Muscle Tension Headaches occur when the muscles on the back of the neck and head go into spasm (a bit like a cramp in the leg!). These headaches are extremely painful and often don’t respond to painkillers or anti-inflammatory medicines. Sometimes the sufferer will feel pain all over the neck and head or just in a certain area such as the temples or the back of the head. Often the pain is wrongly described as migraine. These headaches may last for days or even weeks at a time. Small injections of Botulinum Toxin (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Azzalure), carefully placed to relax the offending muscles, are used with great effect to relieve the pain usually for many months at a time.
Migraine headaches are caused by a narrowing followed by a dilation of the arteries of the scalp and brain, usually on one side. The sufferer may also be affected by visual or other neurological disturbances along with nausea or vomiting and intolerance of light. Whilst migraine can be treated with medication, Botulinum Toxin (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Azzalure) can often provide a safe and economical alternative.
Several studies have been done on the treatment of headaches with Botulinum Toxin (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Azzalure). The Step-back clinic has been treating both types of headache for several years now with, in some cases, quite remarkable results.