It was discovered quite by accident, that Botox injections could help relieve the severe, intense pain associated with migraine headaches. Since it was determined that the injections were beneficial, researchers have been hard at work trying to discover why it works so well.
While Botox doesn’t work to alleviate all types of headache pain, there are promising signs that it will be able to alleviate at least some of the pain associated with migraines for some sufferers.
The Story Behind Botox
Botox is made from a neurotoxin known as botulinum toxin-a. It has proven extremely effective at reversing many signs associated with the aging process.
The Botox serum is injected into the muscles, allowing them to relax.
How Botox Works as a Migraine/Headache Pain Treatment
Researchers are not really sure how Botox works when it comes to controlling migraine pain. Its effectiveness as a migraine/headache pain treatment was discovered when women who were getting Botox injections in the forehead and cheekbone area, reported that they did not have headaches as often once they had after receiving the shots.
Doctors began to document the correlation between the two, discovering that many of the women’s headaches were almost non-existent since they started receiving Botox injections.
Botox is not a cure-all. Doctors believe that part of the reason the serum is so effective at controlling headache pain for some patients is that it works by relaxing muscles near the injection site. Botox may reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.
Doctors are still discovering just how beneficial Botox may be; however, they are also discovering its limitations. While it seems to work well for some headache sufferers, it will not be effective for everyone.
Houston Headache Institute
At the Houston Headache Institute, our doctors are using Botox injections, along with other treatments, to help relieve many of our patients’ migraines. We work with each of patients individually to determine what treatments will be most effective for them.
While we are still performing research to determine exactly how the Botox injections work to relieve pain, we have seen positive results so far in some headache and migraine sufferers. We know how debilitating migraine and headache pain can be. We also understand how much time can be lost when a person is in pain. It is our goal to help our patients reclaim their lives with as little pain as possible. Please contact us for more information.
