Medications such as botulinum toxin can be injected into muscles to block nerve signals and relax muscles. Sometimes the injections are guided by EMG or live ultrasound imaging.
This has a role in the treatment of chronic migraine, some movement disorders, muscle spasticity and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
A Medicare rebate is available for injection therapy for the following conditions:
- Primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating)
- Chronic migraine
- Hemifacial spasm (facial twitching)
- Blepharospasm (eyelid twitching)
- Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis)
- Limb spasticity due to stroke or cerebral palsy
Botulinum toxin may also be useful for other neurological conditions such as:
- Focal dystonia
- Sialorrhoea (excess salivation/drooling)
- Excessive sweating of hands, feet and other body areas
Listen to Dr Christian Skullina talk about the wide range of conditions neurologists can treat with injection therapies.