Botox may do more than make you look younger – it may make you feel younger too. A single injection of Botox has been found to significantly decrease pain and improve shoulder function in osteoarthritis sufferers, according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual scientific meeting.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease affecting middle-age and older people. It is characterized by progressive damage to the joint cartilage — the slippery material at the end of long bones — and causes changes in the structures around the joint. These changes can include fluid accumulation, bony overgrowth, and loosening and weakness of muscles and tendons, all of which may limit movement and cause pain and swelling.

Injection of Botox, technically known as intra-articular botulinum neurotoxin, into joints is a promising new approach for treating sustained shoulder pain brought on by arthritis. An injection of neurotoxin in the joint may work by decreasing the release of certain proteins from the nerves in the joints — thereby decreasing the pain sensation in the joint.

Researchers recently studied the effectiveness of Botox versus placebo in patients with chronic shoulder pain, due to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, who did not respond to corticosteroids or pain medication. These patients also were not candidates for shoulder arthroplasty, or joint replacement.

Forty-three patients with moderate to severe arthritis pain (categorized as greater than 4.5 on a scale of zero to 10 with zero as no pain and 10 as the worst pain) were randomly placed in two groups and assessed at one, three and six months. The first group received Botox and lidocaine, while the second group received saline and lidocaine.

By comparing pain levels before beginning treatment to pain levels 28 days after the treatment, researchers found that pain levels were much lower in the patients receiving neurotoxin compared to placebo. Thirty-eight percent of patients receiving the injection of Botox into the joint had at least a 30% reduction in pain score compared to only 9% of patients in the placebo group. There was a trend toward a greater improvement in shoulder function in the botulinum toxin group, as compared to the placebo group at 28 days. “This study provides the initial proof-of-concept of effectiveness of botulinum toxin injection for relief of shoulder joint pain,” says Dr. Jasvinder Singh, MBBS, MPH, of the University of Minnesota and an investigator in the study. “A more sophisticated, larger, multi-center, randomized study is needed to assess efficacy, safety, mode of action, optimal dose and frequency of this novel treatment option.”

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If you or someone you love is suffering from decreased mobility due to joint pain or any other affliction Caregiver’s Home Solutions can help! Call us NOW at (203) 870-9850 for a free consultation with our home care experts and learn how we can help you remain safe and healthy while aging in place in the comfort of your own home!