinum
toxin can be used to reduce spasticity or excessive muscular
contractions
to
relieve
pain; assist in posturing
and walking; allow
better range of motion; to permit
better physical
therapy; to reduce
severe spasm in order to
provide perineal hygiene.
Botulinum toxin has also
been
successful in reducing the muscle tension involved
with
chronic
headaches and migraine
headaches.
Intramuscular
injection of botulinum toxin has been shown to be safe and relieves
pain
associated with several
movement disorders, chronic myofacial and
cervical pain syndromes.
Increased paraspinal muscle activity has been
implicated as a factor in low back and neck
pain.
Pain may arise
within ischemic overactive muscle itself due to the
build up of
metabolic
waste
products or from structures around the muscle (such as
joints and tendons) stressed
by
persistent muscle tension. Electroymyographic studies often demonstrate increased
electrical
activity of the
paraspinal muscles during activity in patients with
low back pain
compared with
subjects without pain. The possibility
that overactive paraspinal muscles
may contribute to low
back pain
provides a rationale for treatment strategies aimed
at
reducing paraspinal muscle
tone, such as biofeedback and muscle relaxing drugs.
There are risks involved in Botulinim injections. Common side effects
include muscle
weakness
that may affect
function of the limb treated,
local bruising, and discomfort
at the
injection site.
There are other
common side effects related to the particular disorder that is being
treated.
The procedure will consist of the following: You will receive botulinum toxin by injection
into
the
muscle through the
skin. The
skin will be cleaned with an alcohol pad, and the site
may be
determined by using a small electric stimulator
that is called an EMG
machine.
This allows the
physician to correctly locate the muscle to
inject. A small electric
current
may be applied onto
the surface of
the skin or just beneath the surface of the skin or just
beneath the
surface
of the
skin with a small, sterilized needle. Botulinum toxin may relieve symptoms for three to six months. You
may notice some
improvement within the next 72
hours but may not
notice anything for up to two weeks.
Potential benefits of this treatment would include reduction
in painful spasms, related to your headaches, as well as a ----- in
any hypersensitivity you may suffer to ---- of your headaches.
There are risks involved in botulinum toxin type A injections.
Common side effects include
muscle weakness that may
affect function of the limb treated, local
bruising, and discomfort
at
the injection site. There
are other conditions listed
below in which these injections are
performed. The common side
effects related to the following disorders and their
treatments
include:
Rare side effects have been reported but are not necessarily results
of the botulinum toxin. These include: nausea, muscle soreness
headaches, lightheadedness, fever, chills, hypertension, weakness,
difficulty breathing, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
SPECIAL WARNING OF RISK
TO FEMALES OF CHILDBEARING POTENTIAL
The effects of botulinum
toxin type A on human babies are unknown, but could
cause harm.
For this reason, it is
necessary to:
1. Use
adequate birth control to avoid getting pregnant while receiving
treatment.
2. Inform
the clinic immediately if you get pregnant.
This treatment may cause an
allergic reaction. Potentially,
this reaction could be severe
and
life threatening.
As is true of all
medications in medical treatment, there is always the possibility of a
new
or
unexpected risk.
If you’ve forgotten what it’s
like to live without pain, the physicians at Gulf Coast Pain Management
understands.
We are here to help.
Gulf Coast Pain Management
will coordinate your treatment with your primary care physician and the
specialists
such
as general, neuro, and
orthopedic surgeons as well as oncologists,
neurologists,
physiatrists,
and psychiatrists.
Feel
free to discuss with your physician whether a referral to
Gulf
Coast
Pain Management
is appropriate for you.
If you have any questions whatsoever regarding
botulinum toxin
and whether or not it may be helpful for your chronic headaches,
please do not hesitate to ask Lynne Carr Columbus, D.O. /
Hee (Dennis) S. Lee, M.D.
Now you can feel good and look good.
Gulf Coast
Pain Management
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