When choosing a
place to seek help for a headache disorder, keep in mind
that not all pain management clinics are suitable for the
headache patient.
There are several types of clinics that are being marketed
to the public:
Alternative
medicine clinics: These
are usually not run
by licensed medical doctors and the treatment options
include so called "natural" remedies, acupuncture or
manipulation. There are several important considerations
here, starting with the absence of an actual medical
diagnosis and it is possible for a patient to have a
serious medical illness that is being missed and essential
treatment delayed. Also, many of the remedies in such
places do not have an established safety profile with
the FDA.
General "pain clinic": These
are often clinics for nerve blocks, run by anesthesiologists
and are usually not geared to the treatment of headache
disorders. It is very unusual for a nerve block to
the head or neck to be helpful in long term headache
control. It is actual contrary to current theories
of migraine pathophysiology. Some pain clinics are
run by very reputable professional and others may claim
to be "board certified" in certain areas of pain medicine.
A good way to check credentials is to contact the American
Board of Medical Specialties to see if the person
is actually accredited by an approved professional
board. It is sometimes a surprise when a hospital owned
clinic is run by someone who does not actually have
credentials.
General neurology clinic: A
well trained general neurologist will usually be of great
help in difficult headache situations. Many people prefer
to see a neurologist who is certified by the American
Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and an active
member of the American
Academy of Neurology . The neurologist will establish
a diagnosis and rule out dangerous conditions that might
imitate a headache disorder.
Headache Clinic (or
headache treatment program): This is usually
run by a neurologist and incorporates the features
of a general neurology clinic into a setting where
the majority of patients have headache disorders. The
staff in such a clinic is especially accustomed to
treating headaches and have a greater understanding
of the problems of the headache patient. Usually telephone
support of the headache patient is available and patient
education is particularly geared to the headache patient.
