Botox For Pain

By Dr. Ben Wall, M.D.

As a physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, I constantly strive to uncover the latest and most effective therapies for reducing or eliminating pain. The use of Botox (botulinum toxin A) injections for the treatment of pain is one of the most exciting and innovative developments in recent years.

Most people are aware of the cosmetic applications for Botox; however, it is not widely known that Botox has been used for other conditions. As a rehab provider I have personally treated stroke and brain injury patients with Botox injections, thus witnessing the life-changing results Botox has provided these patients. As I move forward in providing Botox injections for my patients suffering from incapacitating pain from muscle spasm, I have been pleased to observe the same overwhelming results.

Here is how Botox injections work. Botox blocks the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine creating a disruption in the signals from the nerves to the muscle. The result of this process is the local elimination of muscle contractions. By manipulating these processes to control muscle spasms, pain resulting from the muscle spasm can be significantly reduced or eliminated.

A Retrospective Study by the Pain and Evaluation Treatment Center in Tulsa, OK, found that 70% of patients with myofascial pain in the back and extremities who received Botox injections over a two-year period reported good to excellent pain relief lasting 2.5 to 3.6 months. This finding is consistent with my experience that most patients will need a follow-up injection approximately every 3-4 months for continued pain relief.

Additional studies have found that low back pain can be safely and effectively treated with Botox injections even when the patient has experienced no relief through conventional therapy. Studies have proven Botox injections to be superior and longer lasting than traditional steroid therapy, as well. In addition, Botox injections have proven effective in the treatment of headache, neck, back and shoulder pain.

Funding through most insurance companies requires preauthorization, however Medicare will provide coverage for Botox injections as a treatment for pain in the appropriate circumstances.

As with any therapy, there should always be a physician consultation to ensure that one is an appropriate candidate for a Botox injection