Prepare to be amazed: almost 15.9 million people have had some sort of cosmetic procedure done in the last couple of years. And guess what? Botox was at the top of the list!
Now, you might be wondering – does Botox help migraines? If yes, you should check out our guide right here on the key things to understand!
What Exactly Is Botox?
Okay, so what is Botox, anyway?
Believe it or not, Botox is known as a neurotoxin. This poisonous bacteria is also called “Clostridium botulinums.” Crazily enough, this bacteria can cause a fatal reaction that’s referred to as botulism.
This deadly disease can happen if you eat Clostridium botulinums in spoiled or old food, which can result in blocked nerve signals and paralyzed muscles.
But crazy enough: this toxin is totally safe as long as you don’t digest it in your system. Plus, the dosage that you get is much lower than if you had consumed it in bad food.
Think about it this way, ever since doctors discovered that Botox can reduce wrinkles, it’s been the number one tool to relax the face muscles. Not only that, but it may also be helpful for people who suffer from spasms and tics from nerve diseases such as cerebral palsy.
What does this have to do with headaches, you ask?
When a client scheduled a Botox treatment to smooth their wrinkles, they noticed that their migraine headaches went away as well. This happened often enough, that when science began to study Botox as a form of pain management for migraines!
Does Botox Help Migraines?
If you’re interested in trying Botox injections for headaches, then we are here to help you out.
For the last decade, Botox, or Onabotulinumtoxina, has been approved to help adults with chronic migraine headaches. If you suffer from a migraine headache, it means that you have:
- A health history of both migraines and headaches
- Tension-type headaches most of the time (15 days or more)
In addition to this, most of your tension headaches would have to classified as migraines. You might not be approved for Botox treatment if you have less than 14 headaches per month or suffer from other headaches, such as cluster headaches.
That said, getting a shot of Botox can drastically reduce the number of times that you have to deal with migraine headaches. In addition, you may experience more pain-free days every month as well. And that means fewer missed days from work too.
But that’s not all!
If you sign up for multiple rounds of Botox shots, the number of days that you suffer from a headache every month could be chopped in half. Our general rule of thumb is that the more Botox sessions you can schedule, the better your headache symptoms will be.
So far, some scientists think that Botox helps with migraine headaches because it can stop neurotransmitters from sending pain signals through your body. Picture it as a roadblock on a neural pathway. By stopping these chemicals from hitting the nerve endings near your neck and head, you may be free from pain before you know it’s there!
How Does It Work?
At this point in the process, you might be wondering how this all works. First of all, you’ll receive several different shots of Botox near your neck and head once every three months. This is exactly what you need to prevent your dull migraines and headaches from coming back.
Interestingly, you might need dozens of Botox shots overall. You’ll receive the same number of shots on both sides of your head. But if your migraine is stuck in one special spot, you might need extra shots in that location.
The best part? You can feel positive results within a few weeks after your first Botox treatment!
Naturally, we highly recommend that you get this kind of treatment from a doctor who is experienced enough to give Botox shots for chronic migraines and headaches. Unfortunately, finding a doctor who is only trained to give Botox shots for wrinkles or cosmetic procedures isn’t going to make the cut.
It is important to understand the potential side effects you may experience after receiving Botox treatments for migraine pain. Headache and neck pain are the most common side effects for patients who use Botox to treat chronic migraine headaches.
In addition to this, it’s also crucial to note that you could have a rare allergic reaction from Botox treatment. You’ll know that you’re having an allergic reaction if you suffer from the following:
- Hives
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in your lower legs
Thankfully, there are no confirmed cases where Botox treatments have spread throughout the body. However, this is still a deadly possibility. This explains why your medication label should include this exact warning.
Ready to get started?
In that case, we suggest you ask your doctor if Botox for migraines is right for you!
Beat Migraines with Botox Now!
If you’re curious about trying out Botox for headaches, we’ve got you covered.
Want to learn more about Botox and migraines?
If so, call (402) 384-8400 and ask our team of professionals about our Botox migraine treatment today!
