How to Get Safe Botox Treatment for Migraine Headaches

Botox (botulinum toxin A) is a migraine treatment and prevention used by doctors. Migraines are an extremely painful and debilitating type of headache. Treatment can be evasive for many sufferers. Botox injections cause small paralysis of the muscles and is usually injected bilaterally across the forehead and cheekbones, and down the back of the neck depending on the type of migraines and presenting symptoms. Chronic migraine sufferers are often desperate. Make sure to take an active role in your care to prevent further injury especially if you have other medical conditions.

Instructions

• 1

  Research the effectiveness of Botox on migraines. It is not a cure and only works for about 2-4 months before the patient will need future injections, so this isn't a one time shot (no pun intended). A lot of the research says it's very helpful and has no side effects. Look for personal accounts from migraine sufferers who were treated with injections. Drug companies will list the possible side effects and the doctors will likely say the injections "aren't that bad" but they don't have to live with the result.

• 2

  Question your doctor about his/her experience using Botox as a migraine prevention. Ask how long he or she has been using this method to treat migraines and how much success other patients have had with it. Find out if this is your doctor's latest income. Doctors are making patients wait for months while they gather information so they can petition Medicare for the coverage of Botox injections for migraines. Treatments needs to be tailored to the patient so be cautious of a doctor who immediately suggested injections, unless this is the purpose of seeing the specific doctor.

• 3

  Disclose all medical concerns related to your neck, head, collarbone, and shoulders. Sometimes there are underlying cervical disorders, Arthritis, rotator cuff injuries, Tendonitis, spinal conditions or other medical problems that can be causing or exacerbating your migraines. It's important to give a doctor a complete picture of your migraines and your health in general.

• 4

  If you have a Botox injection keep a journal with your post-injection symptoms. The doctor's goal is to reduce the frequency of migraines. There's likely to be some injection site pain and neck weakness. Document this carefully. If you have other medical conditions the muscle weakness can create secondary problems, so even though your migraines might decrease you now have pain in another area. Watch for this!

• 5

  Be proactive in your health care. If you don't feel good after after your first Botox injection talk to your doctor. In some cases Botox injections can worsen your physical health by shifting the muscle structure of neck and shoulders. Reporting your symptoms is the best way to prevent injury from Botox injections.