Optimizing Results
Like many aspects of treating dystonia, injecting botulinum toxin as much art as it is science. It is in your best interest to locate the most well-trained and experienced doctor you can find. Before making an appointment to receive botulinum toxin injections, ask the office personnel which doctor will be doing the injections, where he/she was trained, and how many other patients he/she has injected for the form of dystonia for which you are being treated. The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation can help you locate the nearest, most experienced physician. Travel may be required to access the most appropriate specialist.The success of a botulinum toxin injection depends upon:
- The dose used
- The specific sites in the muscles where the product is injected
- The experience of the physician giving the injection
- Clear communication between physician and patient, so that both parties understand and agree on the specific symptoms that are being treated and what can be expected as a result of an injection.
Because of the multiple factors that determine the success of a botulinum toxin injection, a person might require being injected on two or three separate occasions before the optimal benefit is achieved. All of the factors listed above must be aligned for the best result, and this may take some time to perfect.
Based on over a decade of clinical experience, patients who respond well to botulinum toxin may continue treatment over the course of many years without side effects from long-term use.
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