How and why does Botox work to prevent migraine?

[Pattipan]

I watched the "Trust me I'm a doctor" segment on this with great interest but didn't really get an answer to my question.

[Juliapester3]

Hi pattipan, I have had Botox (which was successful in reducing migrine) so then went onto have subsequent migraine surgery to remove my corrugator muscles (these are above your eyebrows). When I now have migraine my eye area just gets tight but the migraine now runs up my neck and back of head and I still get all the symptoms so not a success for me. The consultant I saw told me that Botox works by freezing certain muscles that surround the nerves which create the pain during an attack ( I think these are trigemenal nerves) I think Botox helps to decrease the pain but doesn't actually prevent the attack from happening. I,m obviously no Dr and speaking from my own personal experience. If you,ve not had Botox before its worth a try, even if it reduces the meds you have to take?

[teadrinker]

I don't know either. I have botox at the pain clinic for chronic pain but it helps my migraine headaches. I've been told that they're not entirely sure how it works. From my smattering of very rusty biology I think it may have something to do with stopping the nerve endings from firing which in turn relaxes muscles. But don't quote me on that.

From my own experience it doesn't stop my migraines - I also have the type without headaches and it has no impact on those at all. I had my last dose in September and have had several migraines since but the headaches have been so vague and brief that I've not needed medication. Until this week. Which has been horrendous again, with pain all down my left side and lots of medication required over several days.

I am hoping this is just a blip. It sometimes happens like this and then I go back to tiny headaches or none at all for weeks. What I don't understand is how sometimes the effects of the botox can be over-ruled by my stupid brain. But I know that if I didn't have botox I'd be much worse off.

[Gambit62]

The best consultant I ever saw once told me that there were lots of theories about what causes migraines but no one was entirely sure and no one was entirely sure what would stop them - there were just observations that some things seemed to stop them.

I liked and respected him for his honesty - he's retired now.

Sometimes medicine is more of an art than a science.

However, I suspect that the theory behind botox is linked to the theory that migraines are caused by spasms in blood vessels and the botox basically paralyses the area so the spasms don't happen ... however, like everyone else that has responded, I'm not a medic ...