It may be the most popular cosmetic procedure in the world, but Botox is taking on a new look these days. “More recently, Botox has been used for less severe spasm and pain mediation, meaning interfering with the pain signals that nerves give to the brain,” explains Dr. Debra Roggow, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist on the Lee Memorial Health System medical staff.

Since Botox is often used to paralyze muscles that can cause unwanted lines and wrinkles, physicians like Dr. Roggow are using this paralyzing method to treat muscle spasms. “Where the nerve, if you think of the nerve as an electrical wire, when it meets the muscle, there’s a reaction. Botox interferes with that reaction. It blocks it,” adds Dr. Roggow.

Botox is also being prescribed for hyper hydrosis, an excessive sweating condition. “For instance, there was a preacher that had sweaty hands, and this was disturbing because he’d shake people’s hands and he needed to impart a confidence and that was not working. Botox to the hand helped with hyper hydrosis.”

More doctors are also prescribing physical therapy along with Botox injections. Since an injection weakens the impacted muscle, therapists can help patients get accustomed to the changes.