Relax Your Stiffened Muscles & Put an End to Involuntary Movements
Affecting an estimated 12 million people worldwide, spasticity causes muscle stiffness or tightness due to continuous muscle contractions. Spasticity is a caused by an imbalance between the signals that inhibit or stimulate the spinal cord, resulting in overexcited stretch reflexes, increased muscle tone and involuntary movements. As a muscle control disorder, spasticity often presents in patients with conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord (such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury or brain injury). Traditional spasticity treatment includes physical and occupational therapy, spinal casting and bracing, oral medications or local injections to isolate the muscles causing spasms and surgery.
A new therapy for treating spasticity uses BOTOX®, a neurotoxin that has commercially been used for cosmetic practices such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to its cosmetic uses, BOTOX is now FDA-approved to treat muscle stiffness in the elbow, wrist, finger, thumb, ankle and toe muscles of adults with upper limb spasticity. BOTOX for spasticity in multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy patients has not yet been FDA-approved but your healthcare provider can be consulted regarding its off-label use.
Whatever the related neurological or spinal condition you’re struggling with, spasticity can substantially reduce your quality of life, leading to sustained muscle discomfort which can interfere with mobility and inhibit your ability to perform daily activities. Arrest the root cause with BOTOX for spasticity. Schedule a consultation with a qualified surgeon in that specializes in BOTOX for spasticity management. Call (832) 532-0050 or contact us online.
Spasticity Symptoms & Long-Term Health Consequences
The brain sends messages to the muscles by a substance called acetylcholine, enabling them to contract and move. In cases of spasticity, these nerve pathways are interrupted or damaged. Symptoms of spasticity include:
- Muscle tightness
- Joint stiffness
- Involuntary, jerky movements and muscle spasms
- Abnormal posture or positioning of the fingers, wrists, arms or shoulders
- Involuntary crossing of the legs
- Difficulty controlling the muscles used to speak
- Pain in the affected muscles and joints
- Difficulty moving
Prolonged spasticity poses a particular risk, leading to frozen joints, pressure sores and the inability to function normally and possible loss of function to the ankles, elbows, shoulders and wrists.
BOTOX and Spasticity: How Does It Work?
As a nerve impulse blocker, BOTOX attaches to the nerve endings to prevent the release of chemical transmitters. Blocking the release of acetylcholine which triggers your stiffened muscles and spastic muscle movements, these abnormal functions are paralyzed, resulting in a relaxation of your overactive muscles.
BOTOX injections for spasticity can be administered in the comfort of your healthcare provider’s office and typically can be done in one visit which lasts about an hour. In a typical BOTOX session, your healthcare provider will determine which muscles need to be injected and then several injections will be performed to address all the affected muscles (since BOTOX doesn’t travel far beyond the injection site). To ensure proper injection, short, electrical impulses are sent through the needle used for the injection, making the muscle contract. BOTOX for spasticity usually takes effect a few days, and up to 2 weeks, after the injections and lasts between 2 to 6 months, gradually weaning off. However, it may take more than 1 treatment to experience spasticity symptomatic relief. Typically, injections are repeated every 3 months.
Relieve Your Muscle Tension and Involuntary Movement with BOTOX
BOTOX is frequently viewed as an effective form of treating spasticity which is well tolerated due to small amounts of medication inserted into the bloodstream. Spasticity causes many symptoms which can compromise your quality of life and possibly lead to irreparable consequences if not addressed. Schedule a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider in that specializes in BOTOX for spasticity management and reclaim your quality of life. Call (832) 532-0050 or contact us online.