Botox for Migraines

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If you suffer from migraines, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that around 6 million people in the UK suffer from them, with approximately 190,000 migraine attacks occurring every day. A migraine differs from a headache and is much more severe and can often be painful and debilitating. It is typically felt at the front or on one side of the head.

What Are The Symptoms?

There are several types of migraines, but recognising the symptoms may help you to manage the pain before it fully sets in.

Before a migraine with an aura, you may notice warning signs such as seeing flashing lights or spots, changes in vision, stiff neck and limbs, and/or a sensitivity to smell and sound.

The most common type of migraine develops without an aura or any warning signs. You can also develop a silent migraine where the symptoms occur, but a headache does not develop.

It’s a common misconception that people who suffer from migraines experience them frequently. While some can experience them several times a week, others might not have one for years.

People who suffer continuously may struggle to cope with their normal daily social and working life. Research has found that sufferers are more likely to experience anxiety and depression.

Who It Can Affect

Migraines tend to affect women more often than men, with 1 in 5 women experiencing them compared to 1 in 15 men. They usually occur in younger adults, below the age of 40.

Causes

Migraines are still somewhat of an enigma in terms of why they occur; however, certain factors are believed to trigger them. For many women, fluctuations in hormones can cause a migraine – this can happen around the time of a period, pregnancy, contraceptive related changes, and also around the time of menopause. After menopause they may improve because the levels of estrogen decrease.

Stress is a common trigger in addition to anxiety, shock and depression.

A stuffy, smoky, noisy or hot room, bright lights, and loud noises can trigger a migraine due to overstimulation. Try to avoid looking at a bright monitor, tablet or mobile phone when possible, as well as taking yourself away from noisy or stressful environments.

Dehydration can cause a migraine, so ensure you stay well hydrated and avoid alcohol and highly caffeinated products as they act as a diuretic. Foods like chocolate, acidic fruits and cheese can also trigger the onset of a migraine.

A lack of sleep, your working and social environment, and poor posture can all be triggers.

Treatment Options

If you experience at least five migraines throughout one month and it hasn’t yet responded to preventative measures or drug treatment, then you may be a suitable candidate for Botox to treat them. The substance works as a muscle relaxant to alleviate the disabling pain. In clinical trials conducted in 1992, patients reported a significant relief to the migraine after the injections and significant decrease in frequency.

Botox For Severe Headaches

Botox injections are temporary, so you will need to follow up appointments every 6-9 months and results can take up to two weeks before they are noticed. The injections will not provide an aesthetic result of treating wrinkles and lines. A series of approximately 30 injections are carefully administered into points on the forehead, temples, neck, bridge of the nose, back of the head, and the upper shoulders and back.

What Does The Treatment Involve?

The process begins with a consultation where we will discuss your reason for treatment and determine whether you are a suitable candidate.

The practitioner will make a series of injections to administer the substance. We can apply a topical anaesthetic to minimise discomfort. The unit will vary depending on the size of the area and the severity of the concern. You may feel a very slight scratch as the injections enter the skin.

In some cases, the nurse may inject a lower dosage than initially expected – this is standard practice when treating forehead wrinkles, particularly if you have a small forehead. It is essential to assess how your muscles react to the treatment to avoid eyebrow or eyelid drooping. Your nurse will discuss a follow-up appointment to administer the rest of the Botox.

How Does The Treatment Work?

The nurse or doctor will make a series of injections surrounding pain fibres that cause the headaches into the nerve endings. By blocking these nerve endings, it interferes with the chemicals that the brain associates with pain.

When Can I Expect Results?

Botox for migraines can take a few weeks to start working, and you may experience a migraine in the meantime. You may require a top-up Botox session that the nurse or Doctor would repeat around three months after your initial Botox treatment.

Is There Any Downtime?

No, there is no downtime, but you may experience slight bruising at the injection site.