Botox is an approved treatment for the prevention of headaches in chronic migraine patients; however, it can of course be used as an effective preventative treatment for less frequent migraines, and depending on the origin of the pain, less severe types of headache too.
If you suffer from chronic migraines or regular headaches, you will know how much it can affect your daily life.
Migraines can be debilitating and scary, if they include visual impairment. Many people experience regular headaches and this can be caused by stress, teeth grinding or not getting enough rest. Botox® (Botulinum Toxin type A) has been used for many years to treat chronic migraine for those who experience more than 15 headaches per month, as well as conditions such as Bruxism (teeth grinding ) and jaw clenching, a common cause of regular headaches.
At Rosie Cooper Aesthetics in Leamington Spa and Oxford, we offer Botox® to treat these conditions with superb results.
Botox® is an approved, non-surgical, non-invasive and effective treatment for the prevention of headaches in chronic migraine patients, but can, of course be used as an effective preventative treatment for less frequent migraines. Depending on the origin of your pain, even if you have less severe types of headaches, a Botox® treatment can be extremely effective and the results can last 3 to 6 months; offering great relief, so you can get on with your life without the worry of a migraine attack or regular headaches.
It’s not entirely clear why Botox® can be so effective in migraine treatment. However, doctors believe that it works by blocking chemicals called neurotransmitters, which carry pain signals from within your brain.
Before we agree to treat you with Botox® for your migraines or headaches, it’s important that you have an accurate diagnosis from your GP, especially in cases of regular headaches, as, if they are caused by stress, you may like to seek an alternative treatment initially, such as stress prevention techniques. Sometimes a lifestyle change or altering sleep patterns can make a huge improvement, but this doesn’t mean you can’t have Botox® treatments to accompany other solutions. If you suffer with migraines, or if your headaches are caused by teeth grinding, we will most likely be able to treat you. However, we will check your medical history beforehand, to ensure there are no contraindications, which would prevent the use of Botox®, such as pregnancy or breast feeding. Once we are happy that a treatment with Botox® will be safe for you to undergo and will be beneficial for you, you can book your appointment for treatment.
Depending on whether you suffer with headaches due to bruxism or experience migraines will determine where the Botox® injections are placed. For migraines and chronic headaches not caused by teeth grinding, the injections are placed at what we might call ‘trigger points’. These areas include your forehead, temples and the back of your head and neck. For teeth grinding and jaw clenching, the injections will most likely be placed in to the masseter (jaw) muscles. As there is very little discomfort during this procedure, a pre-treatment anaesthetic is rarely required. There is no clinical downtime, following a Botox® treatment and therefore, you can return to work or your daily activities, as long as you follow the aftercare instructions, offered by your practitioner.
You should start to notice that your headaches ease within 2 to 3 weeks. They can even start to disperse within a few days. Results can last up to 6 months and you will probably know when it is time to return to the clinic for another treatment, when you notice that your symptoms are beginning to return.
