Dr Painkiller

10/14/2026

Neurologist rates brain foods 0-10 (walnuts, salmon, coconut oil and more).

I rated the most popular "brain foods" on what the evidence shows for memory and focus, not on what the packaging says. A few earned their reputation. A few are coasting on vibes.

Which score do you disagree with? Tell me the food and the number you'd give it.

10/13/2026

migraine cgrp meds rated 0-10

10/13/2026

Neck pain, cervicogenic headache, and migraine: a 5-second test that narrows down the source

"Neck pain" isn't a diagnosis. It's a location.

The pain can come from muscle, from the small joints of the spine, from a disc, or from a nerve getting irritated on its way out. They all hurt in roughly the same place and they're treated very differently, which is why "it's probably your posture" fails so many people.

Dr. Michael Flamm walks through a quick maneuver we use to start sorting that out, and what the result points toward. It's a clue, not a verdict. It narrows the list; it doesn't replace an actual exam.

Where does your neck pain travel: shoulder blade, arm, back of the head, or does it stay put? Tell me below.

This is educational content, not medical advice.

10/12/2026

A normal MRI doesn't mean you're fine.

10/12/2026

Migraine vs. cervicogenic headache: the chicken and egg problem

Neck pain and migraine have a complicated relationship.

For a lot of migraine patients, neck pain shows up before the headache does. It gets blamed on posture, pillows, or stress, when it can be part of the attack itself. For others, the neck really is the source: joints, discs, and nerves in the upper cervical spine can refer pain straight into the head. That's cervicogenic headache. And some people have both, which is where it gets messy.

Dr. Michael Flamm and I get into which came first, what the actual pain generators in the neck are, and why the answer changes the treatment.

Does your neck hurt before, during, or after your attacks? Tell me below.

This is educational content, not medical advice.

10/11/2026

10/11/2026

Two neurologists. Triptans or CGRP meds?

10/10/2026

Rating OTC Migraine Meds From 0-10.

Not medical advice, and remember that most of these can backfire (medication overuse headache) if taken more than 10-15 days/month.

10/10/2026

rating migraine hacks 0-10: the daith piercing (deep dive)

10/09/2026

If a migraine hack has never been in a study, it's not a hack. It's a rumor.

Here are 5 that actually have evidence, from a double board-certified neurologist and pain specialist. Dedicated to everyone who's ever been told to just drink more water.

Dexter joined for quality control. NYC supplied an unsolicited siren solo toward the end. Dexter's formal complaint is pending.

Educational only, not personal medical advice.