Draft:Pamela Blake MD - The Blake Method

The Blake Method Dr. Blake is interested in determining the underlying cause of headaches. While it is important to assign a diagnosis according to the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, the trusted resource that Headache Medicine physicians use to standardize headache treatment, it is more important to identify the reason why a certain headache disorder exists. This process requires careful questioning and physical examination, and sometimes it is not possible in the first visit or even first few visits to identify the cause of headaches. The reason for headaches usually becomes clear, however, with time and a collaborative relationship between Dr. Blake and her associates and the patient to identify additional information about headache characteristics.

Once the diagnosis is reached, the treatment follows in a logical method. For patients whose headaches are determined to be due to occipital nerve compression, there are a number of treatment options available; sometimes one treatment alone is effective, and sometimes numerous treatments are needed. Monitoring the response to treatment with the use of logs and frequent follow-up visits, either in-person or via telemedicine, provides further useful information. Occasionally referral to other physicians is necessary, and sometimes the exploration for emotional factors that may play a role in all types of pain is critical. Dr. Blake is experienced in the role of emotional factors in headache, and she works closely with testing and treating psychologists in identifying and treating any such factors that may be related to pain.

When nerve decompression surgery is indicated, Dr. Blake works closely with the surgeon to ensure the best outcomes. Dr. Blake's role is to determine if surgery is indicated to treat headaches, and whether a patient is an appropriate surgical candidate, taking various factors into consideration. Following surgery, Dr. Blake will manage post-operative interventions such as physical therapy and medication management, while the surgeon will manage incision care. Most of the patients who undergo surgery are able to reduce or eliminate medications they may have been on for prevention of headaches. Instruction in posture and best working positions, as well as the management of return to full physical activity is a critical responsibility, as is the management of post-operative flares of pain.

References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9fVC-dwiTw https://headache.zone/2024/07/21/are-my-headaches-really-migraines/ https://headache.zone/2024/07/18/the-puzzle-of-refractory-headaches/