OT: Best neurologist that treats headaches

[CEO2044]

Been trying to get into Ruth Fredericks for some time but can never get them to answer the phone or return my call. Anyone have any other suggestions? I’ve been seeing someone for a year that only wants to do virtual appts and I’m just getting worse.

TIA

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

Ruth Fredericks is the best in the area, but it is HELL to communicate with them much less get an appt with her. You will probably need a referral from your Primary. Try to reach out to her office thru the St Dominics mychart site.

My wife has been a patient of Dr Fredericks for 15 plus years, sees her twice per year plus one of her NPs also twice per year. Dr Fredericks is incredible, but you cannot overstate the levels incompetence & lazy of the the clerical staff in that office.

 

[3407Dewey]

Been trying to get into Ruth Fredericks for some time but can never get them to answer the phone or return my call. Anyone have any other suggestions? I’ve been seeing someone for a year that only wants to do virtual appts and I’m just getting worse.

TIA

I’m not in the area but have suffered from debilitating headaches for decades. My neurologist put me on Emgality a little over a year ago and it has been a game changer. Maybe something to look into.

 

[PapaDawg]

My wife has had horrible headaches for a couple of years. Her neurologist put her on Emgality three months ago and it has been life changing. No headaches since. She does feel some pressure when the weather is changing but no pain.
Check into the Emgality.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

My wife is on Emgality as well and it’s nice to have my wife back. Debilitating headaches was an understatement. She also has the double whammy of having occipital neuralgia

 

[thatsbaseball]

In all my years and all my experiences with doctors and their staffs, Ruth Fredricks' office staff is the worst. I was having a strange problem causing "silent migraines with aura" (I know, that's weird) that was being caused by a B12 deficiency it was correctly diagnosed by one of her nurse practitioners but I never saw or spoke to Fredricks. If it were me and I had a serious need for a neurologist I'd search in another city.

 

[GloryDawg]

Dr. J. Daniels. 182 Lynchburg HWY, Lynchburg TN. I heard he is really good.

 

[CEO2044]

Emgality- do y’all have BCBS?? They’ve told me they don’t cover any of the CGRP’s. Mine really aren’t migraines, though- chronic, daily 24/7 headache that is getting worse. Developed occipital neuralgia and currently have TOS symptoms.

Mychart- you can only reach out to them if they are your care team, correct? I’m trying to get in as a new patient.

Communication is not their strong point.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

I've suffered from headaches since early college. They'll come for several days at a time and then leave. Just finished a 20 day stretch of daily headaches. Got a two day reprieve and now on day 3. I know mine are mainly fueled by stress and tension, but I do have some light sensitivity when they get really bad.

 

[CEO2044]

I've suffered from headaches since early college. They'll come for several days at a time and then leave. Just finished a 20 day stretch of daily headaches. Got a two day reprieve and now on day 3. I know mine are mainly fueled by stress and tension, but I do have some light sensitivity when they get really bad.

So I’m a PT— I’ve dealt with similar headaches for a long time. Do you work a desk job?

I firmly believe most people with headaches have a neck/shoulder/jaw issue. I would say try PT and see if you can find a good manual therapist that can work on whatever the issue is. Mine’s a bit complex, but this is mostly how I’m treating myself as well.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

So I’m a PT— I’ve dealt with similar headaches for a long time. Do you work a desk job?

I firmly believe most people with headaches have a neck/shoulder/jaw issue. I would say try PT and see if you can find a good manual therapist that can work on whatever the issue is. Mine’s a bit complex, but this is mostly how I’m treating myself as well.

It is a desk job and I definitely wouldn't rule out a neck or shoulder issue.

 

[lowdawg]

Try qulipta daily with ubrelvy when needed for breakthroughs, even primary care can prescribe it if you’ve had some other failures

 

[CEO2044]

Try qulipta daily with ubrelvy when needed for breakthroughs, even primary care can prescribe it if you’ve had some other failures

BCBS won’t cover Quilipta, and told me they don’t cover any CGRP’s. But if you are able to get this with BCBS, let me know. It may just be the plan I have, but the pharmacist made it seem like it’s not covered by them at all.

Quilipta definitely helps but never takes the headache away completely.

 

[LimaoCabeca]

Not covering CGRP meds is wild. They really should be second line, if not first line for people with severe headaches.

 

[lowdawg]

BCBS won’t cover Quilipta, and told me they don’t cover any CGRP’s. But if you are able to get this with BCBS, let me know. It may just be the plan I have, but the pharmacist made it seem like it’s not covered by them at all.

Quilipta definitely helps but never takes the headache away completely.

Oh yeah I think Mississippi and Tennessee are the only two bcbs in the nation that won’t cover it. You can try an appeal. The American headache society has recently changed guidelines for CGRP to be first line preventative. A few insurances have followed suit. Call Dr Khoury in atlanta at the Southeast Headache Center. He does telehealth.

 

[CEO2044]

Not covering CGRP meds is wild. They really should be second line, if not first line for people with severe headaches.

They are very expensive. But the crazy thing to me is most of them have patient assistance programs that will cover it as long as the insurance covers a portion. Hopefully next year that happens— it’s been disappointing.

 

[CEO2044]

Oh yeah I think Mississippi and Tennessee are the only two bcbs in the nation that won’t cover it. You can try an appeal. The American headache society has recently changed guidelines for CGRP to be first line preventative. A few insurances have followed suit. Call Dr Khoury in atlanta at the Southeast Headache Center. He does telehealth.

Tried the appeal. They just don’t want to cover them. Period is what I was told.

thank you for the recommendation. Let me know if you have personal experience with him.

 

[RBDog82]

Try Gina Burge at Baptist or Amanda Greene / Karen Freeman at Mississippi Neurology Care Clinic. Wife sold CGRPs and this is who she recommended if you can’t get in with Ruth Fredericks.

 

[PapaDawg]

Emgality- do y’all have BCBS?? They’ve told me they don’t cover any of the CGRP’s. Mine really aren’t migraines, though- chronic, daily 24/7 headache that is getting worse. Developed occipital neuralgia and currently have TOS symptoms.

Mychart- you can only reach out to them if they are your care team, correct? I’m trying to get in as a new patient.

Communication is not their strong point.

I am covered by BCBS, but the wife is covered by Medicare with a Humana supplement

 

[Called3rdstrikedawg]

Extreme neck and shoulder tension causing bad headaches. My doc sent me to PT for a something similar to acupuncture. Worked for a few visits but then all symptoms and neck and headaches are back. My headache is now actually in my right eye which I also have glaucoma onset in. My wife uses Ruth Fredrick. One thing about her, she scheduled to see patients 7 days per week.. but you better keep your appt when you get it or it could be months before getting in again no matter how bad your issues are.

 

[Ers236]

My Dad saw Tiffany Scarff when he was still alive and we were very pleased with her. He was a patient for 10 years or so

 

[Curby]

I used to never get headaches. Since I got Covid in 2020, I get them nearly every day.

Not sure if there is a correlation or not. Sure would like to know.

 

[The Peeper]

I don't know which variety of headaches he gets (cluster, migraines, etc) but a guy I follow on Youtube said his Dr wrote him a prescription for an oxygen tank and he sleeps with it every night and its made a big difference for him and his headaches. I don't think you have to have a 'script for O2 unless you want to claim it in your medical insurance. Seems worth a try before enriching the pockets of drug companies, but also seems too good to be true too so............................

 

[CEO2044]

I don't know which variety of headaches he gets (cluster, migraines, etc) but a guy I follow on Youtube said his Dr wrote him a prescription for an oxygen tank and he sleeps with it every night and its made a big difference for him and his headaches. I don't think you have to have a 'script for O2 unless you want to claim it in your medical insurance. Seems worth a try before enriching the pockets of drug companies, but also seems too good to be true too so............................

Those are for cluster headaches. I did buy a can from Amazon just to try- didn’t work, but I don’t have those anyway.

Thank you, though.

 

[CEO2044]

I used to never get headaches. Since I got Covid in 2020, I get them nearly every day.

Not sure if there is a correlation or not. Sure would like to know.

this is a great podcast I listen to. I’ve also been out to get treatment from them.

 

[Crucifictorious]

Try Gina Burge at Baptist or Amanda Greene / Karen Freeman at Mississippi Neurology Care Clinic. Wife sold CGRPs and this is who she recommended if you can’t get in with Ruth Fredericks.

Gina Burge helped me with my migraines. She is a great Nurse Practitioner