Migraine

I am not sure where this belongs and the title doesn't really explain what I mean.

Are there different models for viewing migraine? If so, what are they? It appears that this forum/website views migraine as a progressive neurological disease that has acute attacks triggered by a variety of external factors. These attacks are often exhibited with head pain. This model seems to use epilepsy as a similar disease. It is also a neurological disease that have acute attacks (seizures) that are triggered by external factors.

I was explaining this to my neurologist yesterday and he didn't readily agree. He kind of mumbled and then said, "yes, I would call it a disorder. So, I am wondering if there are other ways to explain migraine and if so, what are they and how do they differ from the disease model?

Hi there, Debbie,

OK, let me see if I can explain this.

The reason we use the "model" we do is that it's the model currently subscribed to by most of world's Migraine experts.

Are there other models? Sure. The model that Migraine is a disorder is an older model from which most of the experts have moved on.

If your neurologist doesn't agree, then maybe he's a bit outdated.

Remember too that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine specialists. They treat so many things that they can't really specialize in any of them.

Migraine specialists are those doctors who participate in continuing medical education on regular basis so that they are aware of and utilizing the most recent information available. They generally treat only Migraine and headache.

Hope this helps!

quote:

Originally posted by Teri Robert:
Hi there, Debbie,

OK, let me see if I can explain this.

The reason we use the "model" we do is that it's the model currently subscribed to by most of world's Migraine experts.

Are there other models? Sure. The model that Migraine is a disorder is an older model from which most of the experts have moved on.

If your neurologist doesn't agree, then maybe he's a bit outdated.

Remember too that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine specialists. They treat so many things that they can't really specialize in any of them.

Migraine specialists are those doctors who participate in continuing medical education on regular basis so that they are aware of and utilizing the most recent information available. They generally treat only Migraine and headache.

Hope this helps!

Thanks. This puts me between a rock and a hard place. One of my previous neurologists is a headache specialist. However, he passed me on to the Jefferson Headache Center because he had reached the end of ideas. I saw both doctors for about 2 years and stopped going to either one when they couln't explain some weird symptoms (legs giving out, mental confusion, and twitchy fingers)I was having. These symptoms were worse during Jazzercise. Both said "just don't go to Jazzercise." That answer was inadequate for me, so I changed neurologists.

My current neurologist solved the weird symptom problem, but now it appears that we are not on the same page when it comes to migraine disease. I don't really want to change neurologists again (Dr. S. is #3). He is persistent, caring, spends all the time I need at appointments, etc. I can't go back to the other one and I don't know of any other headache drs. in town.

Debbie,

I understand what you're saying. Don't know that I really have an answer for you. For myself, I don't think I'd ever stay with a doc who didn't recognize Migraine as a disease, but I'm not in your position.

Obviously, this is a complex situation. If you'd like to chat about it sometime, please feel free to email me at the addy in my sig. Send me your phone number, and tell me a good time to call, and I'd be happy to chat with you.