• generally limit their practice to treating Migraine and other headache disorders only.
• truly understand Migraine disease and other headache disorders.
• have vastly more experience treating Migraines and headaches than other doctors.
• read journals, papers, books, and other medical literature to keep up with developments in the field.
• are members of organizations such as the American Headache Society or the National Headache Foundation and attend their conferences to participate in continuing medical education in the field.
• network and share ideas and experiences with other Migraine and headache specialists.
• aren't afraid to say, "I don't know," or "I don't know what to try next," then find someone who does.
• listen to their patients.
• work with their patients as treatment partners, making decisions WITH their patients, not FOR them.
• are willing to consult with their patients' other doctors to coordinate treatment.
• answer questions and explain things instead of just throwing a prescription at us.
• realize that we can't control when a Migraine or headache will get out of control and need after-hours treatment and has a preset plan for their patients to receive after-hours treatment.
• train their staff members to be caring, polite, and at least minimally knowledgeable.

Does everyone who has Migraine disease or another headache disorder need to see this kind of specialist? No. Probably the majority of people with these disorders will never need this type of specialist. But, since you're reading this, it's likely that you or someone you know is having problems with getting the proper diagnosis or appropriate treatment. People who have been properly diagnosed and treated usually don't go to the Internet to read articles such as this one or the others on this site. So, maybe it's time for you to consider a specialist.

Consider a Migraine and headache specialist if...

• your doctor hasn't been able to give you a firm diagnosis.
• you have reason to doubt your diagnosis, even if it's a "gut feeling."
• your doctor doesn't seem to listen and take your concerns seriously.
• your doctor never has time or just doesn't want to answer your questions.
• your doctor doesn't seem to know what to do for you, but isn't consulting another doctor about it.
• you've been working with your doctor for a reasonable length of time without making progress.