Finding the Right Doctor
I have had a chronic migraine for 25 years (2/16/99) and it seems to be getting worse. I have had every procedure and medicine that is available to date. I know that pain medication helps me live a little better quality of life. I have been to several "headache" clinics, hospitals, etc. and have had 93 procedures (i.e., nerve blocks, botox) and 31 brain surgeries. I recently had to have an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion on 3 discs. I now have a pinched nerve in my neck and nothing helps but the doctors here in Texas refuse to prescribe any kind of pain management medicine that may help me to get a better handle on the pain. Has anyone else felt like were treated like a drug addict and just want some relief
YES! You're not alone in feeling this way. Unfortunately many with chronic pain are left with undertreated pain, which creates another set of problems. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this.
I hear you when you say you've tried everything out there, but that may not actually be the case. Try not to lose hope, there are over 100 medications, supplements, devices, complementary therapies and lifestyle modifications that can be used to manage migraine disease and most of us are on a combination of these and most of us are on a combination of these, I sure am! Let me share our treatment page to start you off;
1) https://migraine.com/migraine-treatmentThe thing about 'headache clinics' is they may be called such because they treat so many people with migraine and headache disease, but don't have any doctors who are board certified in headache medicine. Here's the reality - general neurologists may be fine doctors but have a hard time being experts in one area because they treat so many conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and more. Many general neurologists who treat people with migraine and headache disease claim to be experts but that may not be 100% accurate. A true migraine expert is board certified in headache medicine not all neurologists have, and treats migraine and headache all day, every day. Here is more information on why these doctors are beneficial and where to find them and there are a number of these expert doctors in TX
1) https://migraine.com/blog/really-find-headache-specialist/
2) https://migraine.com/living-migraine/change-thoughts-new-care/
3) https://headaches.org/resources/healthcare-provider-finder/
4) https://migraine.com/living-migraine/how-to-find-a-neurologist-or-headache-specialistPlease know you're not alone in dealing with this and we're here for you. Will you let me know what you think? I'm sending you pain free wishes, Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Leader/Moderator Migraine.com Team Member
