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Cluster Headache Help and Support › Getting to Know Ya › Newbies, Help us...help you
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Your story is all too common: working with a doc who has no skills in treating Cluster and yet you sticking with him because he is a known and the limits of $.
Two things jump out: all your treatment is centered around pain meds--the least effective treatment for Cluster; and the doctor issue.
Opening paragraph: read and do, please! Treatment available to you is a factor of your location. But, if at all possible, try and locate a headache specialist.
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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. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or
; On-line screen to find a physician.
5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or
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. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or
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.
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Print out the PDF file, below, for two reasons. 1. it spells out the kinds of treatments which are standards for Cluster, the sort of stuff you should be using. IF your present doc is open to receiving such material, give him a copy. (Many of us have had to educate our doc in how to treat us. We can supply the medical materials but none of us can control whether your doc is open to receiving it. You'll have to make the call and decide whether continuing to work with your doc is worth your $ investment.)
You're asking for help in treating your pain. But it's, at this stage, more important that you have a doc who is able diagnose with skill & experience. There are a number of disorders which mimic Cluster and it's important that a sound understanding guides your treatment.
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rapid changes,scared to sleep (Read 1723 times)
