Perhaps one of the most-important elements of the Diamond Headache Clinic approach comes in our emphasis on an accurate diagnosis.

Our Philosophy: One Patient at a Time. One Diagnosis at a Time.

As headache doctors, we believe strongly that each patient comes to us with a unique set of circumstances, all of which contribute to their condition – and all of which will be factors in our recommended treatment as their expert headache doctor. We know there is no such thing as a “cure” for the condition. Instead, every doctor at our clinic focuses on ensuring our patients connect with a headache doctor who understands them and can teach them how to accept this as a lifelong pursuit of balance.

Expert Headache Doctors Define Primary Headache Types

Headaches primarily can be placed in three categories: migraine, cluster and tension. Each has its own cause, duration, frequency and severity. 

Research by headache doctors across the U.S. has revealed a vast majority of the adult population will have a tension headache, at some point. These expert migraine doctors also have found there is no universal cause, but instead a list of contributing factors, such as: erratic sleep patterns, fatigue, depression, anxiety, stress and hunger. 

In the case of migraine headache, proper diagnosis and treatment by experienced migraine doctors is essential. The combination of physiological, biological and environmental factors that contribute to the severity and duration of migraine requires close examination to pinpoint effective treatments. 

Patients experiencing migraine most often reach our migraine doctors with medical histories that reveal a series of inaccurate diagnoses and inadequate treatments. We know that while many migraine doctors  can spot the immediate symptoms, those same migraine doctors may eventually miss the diagnosis because they have not considered enough of a patient's history or personal lifestyle.

Our headache doctors make a point to examine every patient's complete medical history and engage in a thorough lifestyle conversation to decipher which factors may be playing a role in the headache cycle. In the end, it gives our migraine doctors a unique perspective and leads to a stronger doctor-patient relationship.

Cluster headache is the least-common type of primary headache condition, and occurs mostly in men. Although its causes remain unclear, its effects are distinct. Patients experience symptoms unlike a migraine, including an intense, stabbing pain around the eye or temple, lasting up to three hours. Headache doctors have found cluster headaches occur in periods or cycles, sometimes as often as several times a day during a cluster cycle.

Because not as much is known about cluster headache as other types and each episode is so severe, it becomes critical to find a headache doctor that can react with precision. 

Primary headache conditions present themselves in common types: chronic, episodic, new daily persistent, rebound, common medication overuse and high- or low-blood pressure. The chronic type usually is the result of a daily, continuous stress on the system; while episodic headaches usually are triggered by an isolated situation.

Not All Headache Doctors are the Same

Once an accurate diagnosis is established, we set our sights on developing a lasting – and livable - treatment plan. Each patient is connected to a headache doctor with the special skills it takes to properly monitor progress and adjust treatments.

Our near-northside Chicago clinic is not only a place to find the best headache doctors, it's also the place to receive the best outpatient headache treatments available. Our expert headache doctors attract patients from across the U.S., many of whom are referred to us directly by their primary care physician or migraine doctors at home.

If a patient requires hospitalization, our clinic offers an unrivaled inpatient unit on the 9th floor of Saint Joseph Hospital in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago. This fully appointed unit gives patients unfettered access to the multi-disciplinary approach we've mastered. Their stay includes one-on-one and group sessions with psychologists, psychiatrists, pharmacists, physical and recreational therapists, dietitians and clinical staff.