A second opinion may be warranted if your doctor is hesitant or unwilling to give you an official diagnosis or if you aren't clear on the diagnosis he has provided and follow-up questions haven't helped. Seeking a second opinion may also be a good idea if you just don't feel the diagnosis you've been given is accurate. In this case, a second opinion can provide peace of mind and ensure that you're getting the proper care for the right condition.

Once a diagnosis of migraine is given, a discussion of treatment options and how they may, or may not, work with your lifestyle and personal medical history should take place between you and your doctor. He should also discuss those lifestyle changes that may help lessen the frequency of your migraine attacks. If your doctor hands you a prescription with little or no explanation, or ignores any objections you have to the treatment plan he suggests, then a second opinion is probably a good idea.

Unfortunately, while the majority of physicians you will encounter understand that migraine is a neurological condition that can cause severe pain and substantial disability, there are still health care professionals out there who will write off migraine as “just a headache.” If you ever get the sense that your doctor is discounting your condition or underestimating the impact it is having on your life, it's time to find another health care provider.