Botox

Botox is now being utilized for pudendal neuralgia.. The same general theory is applied when using Botox for pelvic pain. With pudendal neuralgia, if the nerve is inflammed and/or entrapped, it may cause muscle spasms, which then continually impinge on the pudendal nerve, never giving it a chance to fully recover. With Botox, the nerve has an opportunity to recover, as it will stop any muscle contractions. There are different areas that Botox is now being used for pudendal neuralgia. Different pelvic floor muscle groups like piriformis, obturator internus and even more recently, Botox into the Alcock's canal. Most injections are done under guidance, so that they can directly hit the muscle groups that they are trying to target.

Botox article by D r. Gajraj - Dr. Noor Gajraj has been helping people with pelvic floor and PNE-type symptoms by administering Botox injections.  Dr. Gajraj has published this article which explains the Botox injection technique that he uses. 

What is Botox

Botox® is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. In this way, Botox® is related to botulism. Botulism is a form of food poisoning that occurs when someone eats something containing a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin A is one of the neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum.

The most serious symptom of botulism is paralysis, which in some cases has proven to be fatal. The botulinum toxins (there are seven -- types are A through G) attach themselves to nerve endings. Once this happens, acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, cannot be released. A series of proteins, VAMP syntaxin and SNAP-25, are essential for the release of acetylcholine. Certain botulinum toxins attack these proteins. Botulinum toxin A (Botox) affects the SNAP-25.

Basically, the botulinum toxins block the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. Say, for example, it attacks the muscles in your chest -- this could have a profound impact on your breathing. When people die from botulism, this is often the cause -- the respiratory muscles are paralyzed so it’s impossible to breathe.

A good candidate for Botox would be someone whom has tried different techniques such as physical therapy, which provided no long term relief.

Botox in the Body

After the botulinum toxin is injected into the affected muscle(s), the spasms or contractions are reduced or eliminated altogether. The effects of the treatment are not permanent, reportedly lasting anywhere from three to eight months. By injecting the toxin directly into a certain muscle or muscle group, the risk of it spreading to other areas of the body is greatly diminished. Other applications for Botox® are currently under investigation. It has been reported that spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder that affects the muscles of the larynx, responds well to Botox® treatment.

Botox® (botulinum toxin type A) is successfully used to treat blepharospasm, strabismus, and cervical dystonia -- these are all conditions that in some way involve , involuntary muscle contractions.

Botulinum toxin type A side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects, some of which can occur up to several weeks after an injection:

trouble breathing, talking, or swallowing;

unusual or severe muscle weakness (especially in a body area that was not injected with the medication);

problems with vision or depth perception;

severe skin rash or itching; or

chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, general ill feeling.

Less serious side effects may include:

muscle weakness near where the medicine was injected;

bruising, bleeding, pain, or tenderness where the injection was given;

headache, muscle stiffness, neck or back pain;

fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, flu symptoms,

dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety;

dry mouth, dry eyes;

increased sweating