If you get bad headaches called chronic migraines, you know they can upend your life. In addition to a throbbing headache, migraine can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and visual and hearing problems. A simple treatment called botulinum toxin (Botox) for migraines may provide relief.
Botox for migraines is a series of small injections in the head or neck that you get a few times a year. Injecting botulinum toxin into targeted muscles relaxes them and stops pain signals from reaching the brain. This can prevent migraine headaches.
Summit Orthopedics spine specialists offer Botox injections for migraines at locations throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Our experts are ready to help you take back control from migraine symptoms.
How Botox Helps Migraines
Botox treatments can stop migraines before they start. Experts are still working to understand exactly how the medication does this. One likely possibility is that the medication enters special nerve cells in your muscles that feel pain. The medication may turn these pain sensors off, blocking them from sending signals to the brain.
The benefits of injectables for migraines include:
- A better quality of life
- Fewer migraines
- Less severe symptoms
Who Is a Candidate for Migraine Injections?
If you get frequent migraines, your medical provider may prescribe medications that can help prevent them. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, beta blockers and others. If these treatments don’t work, Botox for headaches may be a good option.
Your medical provider may prescribe migraine injections if you meet certain rules. You must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have chronic migraines with at least 15 headache days per month
- Have headaches that last at least four hours each headache day
To get the full benefit of Botox for your migraines, you’ll start with two sets of shots, 12 weeks apart. After that, you’ll get the injections every 12 weeks, or as often as your medical provider tells you. On average, this migraine treatment stops about eight or nine headache days each month.
What to Expect
Before your first shot, it can be helpful to keep a headache diary. This can help you keep track of how many headache days you have and when you use medicine to control them. After your Botox injections, you can keep writing in the diary to see if the treatment is working.
During Treatment
At the medical provider’s office, you’ll get many shots that use tiny needles. The provider will inject botulinum toxin into your forehead and the side and back of your head. The shots may sting a little, but it won’t last long. You can sit or lie down during the treatment, which only takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Risks of Botox for Migraines
Most people do well with migraine injections. Like many treatments, though, there may be downsides.
For example, your symptoms may get worse for a short time before improving. If you take other migraine medicine, you can use it to help with this. Rarely, the botulinum toxin can spread to other parts of the body and cause problems like blurry vision.
Common side effects of Botox for migraines include:
- Eyelid or eyebrow sagging
- Neck weakness
- Pain or bruising at the injection sites
- Shoulder weakness
Aftercare and Recovering from Migraine Injections
After the treatment, you can go back to work or your usual schedule. Like many people, though, you may want to spend the remainder of the day resting. Don’t lie down for the first three or four hours after your shots. Also, don’t rub the injection sites for the first 24 hours.
For the first 24 hours after your injections, avoid intense exercise, such as running. This helps the botulinum toxin absorb into the muscles and not move somewhere else. Also, don’t wash your hair or skin near the injection site for 24 hours to give the medication time to absorb.
If you don’t feel a difference in your headaches after the first treatment, don’t worry. You might not feel the effects of Botox treatment until after your second set of shots. Track your symptoms in your headache diary so you can talk about them with your medical provider at your next appointment. Once Botox starts working, the effects usually last for about two and a half months.
Botox for Migraines at Summit Orthopedics
At Summit Orthopedics, we know ongoing pain, including frequent migraines, can affect every part of your life. We will take the time to not just understand the cause of your symptoms, but also learn how they affect your daily functioning and ability to enjoy your favorite activities. That approach is why the National Committee for Quality Assurance recognized us for our patient-centered care. It’s also an approach that will help us design a personalized treatment plan for you that may include Botox injections. Together, we’ll find a path to symptom relief.
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care, including Botox for migraines.
Find your Summit Orthopedics spine care expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
