Post by Bob_Johnson on Jan 1st, 2010 at 11:44am
We will be glad to share our experience with you--the first, most important point being--get with a good headache doctor!
Both our collective experience and medical research shows that most neurologists have littled effective knowledge/skill in treating headache and the picture is worse with other specialities. There are so many dozen of medical condtions which can present as headaches, that the first, critical, step is setting a good diagnosis.
I would strongly encourage you to avoid the trap of trying to treat the pain without knowing the cause. It can draw you away from threating the causal issue--with all sorts of implications of neglecting the real issue.
LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST
1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.
2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.
3. Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.
4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or 
END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.
5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.
Both our collective experience and medical research shows that most neurologists have littled effective knowledge/skill in treating headache and the picture is worse with other specialities. There are so many dozen of medical condtions which can present as headaches, that the first, critical, step is setting a good diagnosis.
I would strongly encourage you to avoid the trap of trying to treat the pain without knowing the cause. It can draw you away from threating the causal issue--with all sorts of implications of neglecting the real issue.
LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST
1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.
2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.
3. Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.
4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.