The interdisciplinary team at Headache Care Center is comprised of physicians, nurses, psychologists, and physical therapists. All are located on site, allowing for close communication to develop the best treatment strategy for each patient. To read about each member of the team, go to the Providers and Staff page.
Medical
Headache Care Center’s medical staff is comprised of three physicians whose backgrounds vary, but who have a common strong interest in headache management. Dr. Roger Cady is board certified in Family Practice; Dr. Curtis Schreiber is board certified in Neurology; and our Medical Director, Dr. Kent Dexter, is board certified in Internal Medicine. All three physicians are also board certified in Headache Management, and collectively offer decades of experience in the evaluation and treatment of headache. They work together and closely with the interdisciplinary team to offer the best care to our patients.
Nursing
The Intensive Program and all I-V therapy are conducted by our Director of Nursing. The clinical nursing staff works with our physicians to enhance patient care and communication. The entire nursing staff is committed to providing excellent patient care, and they are strong patient advocates and educators.
Psychology
Psychology is directed at teaching patients techniques they can use to improve the frequency and impact of their headaches. Headache is a medical condition that may be triggered by psychological changes. Some factors may contribute to the headache pattern, while others may be a result of dealing with a chronic pain condition. The psychologist’s initial visit is devoted to reviewing the medical history with the patient and determining psychosocial and behavioral factors involved in the headache process. Testing is done to determine an index of stress and adjustment. The results of the psychosocial evaluation are shared with the patient, and a treatment plan is designed to meet the needs of that patient. Treatment involves biofeedback training, counseling services, and education about the headache process and treatment options.
Biofeedback
A migraineur's nervous system can be trained to respond to excessive stimulation through the use of temperature biofeedback. The goal of biofeedback is to teach the body's internal physiology to respond with confidence rather than panic when a new challenge arises.
At Headache Care Center, we have found that learning to control stress and its effect on the body helps those who have migraine headaches gain control over the headaches.
The first step in gaining control over the body's internal physiology is to gauge the body's current level of stress. Finger temperature is a reliable indicator of how much stress the body is carrying. The average finger temperature is 85 degrees F. A finger temperature below 85 degrees F signifies that the body is reacting to stress. Through biofeedback, you can retrain your nervous system to respond in a more positive fashion to events that are stressful. These techniques are highly effective in both children and adults.
Although not as effective as individualized instruction, biofeedback can be self-taught with the use of an audio CD. If you are interested in this safe effective way to prevent future migraine attacks, contact Headache Care Center to arrange for biofeedback training.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy offers assessment and treatment of the structure of the body. Tight muscles may lead to headache, or the neurochemical process of headache may actually trigger muscle tightness in the neck area. Your physical therapist can assist you in reducing the physical stress on your body by performing the following:
> Reduce muscle strain that may be contributing to headache
> Rebalance tight versus over-stretched and weakened muscles
> Treat dysfunction of the spinal column, including neck, back, and pelvis
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Teach self-treatment techniques and exercises to maintain mobility, strength,
and body awareness
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