Not just a cosmetic, botox used in stroke treatment too

Prashant Jotwani, 33, had no idea that botox therapy, conventionally used to smoothen wrinkles, could help him stand on his feet again. Priyanka Vora reports.

Prashant Jotwani, 33, had no idea that botox therapy, conventionally used to smoothen wrinkles, could help him stand on his feet again.

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In 2009, the Mulund resident suffered a brain stroke that left the right side of his body paralysed. He had been bedridden for months. But some rigorous rehabilitation therapy along with botox injections ensured that the former call centre employee could start life afresh. He now runs a garment shop in Mulund.

Jotwani has been administered five shots of botox in the last three years at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH) to relax the stiffness in the muscles in his right hand and leg.

"Physiotherapy trains the patient to regain movement, but in cases such as Jotwani, the muscle stiffness was interfering with his ability to walk. The botox injection helped relax the muscle and enabled him to regain mobility," said Dr Abhishek Shrivastav, director, Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, KDAH.

Neurologists in the city are increasingly offering botox as a part of the rehabilitation process for patients who have suffered a stroke. "Patients who had difficulty in opening their fist or walking have benefited after taking botox injections, provided the right muscle is injected," said Dr Yogesh Godge, assistant professor, neurology department at KEM Hospital.

Botox also helped Shirley (name changed), a fashion designer who suffered a stroke last May. As the effect of the botox wears off within four to six months, patients have take shots repeatedly to maintain the effect.