neurologist

A:While there is no cure for cluster headaches, medications can effectively reduce the frequency and severity of your headaches. You don't have to live with the excruciating pain of these headaches. It may help to identify and avoid triggers of your headaches. Common triggers include alcohol, antihistamines, or other medications that widen your blood vessels. Alcohol almost always triggers a subsequent headache while you are in a cycle of headaches. High-flow oxygen inhalation—breathing in 100% oxygen through a face mask—is another treatment that can stop a cluster headache. However, you have to start this treatment right when the headache begins, and you'll need to repeat the treatment with each new headache as it emerges. Initial treatment Medications are the most effective treatment for cluster headaches. The two types of medications used are prophylactic medications, to prevent headaches or reduce the number of headaches in a cycle; and abortive medications, to relieve pain and reduce the severity of symptoms once the headaches begin. Treatment depends on the frequency of headache cycles and the severity of symptoms during a cycle. Abortive medications most often used to stop a cluster headache include: Sumatriptan (Imitrex), which is usually injected to narrow blood vessels and reduce pressure and pain. This medication can also be taken as a nasal spray, although it may be less effective than the injection. Ergotamine preparations, such as ergotamine tartrate with caffeine (Cafergot, Wigraine), which narrow blood vessels to relieve pressure and reduce headache pain. Intranasal lidocaine, which is taken by nose drops to stop severe headache pain. Another treatment that often stops a headache within 10 to 20 minutes of onset is: High-flow oxygen inhalation therapy. Oxygen is inhaled through a face mask to decrease blood flow to the brain and relieve headache pain. The treatment needs to be repeated as the next headache in a cycle emerges. Prophylactic headache medications most often used to prevent cluster headaches include: Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil hydrochloride (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), which relax or widen narrowed blood vessels and reduce pain. Verapamil is the first choice drug for preventing both occasional and chronic cluster headaches. 3 Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, which can break a headache cycle, although it is not clear how these medications work. Antiseizure medications such as divalproex sodium (Depakote), valproate (valproic acid), or topiramate (Topamax), which may be tried if other treatments are not effective. Lithium. Lithium carbonate (Lithobid, Lithonate, Lithotabs, Eskalith) is thought to affect the brain's biological clock (hypothalamus), which some experts think is linked to cluster headaches, although the specific problem or abnormality that triggers cluster headaches is unclear. Lithium is often prescribed to prevent chronic cluster headaches. Methysergide (Sansert) was previously prescribed for cluster headaches but is no longer available in the United States. It may be helpful to identify and avoid headache triggers such as alcohol, cigarettes, and raising your body temperature with hot baths or exercise during a headache cycle. For more information, see: How can I effectively manage a headache? Keeping track of when the headaches occur, their frequency, and the severity of symptoms may help your health professional identify the most effective treatment. To do this, use a headache diary (What is a PDF document?). If your symptoms do not clearly indicate cluster headaches, your health professional may recommend imaging tests (such as an MRI or CT scan) to rule out other possible causes of the headaches. Talking with your health professional can help you decide whether imaging tests are right for you. For more information, see: Should I have imaging tests to evaluate my headaches? Ongoing treatment Ongoing treatment for cluster headaches usually includes taking prescribed medications and avoiding headache triggers. It may take several attempts with different medications before you find the right medication. If a medication is not preventing or stopping your headaches, talk with your health professional to see whether another medication or a combination of medications might work better. High-flow oxygen inhalation therapy is another effective treatment for cluster headaches. Around 70% of those treated with oxygen soon after a headache emerges get relief within 10 to 20 minutes. 3 However, additional oxygen will be needed when the next headache begins. Abortive headache medications are often used to stop a headache once a cycle of cluster headaches begins. Those most often prescribed include: Ergotamine preparations, such as ergotamine tartrate with caffeine (Cafergot, Wigraine), which narrow blood vessels to relieve pressure and reduce headache pain. Sumatriptan (Imitrex), which is injected to narrow blood vessels and reduce pressure and pain. This medication can also be taken as a nasal spray, although it may be less effective than the injection. Intranasal lidocaine, which is taken by nose drops to stop severe headache pain. If your cluster headaches recur often or become chronic, you may want to consider taking a prophylactic headache medication to reduce the frequency of headache cycles or limit the number of headaches you get during a cycle. Prophylactic medications most often used to prevent headaches include: Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil hydrochloride (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), which relax narrowed blood vessels and reduce pain. Verapamil is the first choice drug for preventing both occasional and chronic cluster headaches. 3 Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, which can break a headache cycle, although it is not clear how these medications work. Antiseizure medications such as divalproex sodium (Depakote), valproate (valproic acid), or topiramate (Topamax), which may be tried if other treatments are not effective. Lithium. Lithium carbonate (Lithobid, Lithonate, Lithotabs, Eskalith) is thought to affect the brain's biological clock (hypothalamus), which some experts think is linked to cluster headaches, although the specific problem or abnormality that triggers cluster headaches is unclear. Lithium is often prescribed to prevent chronic cluster headaches. Methysergide (Sansert) was previously prescribed for cluster headaches but is no longer available in the United States. Identifying and avoiding headache triggers is another way to help prevent or reduce the number of recurring cluster headaches during a cycle of headaches. Avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and certain foods (such as aged cheeses and processed meats) may help reduce the number of headaches you have during a cycle. For more information, see: How can I effectively manage a headache? Keeping a headache diary may help you and your health professional identify triggers and better understand when your cycles of cluster headaches occur, which can help your health professional identify the most effective treatment. See an example of a headache diary (What is a PDF document?). If your headaches are not relieved by medications or their pattern changes, your health professional may recommend imaging tests to rule out other causes of your headaches. Talking with your health professional can help you decide whether imaging tests are right for you. For more information, see: Should I have imaging tests to evaluate my headaches? Chronic, excruciating, and debilitating cluster headaches can cause depression and even thoughts of suicide during the headaches. For this reason, cluster headaches are sometimes referred to as "suicide headaches." If your headaches are so painful you feel depressed or suicidal, talk to your health professional. Knowing the severity of your symptoms will help your health professional prescribe the best treatment. Treatment if the condition gets worse If your cluster headaches worsen, change their pattern, or become chronic, you may want to talk to your health professional about different treatments. You can help identify the pattern of your headaches so you become aware of any changes and can discuss them with your health professional by keeping a headache diary (What is a PDF document?). Sometimes changing medications is all that is needed. It is possible you may need to try a prophylactic medication to prevent headaches rather than an abortive medication to stop the headaches as they occur. If your headaches are severe or frequent, you may want to ask your health professional about trying high-flow oxygen inhalation therapy. Breathing in 100% oxygen through a face mask soon after a headache begins can eliminate or greatly reduce pain within 10 to 20 minutes in many people. However, the procedure must be repeated when the next headache in the cycle of headaches begins. While oxygen therapy is helpful for many people, it is not effective for everyone. If your headache pattern changes, headaches become worse, or are not helped with medications, your health professional may recommend imaging tests to rule out other causes of your headaches. Talking with your health professional can help you decide whether imaging tests are right for you. For more information, see: Should I have imaging tests to evaluate my headaches? Other rare treatment On rare occasions, a treatment called intravenous histamine desensitization may be tried if your headaches do not improve with standard medical treatment. You will be hospitalized during this treatment. An increasing amount of a medication called histamine is given to you through a vein (intravenously). While this medication may reduce the frequency and severity of cluster headaches, it is not clear exactly how it works. Surgery and radiation may be considered after other medical treatments have failed to improve cluster headaches. Because surgery and radiation can cause significant, destructive changes in the brain, these treatments are rarely used. Further study on surgery and radiation therapy for the treatment of cluster headaches is needed to prove any effectiveness. 6 Surgery to cut the nerve that controls feeling in the face (trigeminal nerve) is used only for people who always get headaches on the same side of their heads. Radiation therapy, in which a highly focused beam of radiation is aimed at the trigeminal nerve, may decrease facial feeling and improve cluster headache pain. What To Think About You may need to try several different medications or a combination of medications before finding the most effective treatment. If your headaches occur infrequently, you may only need to take medications as the headaches emerge. If your headaches occur regularly, you may need to take daily medications to prevent a future headache or reduce the number of headaches in a cycle.

A:I've just done a quick google for what you're looking for and there's a number of articles of interest. If you contact the writers, they may be able to help you personally or direct you to a neurologist who uses their research in practice.

A:i am epileptic, i was born with this condition, but my mother was always told i just had learning problems, and i had ADHD. i was 14 years old by the time one of her friends (my teacher) told her to take me to a nuerologist, mum took me there and told the neuro. my condition and told him they had just found out i had eye problems, and she thought that would fix the rest of the issues i had! i had an E.E.G and a C.A.T scan, and they found that i had sleep deprived epilepsy!, i now have my condition controlled, and went through to university! When you see the neurologist, be honest with them and tell them all of the issues you have with your daughter (no matter how minor they seem) because the neuro. will know what to look for, if they know what the problem is! And if they find something wrong with your daughter, don't panic, now that you know what the problem is, you can learn how to fix it, and give your daughter a much better chance at life! Good luck!

A:it is difficult to quote a single name. you could try Wockhardt Brain & Spine Hospital - Mulund (West), Mumbai - 022 67994444 i would however suggest that you visit all india institute of medical sciences (AIIMS) delhi. it is india's best an top ranked no. 1 medical centre, with best skilled surgeons in the world, who are empanelled for india's top bureaucrats and diplomats. there is also one spinal injuries center in delhi. it is also ranked as one of the best in india for neurological and spinal disorders. you can try there as well. you can also try for jaslok and lilavati hospitals

A:It's not that they can find out things, it's that they can help you figure out therapies, give you ideas and suggestions as to what can help. Good luck.