Botox Specialist

What is Botox?

Botox is widely known for its use as an aesthetic treatment that reduces lines and wrinkles, but it's also a valuable therapy for certain neurological conditions.

Botox is a neurotoxin made by Clostridium botulinum bacteria and is highly toxic in its original state. However, after modification, the botulinum toxin performs a valuable function by disrupting the activity of nerves that are causing specific types of pain and movement dysfunction.

Botox works by interrupting the chemical transfer of information from your nerves to your muscles, which has the effect of temporarily paralyzing the treated tissue.

What conditions can Botox treat?

Botox injections can be an effective treatment for several neurological disorders, including:

Disabling migraines

Migraines are recurrent headaches that cause intense pain, often on one side of your head, plus symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, extreme fatigue, and sensitivity to stimuli like light and sound. Some people also experience visual disturbances (auras).

Migraines can be so severe that it's impossible to function normally until they pass. Botox injections are an FDA-approved treatment for patients who are experiencing more than 15 headaches a month, at least eight of which are severe migraines.

Cervical dystonia

Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes your body to adopt abnormal postures and make twisting motions and repetitive movements. These unwanted symptoms occur because your brain is telling the muscles to increase their activity, causing chronic or repeated muscle contractions.

Spasticity

Spasticity is another movement disorder that makes your muscles stiff or tight, preventing you from moving normally. It's often seen in people with cerebral palsy, while some patients develop stiff arms or legs after a stroke or spinal cord injury.

Hemifacial spasm

Hemifacial spasm occurs when one side of your face twitches involuntarily. It happens when the muscles on that side receive unnecessary signals from nerves that are under pressure or damaged.

What does Botox treatment involve?

Before recommending Botox injections, your provider performs a comprehensive evaluation of your condition and general health. They need to be sure of the cause of your symptoms before administering Botox and pinpoint the specific area that needs treatment.

To achieve this, you may need to undergo electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests. These procedures assess nerve function in the affected area and help determine where the faulty nerve signals are coming from.

If Botox is a good option for you, your provider at Houston Neurological Institute can administer the injections using EMG guidance to deliver the drug to the right area. Results should be evident within the first seven days and typically last around 12 weeks.

To find out how you could benefit from Botox injections, call Houston Neurological Institute today or book an appointment online.