Botox has Been Approved as a Treatment for Incontinence Relating to Neurologic Conditions like MS

If you mention Botox to most people they immediately think of it's cosmetic use, as is best known as a treatment for lines and wrinkles. It works by preventing contraction of muscles which gives the skin a smoother appearance.

Botox is actually a purified bacterial protein (toxin) and has many medical applications that have been discovered over the last 100 years.

Botox has previously been approved for 21 indications and is used on 80 different countries.

Some of the conditions are listed below:

• migraine
• involuntary closure of the eyelids
• spasm of the muscles of the neck
• misaligned or lazy eyes
• excessive armpit sweating

On August 25th 2011 the FDA issued a press release stating that Botox had been approved for use as a treatment for urinary incontinence related to spinal cord injury or other neurologic disorders like Multiple Sclerosis.

These conditions can cause the muscles of the bladder to contract uncontrollably and render it incapable of storing urine and is difficult to control by previously existing therapies.

The Botox treatment is applied via injection, under anaesthetic and the effects can last up to 10 months. Naturally this has the potential to greatly increase the quality of life for anyone suffering from this symptom relating to neurological damage.

I am not a doctor, and this treatment may not be suitable for everyone, but I do have a very good friend with MS and am sharing this in hope that it will be a help to many more people.