A migraine headache is a chronic neurological disorder, where patients usually have a throbbing pain on one side of the head. This could be accompanied by distorted vision, numbness, tingling, difficulty speaking and nausea. Patients usually have troubles focusing and functioning once an episode starts.
Although it is an easy remedy, relying on painkillers offers only a temporary solution for patients who are looking for ways that would help them live more comfortably. However, thankfully there is an alternative method being used to help headache pain which is known as Botox. However there are some side effects of Botox.
Background
The botulinum toxin, also widely known as Botox, has been one of the most popular treatments for ageing, wrinkles and fine lines. However, what started to happen is that people who got these injections in order to smooth out the wrinkles in their foreheads and temples also noticed that their migraines had significantly improved. This opened up the doors to more “off-label” uses.
However, it’s best to not get too excited, just yet. Before you jump onto booking your next treatment, there are a few things that you need to know about the aftereffects.
Side Effects of Botox
Firstly, it needs to be noted that this treatment offers only a small to modest improvement for chronic migraines. While this could be enough for you to give it a try, it is important for you to understand that it is not a permanent cure.
What is also important to note upfront is that you will also have to repeat the injections 2 or 3 times over a period of 6 to 9 months in order to see some sort of improvement. That being said, it is critical to understand what the treatment really involves, and to read some reviews before undergoing this type of treatment.
To give you an idea of the side effects of Botox that you can expect, here is a list of common ones:
1. Heavy Head
One of the side effects of Botox is that it basically weakens the muscles it penetrates. This means that the other surrounding muscles will have to do double the job. A lot of people experience heaviness in the forehead or temples; where the injection has been administered. This muscles stiffness can actually cause a headache.
However, it has been noted that this type of headache is not nearly as severe as the migraines that it is being used to treat.
2. Ptosis
With a injection of botulism into the forehead, the whole surrounding area is most likely going to get affected. Patients usually experience droopy eyes where their eyes actually appear smaller. This gives the face a tired or strained look; as if the person is not able to open up their eyes properly.
Unfortunately, this is just a result of injecting this substance into your muscles, which makes it essential to work with a qualified and registered medical professional.
3. Neck Pain
This is one of the most common aftereffects. People who receive these injections for migraines usually have stiff necks and pain in the upper back area. This means that they will probably face difficulty focusing on a screen or tilting their heads.
However, some patients will willingly accept this sort of discomfort if it could relieve some of the migraine pain that they have to deal with day in day out. It also might help to do some therapies to relieve this kind of muscle strain, for example, a massage.
4. Flu-like Symptoms
People, who get this treatment either to fix their forehead lines or to help them cope with their migraines, usually feel a bit off afterwards. In some cases, they experience some flu-like symptoms where they feel a bit dizzy and off-balance. Some side effects of Botox that have been reported from patients also include some blurry or double vision, while others report having dry eyes.
As you are getting a toxin injected into your forehead(1), it’s to be expected that there will be some effects surrounding this area. This makes it even more important to consult a reputable medical professional and understand all the risks involved.
Conclusion
Thankfully, not all aftereffects are not permanent.
Nevertheless, as we mentioned above, getting any potential health problems should be considered before going down this route. For example, these kinds of injections could be used as an assessment tool to see if the patient is more likely going to benefit from a migraine surgery.
Although this kind of treatment is relatively expensive, it is considered to be a high-cost/high-benefit option. However, as with any kind of medical procedure, patients should spend some time weighing the pros against the cons before they make such a decision, and consider all the risks involved.
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