Post by Bob Johnson on Aug 14th, 2011 at 4:15pm
First, headaches is a more complex group of disorders than is generally appreciated and, secondly, we have studies which show just how little training/experience most neurologists have in this area. These pages are full of stories who have wandered about for years trying to find a doc who could treatment them effectively: Why we push for a specialist, if at all possible.
So,
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. 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.
6. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
===
Hope you will stay with us and ask questions, give some reports on how it's moving re. finding a doc.
See the PDF file, below. These are the major meds used to treat Cluster. You can print out this article and use to discuss options with any doc you see and, if you don't see some combination of these meds coming at you, begin to ask whether you have the right doc or not.
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?action=downloadfile;file=Mgt_of_Cluster_Headache___Amer_Family_Physician.pdf (144 KB | 27
)
So,
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. 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. 6. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
===
Hope you will stay with us and ask questions, give some reports on how it's moving re. finding a doc.
See the PDF file, below. These are the major meds used to treat Cluster. You can print out this article and use to discuss options with any doc you see and, if you don't see some combination of these meds coming at you, begin to ask whether you have the right doc or not.
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?action=downloadfile;file=Mgt_of_Cluster_Headache___Amer_Family_Physician.pdf (144 KB | 27
)