Want Extended Relief from Chronic Migraines? 7 Things to Know about Botox Treatment
The thudding pain feels like getting kicked in the head again and again.
You can only lay down in a dark, quiet room until it goes away.
There is no known cure for chronic migraines.
But…
Imagine living with fewer migraine attacks – or no attacks – for months. Imagine not having to take pain meds all the time.
It’s possible with Botox injections for migraines. Here are seven things to know about this treatment.
1. Does Botox treatment eliminate migraine attacks?
According to the American Migraine Foundation, studies show that Botox injections for migraines reduce the number of days patients suffer from migraines or other headaches by 50%.
2. How does Botox stop migraine attacks?
Botox, or botulinum, is a neurotoxin extracted from mold. Well-known for its use as a cosmetic treatment, the FDA approved Botox as a treatment for migraines in 2010.
Though doctors don’t know precisely how Botox stops migraines, they suggest that it blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.
3. Who can get this treatment?
Those with diagnosed chronic migraine. Chronic migraine symptoms:
- headaches at least 15 days of each month
- eight migraine headaches each month
- these symptoms occur for at least three months
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a headache specialist or neurologist prescribes the treatment.
4. What’s a Botox treatment session like?
The neurologist typically administers shots of Botox in the head and neck once every three months. Doctors don’t give Botox injections more often than every three months because this could trigger the body’s immune response, which would make the treatment ineffective.
Doctors trained to treat migraine with Botox administer the injections (not plastic surgeons trained to use Botox for cosmetic purposes). Around 30 to 40 injections are administered evenly to each side of the head and neck.
5. How long does it take to see results?
Results come within 2 to 3 weeks, and the effects last 10-12 weeks. Alternative medication is needed to treat migraines during the ineffective period. Patients see better and better results after multiple treatment cycles.
6. Are there any side effects?
The most common side effects are swelling and bruising at the injection sites. Less common side effects include head and neck pain and headaches.
7. Does insurance cover this?
Botox injection sessions as a treatment for chronic migraines cost thousands of dollars a year. A patient’s insurance company will cover the treatment when the patient has been diagnosed with chronic migraine headaches.
Insurance companies may not cover Botox treatments for adolescents and children.
Migraine treatment in Houston, Dallas, and many other Texas locations.
Don’t allow this debilitating condition to interfere with your life a day longer.
At Texas Pain Physicians, we have a team of doctors who specialize in pain management. Botox injection is one of our treatments for chronic migraines.
Please give us a call at (972) 636-5727 to set up an appointment at your nearest Texas Pain Physicians location.
