Botox Injection
Clearwater, Tampa, St Petersburg, Florida
Why is Therapeutic Botox used to Relieve Pain?
Botox, a potent inhibitor for chronic muscular spasms, is an exciting new therapy in pain management. Normally, your brain sends messages to your muscles to make them contract and move. These messages are transmitted from the nerve to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter). When too much acetylcholine is released, muscles become overly active and spasm or tense up.
Working at the chemical level, Botox helps relieve this painful condition by preventing the release of acetylcholine, blocking impulses to the small nerves in the muscle fibers.These muscle fibers are responsible for contracting and creating the knots or trigger points often found in those suffering from chronic pain. As a result, the muscle spasms stop or are greatly reduced, providing relief from symptoms.
Many people suffering from chronic neck and low back pain have a condition known as myofascial, or muscular pain.Muscles that are full of painful knots and trigger points characterize this condition.Many circumstances can cause myofascial pain.Such pain can be caused by trauma, overuse or repetitive use injuries, chronic tension, failed back surgery and scarring of the muscle tissue.
The goal in using Botox therapy for treating chronic pain is to relax the muscle and retrain it to stay in a relaxed state.Muscles that have been contracted into spasms and knots have developed a “muscle memory” that being tight is the “normal” state.Botox is extremely effective in retraining the muscle to return to a relaxed state.
What is Botox?
Botox is a purified protein complex derived from bacteria, similar to the way that penicillin is derived from mold. It is manufactured under strict quality control standards by Allergan, and is administered in appropriate dilute dosages by licensed medical professionals. Botox has been approved for nearly 14 years and has been used in over 7 million treatment sessions. Botox therapy is approved by health authorities in 70 countries and has been endorsed by the National Institutes of Health since 1990.
How is a Botox Injection procedure performed?
Botox injections are performed in a comfortable room at our office.The trigger point or knotted muscle causing the pain is located and the area cleaned.The Botox is then injected into that trigger point or knot.The procedure only takes a few minutes.
It is important to remember that Botox treatment is not a cure. For many people, however, its effects have been beneficial. Typically, improvement with Botox is not immediate.It may take up to two weeks for its benefits to be noticeable, although, Dr. Lox has noted complete relief for some patients in as little as two days time.After a Botox treatment, the nerve will take about three months to resume the release of acetylcholine, and the muscles may become overactive again. At that point, another Botox treatment may be needed to provide relief, as long as no allergic reactions or other significant side effects occurred and your condition responded to treatment.
Potential Side Effects or Complications of a Botox Injection
As with any procedure, there is a potential risk for side effects or complications.Fortunately side effects from Botox are infrequent when the treatment is administered properly.The most common side effects are mild “flu-like” symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and localized pain at the injection site.If any of these side effects are experienced, their duration is short term.Other side effects are rare, but possible.If you have any concerns, please feel free to discuss them, prior to injection, with the doctor.Talk to Dr. Lox if you have any neuromuscular disease, as you may be at increased risk for systematic effects.
If you continue to suffer with chronic pain and would like to explore if botox injections are an appropriate treatment option, contact Dr. Lox for an appointment at 727-462-5582. Since 1990, Dennis M. Lox, M.D has applied his personal interests in sports medicine, cutting-edge regenerative medicine and chronic pain management to helping patients increase their quality of life.
Dennis M. Lox, MD, and the Florida Spine Center serve patients within the greater Tampa Bay area, including Clearwater, Tampa and St. Petersburg, as well as all of Florida and the US.
All statements, information or opinions provided by this website are provided for educational purposes only. We do not diagnose nor treat through this website or by telephone. As you consider any treatment, discuss them with your physician.