New dedicated headache and migraine treatment center to open in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — "Migraine is very common, affecting 18% of women and about 6% of men," said Dr. Roderick Spears, chief of headache at Brown Neurology.

Spears will be the endowed chair of migraine at a new dedicated center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

"The goal here is to start a center that is multi-disciplinary, so we'll not only be dealing with people's headaches, but we'll be partnering with ear, nose and throat doctors, rheumatologists, OBGYN's - from a hormonal perspective, to try to provide a holistic multi-disciplinary approach for the patient," said Spears.

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The center builds on what Dr. Frederick Godley and the Association of Migraine Disorders has been doing for years: education.

"We're hoping to inspire the medical community of Rhode Island to focus on migraine and education and its patient care and research," said Godley.

That includes recognizing that a migraine can cause more than pain in your head, or trouble with eyesight.

"It causes dizziness, sometimes actually changes in ability to hear," Godley said. "It can cause things like tinnitus. That's annoying ringing in the ears."

For those who experience migraines and headaches, getting a diagnosis means ruling out a stroke or other treatable causes.

"Patients can present with confusion or disorientation, they can present with stroke-like symptoms, weakness, or loss of sensation on one side," Spears said.

There are medications and devices that can effectively prevent a migraine as well.

The launch of the new center is expected in about a month.

In the meantime, people can contact Brown Neurology to make an appointment.

This weekend, the Association of Migraine Disorders is holding a symposium for clinicians and patients and includes a hands-on presentation with the latest devices that are available.