Like many people, you have likely heard of Botox and know it can be used to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles in people who would like to regain their youthful appearance. However, new uses for this injectable medication have been discovered, and Botox is now used to reduce the pain that accompanies many types of medical problems.

Read on to learn about two types of pain that Botox can help ease.

Muscle Pain

Some types of muscle pain, or Myofascial pain, can be treated with Botox injections. While not all muscle pain responds to these injections, Botox has been used to successfully reduce muscle pain caused by muscle spasticity and pelvic muscle pain and is also considered a promising treatment for lower back pain.

In a study that was conducted on 31 people experiencing lower back pain, those that received Botox injections noticed a reduction in their back pain that lasted an average of about 3 to 4 months.

Another study revealed that many women suffering from pelvic pain noticed a dramatic reduction in their overall and trigger-point pain after just one Botox treatment.

While some people notice more muscle pain relief after Botox treatments than others, ask your physician if you are experiencing muscle pain that may respond to Botox injection.

Nerve Pain

Medical researchers have found good results using Botox as an experimental pain relief treatment for people suffering from a variety of health problems that cause nerve pain.

Some studies have been focusing on Botox treatment of the pain that often accompanies peripheral neuropathy. While this nerve pain condition often plagues people who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes, it can also develop after spinal cord injuries and strokes. Botox injections reduced pain intensity in peripheral neuropathy sufferers given this treatment instead of a placebo.

Other studies have been testing Botox as a treatment for a specific nerve compression disorder called thoracic outlet syndrome that causes painful compression of nerves in the lower neck and affects about 8 percent of the population.

Many thoracic outlet syndrome sufferers who were given Botox injections in their lower necks experienced dramatic pain relief for at least two months following the injections.

While Botox is most commonly used as a cosmetic treatment that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the face, new medical uses for this injectable medication are being discovered often. Botox is now being used to relieve the pain caused by a variety of medical problems and is a promising treatment for many muscle and nerve pain types.

Contact a local physician to learn more about Botox.