Botox Goes Beyond Wrinkles, Provides Relief to Patients at Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center

PHOENIX, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the world's most fashionable beauty treatments is gaining popularity for something other than the war on wrinkles. Botulinum Toxin, commonly known as Botox, is being used at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute to help manage symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

"Botox is the most powerful nerve toxin known to man and it's dramatically improving the quality of life for people with Parkinson's," says Guillermo Moguel-Cobos, MD, Movement Disorder Neurologist at the Center. "For this type of treatment, it's a miracle drug."

Parkinson's disease is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremors, a slowing of physical movement and a loss of physical movement. Botox, which has been purified and then diluted, can be injected straight into the muscle, relieving the spasms and most importantly, the pain.

"It's a medical treatment but it's also an art to administer. Every patient receives Botox differently ― in different muscles, in different locations and in different dosages ― so experience with the drug and the disease is crucial," says Dr. Moguel-Cobos.

The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, which is part of Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, has been using Botox to treat Parkinson's and other movement disorders such as dystonia since the early 1990's. The treatment has recently gained popularity due to the growing number of patients at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. Out of approximately 1,600 patient visits each year, 30 percent receive Botox injections.  

To help with the demand, the Center runs a Botox Clinic two days a week. Depending on the patient and the severity of their movement disorder, their Botox can take 30 minutes to an hour to inject and can take up to seven days to become effective. For most, the drug will provide significant but variable relief of symptoms that can last up to three months.

Doug Eshelman, 60, started receiving Botox injections approximately five months ago at the Center. Diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2006, the disease caused his right foot to turn under, which made walking painful and challenging.

"A week after I received the Botox injections my foot relaxed, turned back around, and my ability to walk improved tremendously," says Eshelman. "I feel very fortunate live in a time where these treatments are available. It's fascinating to me."

The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center is the most comprehensive Parkinson's disease facility in the nation. The state-of-the-art center, which is located at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, brings together medical, rehabilitation, social and educational services and research in one location. It has been named a Center of Excellence by the National Parkinson's Foundation.

Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is internationally recognized as a leader in neurological research and patient care.  Established in 1962 Barrow treats patients with a wide range of neurological conditions, including brain and spinal tumors, cerebrovascular conditions, and neuromuscular disorders. The Barrow Neurological Institute is consistently rated among the Top 10 best hospitals in the United States for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News and World Report.

SOURCE Barrow Neurological Institute