Botulinum Toxin Injections Specialist
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Parkinson's, Restless Legs & Movement Disorder Specialists, PLLC
Subhashie Wijemanne, MD
Movement Disorder Specialist located in Austin, TX
Botulinum toxin injection treatment is well known as a cosmetic treatment to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles on people who want to look more youthful and fresh. But did you know that those same botulinum toxin injections have very real neurological applications? At Parkinson’s, Restless Legs & Movement Disorders Specialists, PLLC, in Austin, Texas, board-certified neurologist Subhashie Wijemanne, MD, offers botulinum toxin injections to ease neurological problems, including cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, spasticity, sialorrhea and other movement disorders. Set up a consultation with Dr. Wijemanne to find out if this treatment might work for you. Call the office or book online today.
Botulinum Toxin Injection Q&A
What are Botulinum Toxin injections?
Botulinum toxin injections are a treament method derived from a purified neurotoxin, botulinum. When injected into key areas, the botulinum toxin can stop nerve and muscle activity.
For movement disorders and migraines, the botulinum injections can block nerve and muscle activity that causes pain and dysfunction.
Botulinum toxin has a temporary effect on muscle and nerve activity, so the treatment must be repeated every three months to have a continuing effect.
How many treatments might I need?
The number of treatments recommended varies by patient. Dr. Wijemanne will be able to assess your current condition to determine what plan makes sense to achieve your goals and help restore movement to your body.
Dr. Wijemanne has extensive training and research in the field of movement disorders, and can work with you to determine how to maximize your results from the botulinum injections. Botulinum toxin isn't a cure for movement disorders, but can help temporarily alleviate dysfunction and restore movement to several areas throughout the body.
On the day of your treatment, Dr. Wijemanne will discuss the procedure and inject the botulinum toxin into the muscle or muscle groups that are causing the problem. You should begin to notice results a few hours after the injection, once the muscle becomes relaxed.
How do botulinum toxin injections help movement disorders?
Botulinum toxin injections can effectively relieve the symptoms of movement disorders, including:
- Blepharospasm (uncontrolled closing of the eyes)
- Dystonia (uncontrolled muscle contractions)
- Hemifacial spasm (twitching of muscles on one side of the face)
- Motor tics and spasticity (muscle contractions that cause involuntary movements)
- Orofacial dyskinesias (repetitive moving of the face and mouth)
- Drooling
The toxin causes an overactive muscle to relax. Botulinum blocks a neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction, but the injection doesn’t permanently deactivate the muscles. For optimal results, a series of several consecutive or recurring treatments might be recommended.
If you suffer from a movement disorder or chronic headaches that could benefit from Botulinum toxin injections, contact Parkinson’s Disease and Restless Leg Syndrome Specialist, PLLC, for an evaluation. You can call the office or set up an appointment online.
