Botox

Shamloo Elite Spine and Pain Institute

Ben Shamloo, MD FIPP

Interventional Spine & Pain Management located in Los Angeles, CA & Studio City, CA

Botox® isn’t just good for taking years off your face – it can also help treat chronic pain problems like migraine and muscle spasms. If you have a chronic pain problem, interventional pain management expert Ben Shamloo, MD, FIPP, of Shamloo Elite Spine and Pain Institute in Beverly Hills, California, can help using medical Botox and other advanced treatments. Even when your pain hasn’t responded to other therapies, Dr. Shamloo can offer you hope, so call today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.

Botox Q & A

What is Botox®?

Botox is a form of neurotoxin best known for its cosmetic role in smoothing out facial lines and wrinkles. However, medical Botox has been around even longer and is an effective solution for some forms of chronic pain.

Botox comes from the botulinum toxin, a naturally occurring poison that causes paralysis. In its refined form, Botox is safe when used by an experienced, qualified provider like Dr. Shamloo.

Botox works by disrupting the chemical signals sent between nerve endings and the muscles they control. It acts on a substance called acetylcholine, blocking it from delivering the nerve’s message to the muscle. This helps soft tissues relax and can reduce pain as well as improve movement in the affected area.

What conditions can Botox treat?

Botox is useful for treating several chronic pain conditions, including:

Chronic muscle spasms

Chronic muscle spasms occur when the muscle fibers tighten painfully. They can develop because of injury but are often due to chronic irritation or overuse of certain muscles.

Cervical dystonia

Also known as spasmodic torticollis, cervical dystonia causes uncontrollable twisting movements of the head and neck.

Migraine headaches

Migraines are severe headaches that also cause nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. They can be so bad that you might be unable to function while in the grip of a migraine.

Myofascial pain

Myofascial pain comes from the fascia, which are connective tissues surrounding your muscles.

What does Botox treatment involve?

Dr. Shamloo delivers your Botox treatment by injection. Within a week, you should be feeling a reduction in pain. Most patients get around three months of pain relief after an injection. After this time, the muscles can start spasming again, so you need another Botox treatment. That works out to an average of four injections per year.

Botox is safe to use long-term and retains its effectiveness over time. Having physical therapy as well as Botox for chronic pain can enhance the effects of Botox treatments. This combination can be so successful that, in time, you might no longer need the Botox injections.

Call Shamloo Elite Spine and Pain Institute today to find out more, or book an appointment online.