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| Botulinum Toxin Type A for the Treatment of Headache and Cervical Dystonia | |
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The treatment of migraine headache can be expensive and problematic for certain patients. Botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX) has been found to be effective for the treatment of migraine. The basic principle of this treatment is based on the fact that migraine headache is in fact mediated through the trigeminal system. This can be treated by injecting certain areas in the face and head with Botulinum toxin type A. Patients who are resistant to pharmacologic treatment of migraine, or using excessive amounts of triptan medications may be candidates for this therapy. Cervicogenic Headache Often patients will develop a migraine syndrome after injury to the cervical spine or after the development of chronic cervical pain or cervical dystonia. The migraines generated by these cervical pain syndromes can be as devastating as primary migraine headaches. Botulinum toxin type A can be effectively used to treat the pain from cervical dystonia as well as the headache generated by the syndrome. Various muscles of the cervical spine can be injected with small quantities of botulinum toxin type A. This can provide relief from muscle spasm , myofascial pain as well as headache. At Comprehensive Pain Medicine we utilize Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) frequently for this chronic pain syndrome. Patients will often develop cervical dystonia after a hyperextension injury such as whiplash or after awakening after a night of sleeping in the wrong position. This is a safe and effective treatment for this debilitating chronic pain syndrome. |
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