Why is Belly Fat so Risky and Stubborn?
Worried about that belly fat accumulating around your midsection? You may not be worried enough. Find out why you need to take action to reduce it soon!
Can Botox Actually Help My Migraines?
You’ve tried everything and nothing has worked. The migraines just keep coming, day after day. None of the medications, diet changes, or trigger management have worked.
You’re getting desperate, and then you hear that Botox® is sometimes used to treat migraines. Botox? Really? The same substance people have injected to get rid of their wrinkles? It can help with migraines too?
At Frederick H. Watkins, MD, our expert team led by Dr. Watkins regularly treats migraine patients with Botox. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Botox?
Botox is the common name for botulinum toxin A, a neurotoxin that affects nerves and causes muscle weakening. It’s approved by the FDA for cosmetic and medical purposes and is perhaps best known for smoothing out wrinkles, crow’s feet, and lines in your face, head, and neck.
One of the medical reasons to get Botox is to treat chronic migraines (15 or more days a month) through injections around your head and neck.
How does Botox treat migraines?
As a general principle, Botox blocks signals your nerves send to your muscles. This keeps those muscles from contracting, which is how they form wrinkles. In the same way, evidence suggests that Botox treats migraines by blocking transmissions of pain between your brain and nerves that extend from your spinal cord.
When your body experiences a migraine, it releases neurotransmitters and molecules associated with pain. Botox blocks these substances from traveling through your body. The blocking takes place where your nerves and muscles meet.
What can I expect from Botox treatment for my migraines?
Dr. Watkins uses a very small needle to make more than 30 injections in your head and neck. Specific places he injects Botox include your forehead and temples, the back of your head and neck, and your upper shoulders.
Botox injections should be perfectly safe when done by a licensed physician. Potential side effects include a drooping eyebrow or eyelid, weakness in your neck and shoulders, and headache or flu-like symptoms.
It can take four weeks or more after your first treatment to notice improvement in your migraines. Gradually, the frequency and intensity of your pain should decrease. To maintain maximum effectiveness, treatments should be repeated every three months.
If you deal with migraines for half the month or more, Botox may be the solution you need to get your life back. Just call our location nearest you — Rockville, Maryland, or McLean, Virginia — or use the “Request Consultation” button on our site to book a convenient time for you.
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