From a new study presented at the Plastic Surgery 2009 conference follows that Botox (now not only just a wrinkle fighter) may have indications as a pain medication to fight Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
Between 5 and 26 people out of every 100,000 have their lives considerably disrupted by some form of chronic pain. Traditionally, treatments for the nervous system-based pain disorder have included massage, physiotherapy, stretching and strengthening exercises, and heat/cold therapy. Despite those, many patients often continue to experience disruptive pain.
The study found injecting Botox into the area affected by pain provides significant pain control. Eight patients suffering from cruel pain received an average of nine injections - one every four weeks. All of patients reported a noteworthy improvement (31.25%) in their daily pain control that was maintained for up to 17 months.
According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) statistics more than 5 million Botox injections were performed in 2008. Botox injections are up 8 percent since 2007 and 537 percent since 2000.
Also Botox, being popular anti-wrinkle treatment, can ease writer's cramp. Writer's cramp describes the painful involuntary, spasmodic muscle contractions of the fingers, hand, or arm during writing. But it can also occur during other manual tasks.
Some people learn to write with their other hand, but in one of four cases the condition affects both hands, and the condition is difficult to treat. It affects around three to seven in every 100,000 people. Relaxation techniques, hypnosis, biofeedback, acupuncture, and writing re-education exercises have all been used, but none of these brings constant relief. And there is as yet no effective drug treatment.
Forty people with writer's cramp were randomly assigned to a course of injections containing either botulinum toxin (Botox) or a model substitute in two doses, usually into two muscles, over a period of 12 weeks. Of the 20 people given Botox treatment, 14 (70%) said that their condition had significantly improved, and that they wished to continue treatment. Their improvement was confirmed using validated disability and pain scales. Only six of the 19 people in the model group felt that their condition had improved. One person dropped out of the trial. One person who received the dummy injection at the first session and Botox at the second, also registered an improvement in symptoms.
After a year, half of the trial participants were still receiving Botox injections, and were finding them helpful. Side effects included mild and temporary muscle weakness and pain at the injection site. Symptom relief lasted from three to 18 months, with an average symptom free period of four and a half months.
Having such advantages in medicine, soon we might get Botox in usual drug store. Until that let Botox fight our wrinkles and make us more beautiful.
