Acupuncture Migraine Specialist: 5 Steps to Prepare for a First-time Visit

You may have just started experiencing re-occurring Migraines, or maybe they have become a chronic nuisance. Whichever the case, finding an effective treatment for lasting relief is important but can be challenging.

Fast Relief Acupuncture is Bergen County’s leading migraine specialist, providing lasting holistic treatments to eliminate migraines safely and completely. Here are five things you should know to best prepare for your appointment.

Get to know your health from the inside-out, especially your migraine / headache- You will want to know the ins and outs of your headache issue. To better evaluate your symptoms, look at the “Five W’s and an H” strategy below. Answer the questions as they relate to your unique headache condition.

WHO

Do you or anyone in your family experience frequent headaches and/or suffer from severe migraines? It is always helpful and important to know your family history regarding any conditions that they or you may have. Our acupuncture specialist will greatly benefit from receiving information that will help provide a detailed and effective treatment plan based off of your family history.

WHAT

What type of symptoms do you feel when having a migraine attack? Write down highly descriptive words such as, stabbing, tingling, pounding, pulsing, or burning. To know your symptoms is to know your headache. Your acupuncturist will be able to identify other body parts affected by your headache and if there are other issues that need to be addressed.

WHEN

When do your headaches occur? Do they appear at specific times, such as at night or after a stressful day? Be as specific as possible, as this can help your specialist identify important triggers that may be causing your discomfort.

WHY

Why do your headaches occur? What are those triggers that cause the migraine? Is it stress, exercise, sleep? All of these could be a trigger. Write down what you were doing when the migraine began.

HOW

How long does your migraine last? Minutes, hours, days? When does your migraine feel the worst? Does it become the worst right away or does it gradually climb in severity?

Here are some tips prior to your initial visit that can greatly aid in your recovery!

Jot down everything- In order to keep your “Five Ws and an H” strategy organized; it is helpful to write everything down in a notebook. Your migraine specialist will devise a plan for your treatment based on your history and current symptoms along with your treatment goals. Keeping a journal in a notebook can greatly aid in deciphering exactly what you need to find headache/ migraine relief.

Know your own medical history- Believe it or not, many patients come to us without a recollection of their own medical histories. During the consultation, our staff gets to know you on a personal basis, including any conditions, medical issues, or medications taken in the past. The information portrayed within these areas will help determine what may be the root cause of your migraine issue, plus harness any important treatment measures for future appointments. To best prepare for your consultation appointment, take the time to gather your medical records from previous doctors, especially ones that you may have visited for the same issue.

Write down questions to ask your therapist- In the same notebook that you write your symptoms, jot down questions or concerns that you wish to address during your consultation appointment or during the appointments after. We realize that this may be your first time trying a natural treatment such as acupuncture. With all first-time experiences come a bound of nerves and a multitude of questions. Our office staff is here to answer any question you may have and calm your concerns.  When you write down questions as you think of them, you will be able to focus more on your consultation rather than stressing over remembering what you may think you have missed.

Come with an open mind- Acupuncture is a natural, proven, and cost-effective treatment that is quite different than a regular doctor appointment. With that being said, come with an open mind. The experience may be daunting for the first time; however, we will make sure you are comfortable, relaxed and that you leave excited to experience your next appointment with us! 

Equipping yourself with the tools above will enhance your first-time acupuncture experience at Fast Relief Acupuncture. Being prepared and willing is the first step in finding lasting migraine relief! Call us today to set up a free consultation appointment.