Can ID Migraine diagnose Migraine Fast?

ID Migraine is a tool that was developed about 10 years ago by Dr. Richard Lipton and a team of researchers.  At the time, there was so much misdiagnosis that few people were getting good, targeted treatment.  (Sadly, there is still a lot of misdiagnosis, but things are improving.)

Knowing that doctors often have limited time with patients, a tool was needed to point them in the right direction early on.

ID Migraine consists of three simple questions.  The test has been modified and reinvented at times, but basically it goes something like this:

If you answer “yes” to at least two of these questions, you probably have migraine.

Cautions and Limitations

Research seems to support the idea – yes, if you answer in the affirmative to at least two of these questions, you probably do have migraine.

But could you answer “yes” and still not have migraine?  It’s possible.  You could also have migraine symptoms that are caused or triggered by other diseases or conditions.  There is always a danger that a doctor (or patient) will say “it’s just migraine” and miss out on something else that could be treated if caught in time.  That’s another reason why continued dialogue with your doctor and ongoing treatment is critical.

Could you answer “no” and still have migraine?  I’m afraid so.  It should be noted that this tool does work best for someone who goes to the doctor complaining of headache.  There are types of migraine where headache is not the predominant symptoms, or where it isn’t present at all.

But assuming there is headache, it is possible to have symptoms other than nausea and photophobia (sensitivity to light).

Of course, diagnosing anything with three questions is a challenge, and only the first step.  This tool does an excellent job of getting things right the majority of the time.

But it is still very important to see a doctor who knows your medical history, and to look for good, well researched treatment for migraine.

Again, diagnosing migraine is only the first step.  Knowing what type of migraine you have is the next step toward good treatment.  Get a specific diagnosis and keep an eye on your symptoms over time.  If things change for the worse, or don’t improve, you’ll need to be more aggressive in your fight against migraine.

Still, ID Migraine is a useful tool that can point a doctor in the right direction and hopefully help many get proper treatment faster.  It’s still being used today to help both doctors and patients.