How is Botox Used To Treat Migraine Headaches?
Approximately 28 million Americans, 75 percent of those are women, suffer from migraines, according to the National Institute of Health.
Botox (botulinum toxin A) injected into the muscles of the brow, eyes, forehead, side of the head and back of the head near the neck has been found to provide migraine relief reducing both the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. Botox has been reported to provide benefit to some patients for up to six months and may cause fewer side effects than many of the standard medications used to treat migraines.
Botox is also used as a diagnostic test to determine what trigger point is causing the migraine and to determine if a patient with chronic, intractable migraine headaches will benefit from a more permanent surgical solution. The surgical technique -- performed by a handful of plastic surgeons in the U.S. -- includes using Botox to pinpoint which of several specific muscles in the forehead, back of the head or temple areas may be serving as "trigger points" to compress, irritate or entrap nerves that could be causing the migraine. Because Botox temporarily inhibits muscle contraction, usually for about three months, it can be used as a "trial test" to see if a patient's migraine headaches go away or become less intense following a Botox injection.
If a Botox treatment is successful in preventing migraines or lessening their severity, then surgery to remove the triggering muscle is likely to achieve the same result, possibly permanently. Botox treatments are used to determine if a patient will likely benefit from surgery. If a patient improves following a Botox treatment to the trigger areas, they will likely benefit from surgery. If no benefit is seen following Botox treatment, then it is unlikely that the patient would respond from surgery. Treatment algorithms have been developed that includes administering Botox prior to determining if a patient is an appropriate surgical candidate.
Plastic surgeons who perform these surgical procedures typically will only see migraine patients who have been diagnosed with recurrent migraines by a neurologist or pain management specialist and who have failed standard conservative migraine therapies.
Dr. Moore at Premier Plastic Surgery has helped patients in the Kansas City area and throughout the Midwest, obtain permanent improvement and even complete eradication of severe, chronic migraine headaches. If you have been diagnosed with migraine headaches by a neurologist or pain management specialist and have failed to respond to standard medical therapy please call us today at (913) 782-0707