In our clinic, we use Botox for various indications, as it has been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of chronic migraine, cervical dystonia, hemifacial spasm, blepharospasm, spasticity, and a few rarer indications such as sialorrhea and trigeminal neuralgia.
Botox injections for some of these conditions (headaches, blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm) are almost painless. We use a 32g needle (really tiny) that most patients don’t even feel, and the whole procedure is done in less than a minute.
Botox injections for some of the other procedures (spasticity, dystonia) is done using electrical stimulation guidance (e-stim), to ensure we are in the right muscle before injecting. You will likely feel the muscle twitch when we are in it, which will also give you confidence that we are targeting the right muscle.
Generally speaking, Botox injections are thought to be very safe. Like any procedure, there is always the risk of bleeding, infection, nerve or spinal cord damage but these are very low. A specific risk with Botox in the headache & neck region involves cosmetic effects, like a droopy eyelid. The risk of systemic side effects from Botox is very low, however dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), neck pain, and allergic reactions have been described.
Providing specialized neurological and pain management care with a patient-centered approach. Dr. Sader combines clinical expertise with compassionate care to help patients achieve optimal health outcomes.
