Botulinum toxin is used to treat many movement disorders such as cervical dystonia.

Cervical Dystonia
This disorder causes muscle spasms in multiple neck muscles with twisting or tilting of the head. It also decreases your range of motion in the neck and can last more than 6 months.

Monitoring
You will need to stay at the clinic for up to 30 minutes after your injection. We will need to watch you for side effects.

Home Care
Some patients may have weakness in their neck or arms after treatment. You may feel sore at the injection site for the next 2-4 days. For the first 24 hours, you may apply ice, if needed, to the site. Place ice for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off to decrease pain. After 24 hours, you may use heat, if needed.

Your pain may go away right away, or it may take several days. There may be a time when you feel like you have more pain. This is called a pain flare. If this happens, limit your activities for the first 24 hours and do things that don’t cause pain. Keep taking your pain medicine as directed. You may return to your normal routine as soon as you are able.

Side Effects
Most patients do not have any problems after treatment. There is a slight risk of infection or bleeding at the injection site. There is also a slight chance of neck or shoulder pain.

  • Signs of Infection

  • Fever greater than 100.4º F by mouth for 2 readings, taken 4 hours apart

  • Increased redness, swelling around the site

  • Any drainage from the site

Future Treatments
Injections may be repeated in 3 months. Then, they may be repeated every 4 months.

When to Call
The day of the procedure, if you have any problems or concerns, call Madison Surgery Center.

For new symptoms or signs of infection call your doctor listed on the After-Visit Summary.

To discuss the next steps in your plan of care, contact the provider that ordered your procedure. Your doctor should have the report in 7-10 days.

Who to Call
Madison Surgery Center (6 am-5 pm)
608-287-2200

After hours, please contact the ordering provider’s clinic or the provider’s clinic that performed the procedure. Tell the receptionist you had a procedure that day and need to see your doctor.

For emergencies please visit your closest emergency room.