Hi!  I am the mother of a 22 year old son who we just realized has had cluster headaches since 14.  Your site has been wonderful to both him and I to know we are not alone.  He is away at college in Norfolk, Virginia and I am earnestly seeking a neurologist in that area for him.  I would appreciate any references someone may have.  Thank you so much!
Dona

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.

Thanks so much for the advice.  We are lucky and have found a doc who already has cluster headache patients and is starting my son on imitrex.  Here's to hoping it works.

OUCH recommended doctors in Virginia

Nurang Gill
Woodbridge

Dr. Steven D. Nack
Blacksburg

Stuart Stark
Alexandria

Dr. Alan Fenderson
Virginia Beach
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Dr. Michael Mareska
Kara Clark NP
Mechanicsville/Richmond VA USA

Imitrex is a great abortive, but is only a piece of a whole treatment plan. A good prevent will block many of his attacks and save you a fortune on imitrex. Also, please read the oxygen info link on the left, cheap, and amazingly effective. The following is a common approach for many to treat CH, it's 2 pronged.

1: A good preventative. That's a med you take daily, while in cycle, to reduce the frequency and the intensity of your hits. I use lithium at 1200 mg a day, blocks about 70% of my hits. Don't let the Hollywood stereotype of lithium scare you, if I didn't tell you I was on it you'd never know! Verapamil is usually the prevent doc's try first, very effective for many, topomax is also used by many on the board.

2: A good abortive, the attack starts, now what? You may have heard oxygen mentioned... ...yeah...over 30 years of CH here and 02 is still my fastest and most effective abortive, generally 6-8 minutes and I'm pain free. Read the link as it needs to be used correctly ot it loses much of its effectiveness. I occasionally resort to Imitrex shots when I'm really getting creamed or find myself (foolishly) away from my oxygen.

This is what has worked well for me, hoping it gives your son some tools.

Joe