This week 4 studies presented at the American Headache Society’s (AHS) 14th International Headache Congress present evidence that regular botox (botulinum toxin type A) injections into the muscles of the head showed statistically significant reductions in the frequency of migraine headaches and as a result less headache related disability as well as significantly improved quality of life.
This is great news for chronic headache sufferers, especially those with migraines. We have long been advocates for the importance of reducing chronic tension in the muscles of the jaw, face, head, neck and shoulders as a way to reduce or eliminate chronic headaches. Since botox works by paralyzing muscles (this is why wrinkles are smoothed when botox is used cosmetically) why in the world would botox help anyone with chronic migraine headaches unless tight muscles were triggers for migraines? If muscles are not involved in triggering migraines paralyzing them with botox would have no effect at tall. According to Richard B. Lipton, MD (lead author of one study and Director of the Montefiore Headache Center in New York City) the results of using botox were “highly statistically significant and reflects clinically meaningful improvements in functioning and vitality, and a decrease in psychological distress.”
For so many years prevailing wisdom has been that muscle tightness has nothing to do with triggering migraine headaches and that migraine headaches were entirely a vascular (blood vessels in the head) event. But recently, studies like these are showing the importance that muscular triggers play in the triggering of migraine headaches. We think the results of these studies are great news because they help make the picture clearer. Getting rid of the myth that tight muscles are not involved in headaches is important. We have long advocated that headache sufferers (migraine, tension, mixed migraine/tension and persistent daily headaches) learn how to relax the muscle of the head and neck. Botox can’t be used to paralyze muscles that are necessary for chewing or turning the neck or lifting the arm but relaxation training works just fine to reduce and eliminate tension in any and all the muscles that trigger headaches. In over 30 years of teaching patients how to relax the muscles of their head, neck and shoulders with biofeedback we have seen 98% of those who eliminate chronic tension significantly reduce their headache frequency and severity. We also can truly say, just like Dr. Lipton, that those who learn how to reduce their muscle tension experience “meaningful improvements in functioning and vitality, and a decrease in psychological distress.”
If you suffer from frequent headaches start to pay attention to whether or not you can feel tension any muscle of your face, head, neck or shoulders. Unfortunately, this tension may be hard to feel at first but keep looking. Over time you will be able to tell when your muscles are tight and that is when you can start to do something about it.
Check out the details at:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164027.php
“Botulinum neurotoxin type A for treatment of chronic migraine: PREEMPT 1 trial double-blind phase”
Aurora SK et al
“Botulinum neurotoxin type A for treatment of chronic migraine: PREEMPT 2 trial double-blind phase”
Dodick DW et al
“Botulinum neurotoxin type A for treatment of chronic migraine: analysis of the PREEMPT chronic migraine subgroup with baseline acute headache medication overuse,” Silberstein SD et al.
“Botulinum neurotoxin type A treatment improves health-related quality of life and reduces the impact of chronic migraine: results from the double-blind phase of the PREEMPT clinical program,” Lipton RB et al.
