For Patients of the John R. Graham Headache Center

New Patient Information

We are primarily a consultation-based practice. For this reason, patients must be referred to the clinic by a physician, nurse-practitioner or physician assistant.

Before Your Visit

• Prior to your first visit to the John R. Graham Headache Center, all new patients should print and complete the New Patient Intake Form (Word doc). You will also receive this form in the mail.
• If your health plan requires a referral for you to see a specialist, please contact your primary care physician.
• Please have any records of your prior medical history and treatment as it relates to your condition faxed to our office. This includes the reports of any imaging (CT scan or MRI of your brain) that you may have had. This information can be faxed to us at 617-983-7582.
• If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call us to cancel no later than two business days before your scheduled visit.

After Your Visit

After evaluation, you may be returned to your referring provider with recommendations for treatment and follow-up. Written consultations are sent to each provider. We occasionally follow patients in our clinic for longer periods of time, but we are unable to provide this on a routine basis.

Headache Diaries

• General Headache Calendar
• Headache Diary 1
• Headache Diary 2 (for Drs. Loder and Rizzoli, Excel sheet)

Patient Downloads

• Lidocaine - Instructions for application of nasal lidocaine
• Lithium - About lithium as a treatment for headaches
• Biofeedback - A non-drug treatment for headaches
• The Relaxation Response - Learning to relax in the face of stress
• Tips for Better Sleep - Getting enough good quality sleep is very important for headache patients; advice from our colleagues in sleep medicine
• MIDAS (Migraine Disability Assessment Scale) Questionnaire

Links

• ACHEnet.org - Patient education from the American Headache Society Committee on Headache Education (ACHE)
• Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy - Doctors, scientists and patients advocating for increased funding for headache research
• BWH Weight Management Program - A personalized, physician monitored weight loss program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute - Inpatient evaluation and treatment for severe headache disorders
• The Osher Clinical Center - A Brigham and Women’s Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine
• Spaulding Medford Pain Rehabilitation - Outpatient rehabilitation for patients with chronic pain