Other Botox Uses
Many people know Botox as a cosmetic injection that can reduce facial
wrinkles and improve a youthful appearance. However, the drug actually
has several other medicinal uses. In fact, Botox was originally used as
a medical treatment, not a cosmetic procedure.
One of the top non-cosmetic uses of Botox is the relief of excessive
sweating, known as hyperhidrosis, which affects some 10% of all people.
Botox carries fewer risks than other, usually surgical, treatments for
this condition. The most common locations for Botox anti-sweating
injections are the armpits, hands, feet, and back. Just as Botox makes
it harder for muscles on the face to move, thus hiding wrinkles, it also
inhibits the nerves that cause the body to activate sweat glands.
Botox is also notable for its ability to relieve muscle spasm
disorders by temporarily paralyzing certain muscles. In fact, Botox was
used for this even before it became a cosmetic treatment. The conditions
the drug is most commonly used for include overactive muscle responses,
like eye twitching and jaw spasms. It can even help reduce symptoms of
multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, which are known to cause
muscular control problems. Another Botox treatment is for cervical
dystonia, which involves irregular twitching of the muscles in the head
and neck.
Botox has also been used to treat migraine headaches by injecting it
directly into the head at various points. This lessens the severity of
headaches for up to four months. Such treatment works because Botox
blocks nerve impulses, specifically those that result in pain messages
being sent to the head. Additionally, by reducing muscle tension, Botox
also helps with tension-related headaches.
Botox can even treat bladder disorders like incontinence and
overactive bladder syndrome. During a simple outpatient procedure, Botox
is injected into the bladder at various sites. However, this is not a
permanent fix and additional injections are often needed.
Although still in the early stages of study, Botox for back pain may
be a viable treatment in the very near future. In a recent study, Botox
injections in the back helped 73% of people who reported chronic lower
back pain. Other uses for this drug include relief from prostate
disorders. Men with an enlarged prostate have also found relief using
Botox, which can relax the area and help return the region to a normal
size. Botox also helps with TMJ, which is a tensing of the jaw muscles.
It relieves such tension and, subsequently, the discomfort associated
with the disorder. Additionally, some speech impediments can be
corrected by injecting Botox into the larynx.
In most cases, medical uses for Botox are not covered by insurance.
However, some medical procedures may be approved depending upon the
provider. Also, there are more reported Botox side effects with these
types of uses than with basic cosmetic procedures. However, this is to
be expected given the severity of some of the disorders treated.
Ultimately, though, Botox should be considered in a wide range of
medical uses and is a seeming “miracle” drug due to its ability to
resolve such a plethora of issues. |
