Botox, made from the bacteria that cause botulism and centers on the nerve activity in certain muscles, has become a famous treatment to strip away years from celebrities and anyone who wants to maintain a youthful appearance. Fuller lips, minimalized frown lines, and reduced crow’s feet around the eyes are only a few of the aging areas for those still looking for the fountain of youth. At least, that’s what we’ve all known was the only purpose for receiving Botox injections, right?

Benefits of Botox Injections for Migraines

Actually, the FDA first approved the use of Botox for chronic migraine headaches in 2010. Since that time, there have been over 100,000 treatments performed by medical doctors, anesthesiologists, and pain management experts across the U.S.A. including Michigan Pain Consultants. Here are a few benefits in which chronic migraine sufferers find relief:

  • Botox injections prevent pain before it begins.
  • Patients are treated approximately every three months.
  • There is minimal discomfort. The injections feel like tiny pinpricks.
  • The procedures take about 15 minutes.

What Exactly Causes Migraines?

There is some debate as to the precise cause of migraine headaches, but it is mainly believed that blood vessels constrict and get very tight due to various triggers. When this happens blood elements, called platelets, clump together and release serotonin. Serotonin further tightens and reduces the supply of blood to the brain. Ultimately, the same blood vessels that are constricting, dilate and widen in order to re-establish proper blood flow to the brain. Because the brain has been deprived of blood for a period of time, the blood vessels open extra wide in order to make up for the blood flow that was initially denied. It is during this dilation process that pain is experienced. Additionally, during this phase, chemicals that cause irritation and swelling are also released, resulting in the throbbing headache. Multiple triggers may include: Alcohol; Certain Foods; Weather Changes; Fatigue; Genetics; and Stress.

How Is Botox Used for Treatment?

While there are various drug and treatment options available for migraine headaches, Botox is one of the latest and effective treatment programs. The team at Michigan Pain Consultants are board certified pain management experts and anesthesiologists who are highly qualified to deliver Botox treatments. After a careful assessment, your physician will inject the Botox into the shallow muscles that have been causing your migraines. There are 31 injections sites in 7 key areas of the head and neck available that can give patients three months without pain.

Several recent studies determined that besides relaxing muscles, Botox also stops the release of several neurotransmitters from the nerve endings. These neurotransmitters are released by messages sent from the brain that trigger a migraine attack.

WHO QUALIFIES?

Unlike headaches which you can take over the counter medications and perform relaxation techniques, the best treatment for chronic migraines is to pay attention to the triggers and signs and avoid a migraine before it starts. You qualify for Botox injection therapy if you have had headaches at least 15 days of any given month with at least 4 of them being severe. Additionally, these headaches last 4+ hours.

Contact Michigan Pain Consultants Today

Exciting medical breakthroughs occur each day and continue to keep Michigan Pain Consultants at the forefront of providing effective pain management programs in the West Michigan area.
Make an appointment for a new patient consultation with one of their board-certified pain physicians. All of Michigan Pain Consultant’s physicians are Board Certified in Anesthesiology or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and have advanced training and experience in Pain Medicine. You can begin first by visiting online at MyLifeBeyondPain.com, MichiganPain.com, or by calling them at (800)281-3237.

With six locations throughout West Michigan, Michigan Pain Consultants comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to pain care offers patients and providers renewed hope for relief from chronic pain. Chronic pain should be treated like other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or congestive heart failure. Chronic pain requires chronic treatment. The goal of the treatment is to optimize the management of the pain, as opposed to curing the pain.