Botox Injections Can Help Reduce Chronic Neck and Cervical Muscle Pain

A new study shows that Botox injections can help make certain pains in the neck and shoulders less severe. The study also showed that those who received botox injections had less frequent headaches.

A study presented at the Anesthesiology 2012™ annual meeting revealed Botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX) injections significantly improve pain and quality of life in people with chronic bilateral posterior neck and shoulder myofascial pain syndrome.

Traditional therapies for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome include medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen), steroids and muscle relaxants, physical therapy and behavioral modification.

"At best, long-term benefit with traditional therapies is transient and unpredictable," said Andrea L. Nicol, M.D., M.S., Director of Research -- UCLA Pain Management Center, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Anesthesiology -- Division of Pain Management, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "Even with these treatments, some people with myofascial pain syndrome get incomplete benefit or no benefit at all."

BOTOX is used commercially to treat multiple painful medical conditions, including migraine headaches, spasticity and cervical dystonia. It is also used cosmetically as a means of reducing the appearance of frown lines and wrinkles.

"BOTOX is in a class of medications called neurotoxins and when injected into muscles, blocks the nerve signals that cause the tightening of muscle, leading to muscle relaxation. Thus, BOTOX may offer advantages over traditional therapies for myofascial pain syndrome due to its prolonged and sustained effects," Dr. Nicol confirmed.

About the Study

The study was conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles by Chronic Pain Management Specialists F. Michael Ferrante, M.D. and Andrea Nicol, M.D. All subjects who enrolled in the study were given injections of BOTOX into the painful muscles of the neck and shoulder area during the first phase of the study. Subjects with significant improvement to BOTOX treatment moved on to the second phase of the study and were randomized into two groups. Subjects in the treatment group had BOTOX injections into the painful muscles of the neck and shoulder area. Subjects in the control group received a placebo injection (salt water) into the painful muscles of the neck and shoulder.

Those enrolled in the study were monitored intermittently to assess their response to the injections. Pain scales and questionnaires were administered to document response and perform data analysis.

Analysis of the results revealed subjects who received BOTOX injections had:

• A significantly greater reduction of their pain scores compared to those subjects who had received placebo injections.
• A significant reduction in the number of headaches they experienced on a weekly basis.
  • The severity of the subjects' headaches (numerical pain score rating) was reduced.
• A significant reduction in the interference of their pain with regards to general activity, sleep and enjoyment, indicating an overall improved quality of life.

Given the findings of this study, BOTOX may be an option for those who have been suffering with myofascial pain syndrome and have yet to find relief with traditional therapies.

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Black mamba venom for migraines?

"Mambalgins"! I like it. JR


A study by French scientists showed that black mamba venom and venom from other poisonous creatures could work effectively as a painkiller for migraines without the harmful side effects of other painkillers.

A team of French scientists has found that black mamba venom, which is considered to be among nature’s most deadly toxins, is a highly effective painkiller that won’t cause the troublesome side effects of opiates.

The journal Nature published research today that outlines how proteins in the toxic venom called mambalgins tested as effectively as morphine in lab mice. It also lacks properties that would cause addiction, cognitive dulling, headaches, and other a number of other undesirableconditions.

“Mambalgins are not toxic in mice but show a potent analgesic effect upon central and peripheral injection that can be as strong as morphine. This effect is, however, resistant to naloxone, and mambalgins cause much less tolerance than morphine and no respiratory distress,” the report states.

Black mamba venom isn’t the only toxin that’s being developed for managing pain. Toxins from snakes, spiders, and even scorpions are being evaluated as potential cure alls for our aches and pains. Bee stings are already being used to treat arthritis. Here are some examples:

Johnson & Johnson and Australia’s University of Queensland are partnering on a drug that uses peptides found in spider venom to treat chronic pain; Canadian’s Wex Phamanceuticals has built its company around puffer fish poison; and cobra venom has been found to ease arthritis pain. Israeli researchers are evaluating scorpions as a potential source for non opiate painkillers.

Having so many alternatives could be a prescription against the substance abuse and crime that’s associated with today’s mainline drugs. Painkiller abuse is rapidly becoming an epidemic across the United States, and now accounts for more annual deaths than cocaine and heroin overdoses.

Having safer, effective alternative available for people who really need it is desirable - even if the new drugs are pricier. It is worth asking whether the added cost of a brand name drug vs. generic opiates would surpass the harm that prescription drug addiction is inflicting upon people and society.

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