When seeking treatment for your headache, start with your primary care physician. Discuss his or her experience and approach to headaches, including methods of classification, diagnosis, and treatment.

- Ask about his or her experience in treating headaches and the approach that will be taken in treating yours.
- Ask how much time you should allow before expecting results.
- Ask your physician if you should be referred to a headache clinic or headache specialist.

A referral to a headache clinic or specialist should occur if:

Your physician seems to dismiss or minimize your headache pain, and says something such as, "The headache is probably due to stress at the office," or "Women get a lot of headaches, and it's probably just hormones."

Your physician does not take the time to discuss your history and answer your questions.

Your physician immediately suggests a pain medication without first trying a medication that would address the underlying condition or pain mechanism.

Physical examination does not establish a headache diagnosis (e.g., migraine).

You have other physical conditions (e.g., diabetes, allergies, etc.), and you need a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to your headache.

You are taking daily analgesics.

Headache Clinics and Specialists In evaluating the "whole you," a headache clinic takes a multi-disciplinary approach to headache diagnosis and treatment. Its comprehensive team may include physicians (internists and neurologists), psychologists, physical and behavioral therapists, and nurses — all of whom specialize in headache care.

Before deciding on a particular headache specialist, make sure he or she has: