One patient who recently visited our migraine relief care clinic in MN had an interesting question: Are botox injections effective in relieving migraines? Migraines are a neurological condition that brings severe, disabling headaches. Botox injections, which are a popular component of cosmetic procedures, are now gaining popularity as an alternative migraine relief. But, is it the right route to migraine relief? Let’s consider the pros and cons of getting botox injections.
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Understanding Migraines
Migraines may begin in your childhood or early adulthood. Women are three times more likely to have migraines than men are. Hormone fluctuations and genetics are two of the many contributing factors to migraines.
Migraines are beyond headaches. There are two main categories of migraines:
- Common migraines (migraines without an aura)
- Classic migraines (migraines with an aura)
Migraines are known to give pounding, pulsating, and throbbing head pain. Patients often describe the pain as an intense aching feeling. It may begin mild but may become moderate to severe as it progresses. Most of the time, it affects only one side of the head and the forehead. However, it may also occur on both sides of the head, or even move position in some people.
Migraines can last anywhere between 4 hours to 3 days. If you experience an aura, a visual disturbance that serves as a warning sign before the migraine gets into full swing, the pain may overlap the aura or the head pain may not happen at all. A headache is actually just one symptom of a migraine. You can have a migraine and it’s various symptoms without having a headache.
4 Stages of a Migraine Episode and Their Symptoms
Prodrome Stage
Migraines tend to move through various stages. The first stage is the prodrome phase and may start one or two days before the other phases start. This phase can have the following symptoms:
- Hyperactivity
- Food cravings
- Irritability
- Low energy or tiredness
- Depression
- Neck stiffness
- Frequent yawning
Aura Stage
If you experience an aura with a migraine, this stage occurs next. This often comes with problems related to movement, vision, speech, and specific sensations, such as the following:
- A “pins and needles” feeling in your face, arms, and legs
- Seeing flashes of light, shapes, or bright spots
- Temporarily loss of vision
- Problems speaking clearly
Attack Stage
The worst stage for most people is the attack stage. Migraine pain occurs in this phase. The symptoms of this phase may join the aura phase, and they can persist for a few hours to many days. Symptoms vary from person to person, and sometimes with each migraine episode. These symptoms may include the following:
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Severe head pain that is throbbing or pulsing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased sensitivity to light, odor, and sound
Postdrome Stage
The postdrome phase comes after the migraine attack. It can cause changes in mood and feelings. Some people feel energetic and happy, while others feel lethargic or sleepy. Patients refer to this as the “migraine hangover,” and it can come with a dull, achy headache.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and migraines, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
Is Botox a Good Care Option for Migraines?
One interesting method to manage migraine pain today is through injections of Botox. Botox can help remove the appearance of wrinkles, and doctors also use it to treat other neurological disorders. Would botox injections be worth a try as a migraine medication?
According to the American Academy of Neurology, the use of botulinum toxin is safe when caring for spinal cord injuries, strokes, and migraines. In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration permitted the neurotoxin for use with migraines.
Pros of Using Botox Injections as Migraine Relief Care
The neurotoxin stops the release of substances at the tips of the nerves, which reduces muscle contractions and the pain signals relayed by the nerves. Blocking these pain signals can help you cope with migraines. Even better questions to ask are, do botox injections work? What are the side effects?
Botox serves as a last resort if other migraine relief options do not work out. Those with migraines for over 15 days a month are qualified for having Botox injections. Your doctor may inject Botox every three months. Each session may last for about 15 minutes. You will get several doses of Botox in various areas of your body, including in your temple, forehead, nose, neck, upper back, and back of your head. This is to reduce the severe headaches and other migraine symptoms. Some people need to undergo additional sessions as the first set of injections may not give immediate relief.
Cons of Using Botox Injections for Migraine Care
Complications due to Botox are rare, but they do occur. People often complain of stiffness and pain in the neck during the injection. You may also experience a headache afterward. It can be hard to keep your head upright as you may feel muscle weakness in your neck and upper shoulder, although they go away after a few days.
In extremely rare cases, the toxin can extend in other parts of the body, resulting in complications:
- Muscle weakness
- Droopy eyelids
- Vision changes
- Difficulty swallowing
A Natural Relief Care Alternative for Migraines
If you’re afraid of needles, you may want to consider a natural way that has been proven successful in relieving migraines for many years. Upper cervical chiropractors, including us here at Hejny Chiropractic in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, focus on the health of your upper cervical spine. In many cases, migraine pain originates from this area.
A study of migraines patients revealed an interesting finding. Each patient had a misalignment in the upper cervical spine, specifically in the atlas bone, the uppermost bone of the neck. After receiving upper cervical chiropractic care, all patients reported seeing a big improvement in their symptoms, and nearly all had their migraines disappear completely.
The adjustments we make here in our migraine relief care clinic in MN are gentle, and encourage the bones to realign more naturally. We use scientific measurements to perform corrections specific to each of our patients. Many patients end their suffering from migraines through this method, without the injections of Botox or the use of prescription drugs. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you find relief from your migraines.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hejny, call our Spring Lake Park office at 763-230-0116. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.