| When Your Doctor Gives Up | |
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Too many people are reporting that their doctors have given up and said "I can't do anything for you," or "You'll just have to live with the pain." Get a new doctor — YOU'RE in charge, and you DESERVE good care!
The truth is that although there is still much that is not known about head pain disorders, great strides have been made in understanding the physiology of the disorders and in treatment. Even for those of us who prove to be the most difficult of cases, a doctor who is a specialist in the field and participates in continuing medical education to stay up on current theories and treatments will be able to help. That's not to say that they will be able to find effective preventives and or abortives for every patient. That's just not possible. When faced with such a patient, the right doctor will at least be able to prescribe medications that help relieve some of the pain and give the patient an improved quality of life.
Good health care can only be achieved when patient and doctor work as a team. As Dr. William B. Young at the Jefferson Headache Center pointed out to me, patients with head pain disorders must be partners in their care and able to make treatment decisions for themselves when a head pain episode occurs. We can't call our doctors each time, so we must be able to assess the particular episode and decide if and when to medicate and which medications to take. Dr. Young recently participated in one of our live chats. When asked how he feels about educated patients, he replied, "I'd far rather have a treatment partner than a dishrag." This philosophy is part of what makes him an excellent headache/Migraine specialist.
The following is from the American Council for Headache Education (ACHE) web site. It isn't a legal document, but exemplifies the care to which we are entitled. Although it was written for Migraineurs, it applies to all patients.
The Migraineur's Bill of Rights1
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I have a right to be taken seriously by my physician when I go for treatment of my headaches.
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I have a right to complete and thorough medical examination, including a medical history and complete neurological evaluation.
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I have a right to appropriate diagnostic testing, including neuro-diagnostics, CT scans and MRI scans, if necessary, when my headache is first evaluated, and when the headache pattern or severity changes.
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I have the right to be referred to a specialist - for example, a neurologist, a headache specialist, or a headache clinic if my headaches do not respond to my primary physician's treatment, or if my primary physician feels a specialist's care is needed.
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I have the right to receive specific headache therapy, if needed, instead of non-prescription drugs, narcotics, or combination analgesics that may increase the problem.
I have the right to ask for a comprehensive, written treatment plan that will tell me exactly how to use my preventive medications and non-drug preventives and, complete instructions on what to do when a headache occurs. -
I have the right to return for additional help whenever my treatment plan seems to be inadequate to control my headache.
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I have the right to be treated courteously and responsibly in emergency room, if a severe headache fails to respond to my usual treatment plan.
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I have the right to expect my insurance company to recognize migraine as a legitimate medical illness as any other illness such as diabetes, arthritis, etc.
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I have the right to expect those around me - family, friends, co-workers, and others who come in contact with me to make an effort to understand my illness and to cooperate with me in my efforts to live a full, rich life.
Summary:
If your doctor gives up, he or she is the one with the problem, NOT you. Please
don't let it make you feel hopeless or as if you've done something wrong. If
you're in this position, dismiss the doctor, get a copy of your medical records,
and go to a new doctor. Research the doctor before you make the appointment and
don't be afraid to ask questions. Here are some suggested criteria:
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Is the doctor a member of the American Headache Society (if in the U.S.)?
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Do the doctor and staff participate in continuing medical education in the field of head pain disorders?
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How many head pain disorder patients does the doctor treat? What is his/her success rate?
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How does the doctor feel about patient education and about patients who ask questions?
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Does the doctor believe in patient and doctor working together as a team?
Ultimately, our health is our own responsibility. Doctors and other health care professionals work for us and should be willing to work with us. Dr. Stephen Silberstein, director of the Jefferson Headache Center and a member of the U.S. Headache Consortium has commented,
"We believe pain begets pain. So nipping it in the bud can only be helpful down the road ... If you're not getting adequate therapy or care, then get a new doctor."
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ACHE: The American Council for Education.
http://www.achenet.org/resources/mbor.php
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