British researchers have discovered a new way to use Botox. People diagnosed with Lateral Patellofemoral Overload Syndrome (LPOS), a condition that affects the muscles of the knee and thigh. It commonly affects cyclists, runners and other athletes. Also called patellofemoral pain sydrome, it is often categorized as an overuse injury. But the more appropriate term is ‘overload’ since the condition can also affect inactive individuals.

Hills, steps and uneven terrain tend to aggravate patellofemoral pain. When LPOS develops, even prolonged sitting can already be painful due to the increase in pressure between the femur and patella during knee flexing.

Symptoms of LPOS include a sharp localized pain and inflammation, which prevents runners, cyclists and athlete from continuing as it takes several day to recover. Experts estimate that one in eight active men and one in five active women have the symptoms of LPOS in varying degree.

Current treatment methods include the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, steroid injections and if all else fails, surgery. Still, despite all these treatment options, most patients reported reduced activity levels and persistent pain.

Knee pain can wreck even the most dedicated cyclist, making pedalling too painful especially on rough terrains or steep slopes. Although there are many holistic ways to alleviate knee pain, from getting a correct bike fit to stretching, medical treatment is still necessary.

Botox for Knee Pain

That is where Botox for knee pain comes in. Based on a recent study published by the American Journal of Sports Medicine, 45 patients with classified LPOS who failed to recover from conventional therapy were administered with Dysport, a type of Botulinum toxin injection, along with physiotherapy. The researchers noted that the patients had overused tensor fascia muscle in the hips rather than the gluteal muscles at the buttocks.

Researchers found out the reason why physiotherapy was not effective in the past – when the patients were performing exercises intended to ease the pain by strengthening the glutes, the tensor fascia lata muscle was still compensating, which concludes that the exercises have minimal effect.

Subjects first done physiotherapy alone but failed. Next, researchers used Dysport in the hip muscle to relax the tensor fascia lata to push the glute muscles to work harder. The Dysport treatment was followed up with physiotherapy to further strengthen the butt muscles.

Most athletes who participated in the study had exhausted all treatment options and Botox for knee pain was their last resort. Of the patients treated, almost 70 percent remained free of pain for five years after the experiment.
Although the research is an exciting new development for riders suffering from knee pain, it is worth to note that getting proper bike fit, appropriate muscle balance and sufficient recovery time can help your knee pain in control before considering Botox for knee pain.

Most people knew Botox as a drug that can eliminate wrinkles and facial lines to bring back youthful appearance. However, Botox can also help those suffering from excessive sweating, a condition known as hyperhidrosis.

Today, more and more people are getting Botox to control excessive sweating. Common areas include armpits, the palm of the hands, sole of the feet and even the scalp. And now, people are also getting Botox injections in their groin area too.

The groin area – the trough running from the hips where the genitals is situated, has folds that trap the belly skin and leg skin. This is the area where people, especially those obese, tend to trap a lot of moisture. The maker of Botox, Allergan, claims the toxin injection can block the nerve signals that stimulate sweat glands.

Excessive sweating in the groin area can cause problems, particularly if you are obese or overweight. People who are obese or overweight often have an overhang on the lower abdomen. For thin individuals, it is not an issue of concern since they would have less overhang of lower belly that can trap moisture or sweat.

Botox on Groin Area

Botox injections done for hyperhidrosis of the armpits is usually done between 4 to 6 months since that is how long Botox lasts. As for Botox on groin area, the coverage is about the same as the armpits. Discomfort that can experienced is minimal. In fact, it is more painful in the face than in groin area as the nerve density in the groin is less than on the face.

The injections of Botox on groin aren’t really big but they spread in multiple tiny injections. The reason for doing this is to fully cover the groin area. If you only inject one or two areas, it will be hard to disperse the medication.

As for the risks, the injections of Botox on groin area is very superficial. There should not be any risk as long as the person performing the procedure knows what he/she is doing. Also, the muscles in the groin area are huge, major muscles so the small amount of Botox administered in this area isn’t going to cause any harm.

One of the biggest benefits of Botox on groin area is that it can reduce the risk of developing fungal or yeast infections. Of course, Botox won’t prevent these infections because what it does is only reduce the wetness or moisture in that area. However, by reducing the moisture of the area and keeping the area drier, there is less chance yeast or fungi develop in the groin area.

Today, more and more men are jumping on the Botox bandwagon – and they are giving all different reasons to give wrinkle injection a try. According to a recent survey done by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), there is a significant increase in the number of total procedures (9.9 per cent) for both men and women, with more than 400,000 male patients who got Botox injections last year.

Plastic surgeons are not surprised to see more men in their practices. The main motivation of men to get Botox injection is to appear youthful, particularly at work where they’re more likely to face age discrimination. Many men view the procedure as a way to defy aging effectively and freeze time.

The pressure to look young and feel more youthful are not exclusive to women; men too feel pressured. This is according to most physicians who told patients age 35 to 65 years were interested in getting the injection.
The president of the ASAPS Dr. Daniel Mills said, “’They’re simply having more procedures done because they want to maintain the competitiveness in an increasingly ageist workplace”. Nowadays, the younger you look, the better chance you have in competing and staying in market. The most common areas injected with Botox for career are around the eyes and eyebrows.

In addition, spouses and significant others play a part in convincing their partner to go inside their doctor’s office. Some patients feel more comfortable having the procedure after finding out that a loved one or a friend have it, while others just reported that their partner demanded they get Botox.

After seeing more and more men considering this cosmetic procedure, doctors are beginning to pay more attention to men’s aesthetics, as this trend may continue and even perpetuate. In the past, a man checking a plastic surgery website may see procedures often aimed at women. But now, more and more websites are dedicated to cater men.
Another reason to the rise on the number of men getting Botox is social media and the desire to look great on their dating profile. This inspired more and more men to try the Botox.

Most men who likely get Botox for career have higher incomes and a lot of them work in fashion, art, corporate world and law. There’s also no specific ethnicity – Asian, White, African-American.

Popularly used to smoothen fine lines and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, experts are exploring the potential of Botox for arthritis pain, specifically rotator cuff arthropathy. Rotator cuff consists of four tendons and four muscles that surround the joints and provide important function. It makes sure the end of the humerus stays within the socket of the shoulder.

Rotator cuff tears are more common among the elderly. This is often caused by wear and tear in the joints and affects up to one in four people. Along with reduced blood supply, tendons in the area become weaker with age. Shoulder blade rubs against these tendons, causing tears in the tissue and impairing movement. Some elderly people experience difficulty in raising their arm above their head due to rotator cuff arthropathy.

Benefits of Botox for Arthritis Pain

In the past, treatment options for arthritis pain include heat or ice packs, anti-inflammatory medications and physiotherapy, and sometimes, for severe cases, surgery. Administration of Botox in the affected muscles bypasses such measures because Botox relaxes the tissue by blocking signals that prompt the muscle to tighten.

Another reason is that Botox for arthritis pain can paralyze the nerves. Similar to injecting wrinkles, it could have similar effect on the muscles that is transmitting pain. The toxin may eventually be used for treating osteoarthritis patients and those with rotator cuff arthropathy, whose pain isn’t adequately controlled by traditional medicines such as analgesics or NSAIDS.

Botox Blocks Pain Signals

Like how Botox flattens wrinkles, the substance can block neuromuscular junction, so the nerve cannot transmit signals, preventing muscle contraction.

In a study published by the Journal of Rheumatology, 54 patients with chronic knee pain were grouped into two – one group were injected with Botox while the other were given placebo. Result of the study showed 71 percent of those administered with Botox achieved significant reduction in pain, with measurable improvement in the joint function compared to 35 percent of those who got placebo.

Botox as a Possible Treatment for Inflammation

Another study has further raised interest by telling that Botox might be used someday for treating inflammation. Published in the Biochemistry Journal in 2011, it cited a future use of Botox – treating chronic inflammation and not only temporarily relieving pain.

The study led by Felix Yeh, PhD said the focus of the study is to learn how the toxin get into the neurons, something he names ‘the Trojan horse strategy’. With the use of Botulinum toxin Type B, a relatively new product, Yeh revealed that the neurotoxin can be used to inhibit the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha, a type of cytokine that possibly causes inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

A recent study has found that Botox injections might be a safe, effective and long-term treatment for ‘Burning Mouth Sydrome’.

What is Burning Mouth Syndrome?

Burning mouth syndrome is characterized by a burning pain in the mouth, occurring every day for several months or even longer. Dentists and doctors don’t have a particular test to diagnosed BMS, hence it is difficult to diagnose. There are no specific treatment that work for the general public, but your doctor may prescribe medications to help manage dry mouth, mouth pain and other symptoms.

The primary symptom of burning mouth syndrome is the mouth pain that is tingling, scalding or burning. There may also be a feeling of numbness. Other symptoms include altered taste in the mouth and dry mouth.

BMS pain may last for months to years. Often, the tongue is affected, however, it may also be at the roof of the mouth, throughout the mouth or only the lips. Some people feel pain every day and others experience increasing pain throughout the day. For most, the pain is reduced when drinking or eating.

Several medical conditions can cause BMS:

• Allergies
• Drug side effects
• Thyroid issues
• Damage to nerves that control taste and pain

Botox for Burning Mouth Syndrome

Botox has long been used to smoothen wrinkles but it may also come to the rescue for those suffering from a painful condition known as burning mouth syndrome.

A team of Italian researchers found that Botox might be an effective, safe and long-lasting treatment for the disorder. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a team led by Domenico Restivo, MD, of Garibaldi Hospital, Catania claims that Botox, a purified polypeptide that can relax muscles by blocking neuro-muscular junction (nerve receptors) that innervate the muscles, might help ease the condition.

The small study involved one man and three women in their 60s and 70s. All are diagnosed with Burning Mouth Syndrome on their lower lip and tongue for at least six months. Each patient got a total dose of 16 injection in the lower lip and tongue.

The Botox group reported that pain disappeared within 48 hours in all patients. The beneficial effect lasted for 16 weeks after the Botox therapy in all except for one patient whom the effect lasted for 20 weeks.

The other group involving two patients received saline injections as placebo and saw no improvement in their condition. This effectively ruled out the placebo effect. No side effects were noted from the treatment. Dr. Restivo’s team concluded that the positive results from this study is encouraging, believing that the findings must lead to a more comprehensive, randomised trial.

Over the years, the use of Botox has extended, from medicinal to cosmetic. Developed as a biological weapon, numerous studies have revealed its effectiveness and usefulness beyond enhancing your facial features. Right now, Botox has been highly useful in multidisciplinary fields such as urology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, endocrinology and neurology. This neurotoxin provided benefits for many chronic conditions such as muscle spasm and stiffness by relaxing abnormal muscle contractions.

When there are problems concerning muscle activity, Botox has been a go-to drug due to its effect that help release stiffness.

Below are the different conditions using Botox for neurological disorders:

• Blepharospasm – a neurological condition manifested by forcible closure of eyelids or abnormal twitching of eyelashes and eyelid. In the case of blepharospasm, the eye muscles contract to the point that the person could not open his eyes and they have to use their hands to open them. Such condition can be an unpleasant experience for the sufferer. A very minimal dose of Botox can be administered through a fine needle in the eyelids.
• Hemifacial Spasm – a condition when there is involuntary muscle contractions of the face on one side, manifested by flickering movement of the affected muscles. The condition can be resolved by injecting Botox on the lower face and around the eye.
• Meige’s Syndrome – a condition in which the upper and lower part of the facial muscle contracts.
• Cervical dystonia – a condition characterized by high muscle tone in the neck, resulting in different positions of the head. Sometimes, the neck rotates and pulls in a certain direction. The condition is sometimes called ‘wry neck’ or torticollis. Botox helps by providing controlled relaxation of the affected muscles.
• Upper and lower limb spasticity – there are times when a person recovers from stroke, muscle stiffness can hinder recovery. In some cases, spasticity is severe that it causes restrictions of movement. Botox help relax the muscles to assist physiotherapy.
• Writer’s Cramp – a condition in which a person have difficulty in writing only. A person with writer’s cramp may only write one to two pages and after that, their hands begins to give up.
• Migraine – not all cases of migraine require Botox injection. Botox can be used for migraine if the person experience frequent headaches and failed to respond with other treatment.

Botox for Neurological Disorders – How It Work

Botox for neurological disorders causes a controlled relaxation with abnormal muscle movements or spasticity. The process is ‘irreversible’ and has to be injected every 3 to 6 months. Botox can be highly effective when injected in the right spot. It is important to hire someone with considerable experience and expertise in Botox injection