BOTOX THERAPY FOR NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS

BOTOX is injected into dystonia patients with the goal of reducing the spams and ridding the body of pain associated with the condition. Botox injections can reduce a multitude of facial spasms, urinary retention, limb spasticity, stuttering and other problems affecting vocalization.

Because new nerve endings are generated, reviving the spasms, injections must be administered every 3 to 4 months. Also, injecting Botox into various places on the head and neck every 3 months has been known to decrease chronic migraines. In addition to follow up treatments every 3 to 4 months, therapy is usually undertaken by patients to stretch and restore normal muscle function.

Since 2010, BOTOX has been FDA approved and proven to help treat the many forms of dystonia. BOTOX therapy is a safe and effective treatment when given in very small amounts and performed by a qualified neurologist.

• Blepharospasm: Forceful involuntary closure of the eyelids

• Strabismus: Misalignment of the eyes

• Hemifacial spasm: Sudden contraction of the muscles on one side of the face

• Spasmodic torticollis (cervical dystonia): Muscle spasms in the neck that cause the head to turn to one side, and sometimes forward or backward

• Oromandibular dystonia: Continuous spasms of the the face, jaw, neck, tongue larynx, and in severe cases, the respiratory system

• Urinary retention: severe inability to urinate that requires catheterization

• Spasmodic dysphonia: Spasm of the vocal cords that causes sudden disruption of speech

• Stuttering: Repetitions of parts of words and whole words, long pauses, elongated sounds

• Voice tremor: Quavering vocalization

• Limb spasticity: (e.g., following stroke)

Some patients may experience temporary weakness in the group of muscles being treated. For example, ptosis (drooping eyelid) can develop after treating blepharospasm. The most common side effects include swelling or bruising at the injection site, headache, or flu-like symptoms. If the injections are not placed correctly, the medication may spread into adjacent tissues and cause problems such as drooping eyelid, cockeyed eyebrows, crooked smile, dry eye or excessive tearing.

 Our wellness doctor will need to know if you’ve received any type of BOTOX injections within the past 4 months, and if you are taking blood thinners, you may need to forgo these medications for several days before injection therapy is performed in order to reduce the risk of bleeding or bruising. We’ll also need to know if you take muscle relaxants, sleeping aids, or allergy medications.

Most patients are able to tolerate the injection discomfort well, however some request that their skin be numbed beforehand. There are several options for this, such as:

• Injections: The doctor can inject a numbing medication into the skin.

• Cream: A prescription cream can be applied to the site of injection 60 to 90 minutes before the procedure.

• Cold spray: A blast of very cold air is directed at the skin for about 10 seconds. The numbness only lasts long enough for the BOTOX injection to be made.