Application of Botulinum Toxin in Pain Management

Author: Woo Seog SIM ¹
Author Information

1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. anesthe@skku.edu
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: botulinum toxin; pain
MeSH: Arthritis; Botulinum Toxins; Chronic Pain; Headache; Muscle, Skeletal; Neuralgia; Pain Management; Relaxation
From:The Korean Journal of Pain 2011;24(1):1-6
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Botulinum toxin has been used for the treatment of many clinical disorders by producing temporary skeletal muscle relaxation. In pain management, botulinum toxin has demonstrated an analgesic effect by reducing muscular hyperactivity, but recent studies suggest this neurotoxin could have direct analgesic mechanisms different from its neuromuscular actions. At the moment, botulinum toxin is widely investigated and used in many painful diseases such as myofascial syndrome, headaches, arthritis, and neuropathic pain. Further studies are needed to understand the exact analgesic mechanisms, efficacy and complications of botulinum toxin in chronic pain disorders.