Injectable therapies can be used to reduce abnormal contractions of muscles. Dr Rajiv Wijesinghe at Sydney Neurology is subspecialised in movement disorders and an expert in the administration of these agents.

Injectable therapies are effective in treating a variety of neurological conditions including:

  • Cervical dystonia / spasmodic torticollis
  • Hemifacial spasm
  • Blepharospasm
  • Spasticity following stroke
  • Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
  • Prophylaxis of chronic migraine

Please note that treatment for chronic migraine is only administered according to the following criteria:

  • Headaches present on average 15 or more days per month, 8 of which are migraines, over a period of 6 months.
  • Three preventative medications have been unsuccessfully trialled, either due to inadequate benefit or intolerability.
  • Attempts have been made to reduce acute medication overuse, including analgesia (e.g. Panadeine forte, Mersyndol, Nurofen) or Triptans (e.g. Imigran, Zomig, Relpax, Naramig, Maxalt). This is defined as medication use more than 10 days per month.
  • Treatment will only be continued if a 50% reduction in headache frequency is achieved after 2 treatment cycles of 12 weeks each.

What Should I Bring to the Appointment and What Can I Expect?

You will need a referral from your doctor requesting assessment for consideration of injection-based therapy. Initially you will be reviewed by the neurologist to determine whether this treatment is appropriate for you. Depending upon the nature of your condition, treatment may be administered on the same day, or a follow up appointment may need to be made to administer it on a different day. The initial appointment will take approximately 40 minutes and follow up appointments approximately 20 minutes.

Chronic migraine treatment involves a total of 31 injections over the forehead, temples, back of the head, neck and shoulders. Other treatments involve fewer injections which are dependent upon the condition. Please do not wear makeup (foundation) if you are having treatment for chronic migraine. If you have long hair, please bring a hair tie for treatment of chronic migraine or cervical dystonia.