Assistant Clinical Professor, Harvard Medical School,
Medical Director Associate Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Inc
Dr. Borodic had played a pivotal role in development of the use of botulinum toxin for headache disorders. Having made the observation that pain was the most responsive component of cervical dystonia to botulinum treatment, Dr. Borodic made the original assertion that botulinum toxin can be used for chronic muscle tension headaches and chronic myofascial pain (Acquadro M, Borodic, Botulinum Toxin for treatment of myofascial pain. J Anesthesia, 1994). Over the years, the application of botulinum toxin for chronic tension headaches has further expanded to include migraine, headaches associated with chronic sinus disease, trigeminal neuralgia, and atypical facial pain and temporal mandibular joint disease. All conditions have been extensively treated in Dr. Borodic’s practice and often in association with pain centers. Dr. Borodic served as a consultant with directors of the pain service at Massachusetts General Hospital, co-managing patients with difficult pain conditions of the head and neck. Dr. Borodic has also been involved in reviewing and editing journal articles relative to the pharmacology of botulinum toxin relative to pain control.
Botulinum toxin (Botox and other formulations) has a unique role in the management of chronic migraine, chronic severe muscle tension headaches and general headaches not responding to conventional medications. Management can often be in conjunction with other specialists and such conditions can be effectively treated with few side effects in many if not most patients.