A Specialist Speaks: What Can a Migraine Specialist Do for You?

By Teri Robert, Health Guide Monday, July 06, 2009

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This morning, someone emailed me to ask what a Migraine specialist can do for her that other doctor's can't. A good question -- a common question.

The "average" Migraineur probably doesn't need a Migraine specialist. Their Migraines occur only occasionally; they're not chronic or frequent. They respond well to Migraine abortive medications such as the triptans -- Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Amerge, Relpax, Axert, and Frova. Usually their family doctor can treat their Migraines. If not, a local neurologist usually can.

However, most of the people who come here are not the "average" Migraineur. We tend to have more frequent Migraines, possibly chronic or even daily Migraines. We generally need preventive treatment, and the abortive medications may not work well for us. If they do work well, many of us can't take them as often as we have a Migraine, or we'll end up in a medication overuse headache cycle.

Many of us have discovered -- the hard way -- that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine specialists.

I asked Dr. John Claude Krusz the question of what a Migraine and headache specialist can do for us. Here's his answer...