Headache specialist serving Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa patients who come to Irvine Headache Care have usually done their research. They've seen the general neurologist, tried the medications, and come to understand that headache medicine done well looks very different from what most practices offer.
Dr. Nan Cheng is one of fewer than 600 UCNS-certified headache specialists in the country, fellowship-trained at Duke, UCLA, and the Mayo Clinic, and founded this practice to offer the kind of diagnostic depth that large institutions and insurance-based practices structurally cannot provide.
Fewer than 600 UCNS-certified headache specialists in the US
600
Trained at: Duke, UCLA, University of Maryland, the Mayo Clinic
4
Board Certifications: Neurology and Headache Medicine
2
Physician, every visit. No NPs, PAs or trainees.
1
Not “just” a headache
Whether you're just starting to look for answers or have spent years searching for them, you're in the right place.
Primary Headache Disorders
Migraine with or without aura
Chronic migraine
Vestibular Migraine
Abdominal migraine
Cluster Headache
Tension-Type Headache
New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH)
Primary stabbing headache
Conditions we treat include:
Neuralgia & Facial Pain
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Occipital Neuralgia
Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain (Atypical Facial Pain)
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) dysfunction
Hemicrania Continua
SUNCT / SUNA
Complex & Secondary
Headache in pregnancy & postpartum
Headache in perimenopause
Post-Traumatic Headache
Medication Overuse Headache
Cervicogenic Headache
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)
Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leaks
Post-COVID headache
Orange County has no shortage of specialists, but headache medicine is a distinct subspecialty that most neurology practices are not equipped to handle at the level that complex or chronic cases require. UCNS certification in headache medicine requires a dedicated fellowship and a separate board examination. It is not a standard part of neurology training, and fewer than 600 physicians in the country hold it.
Why patients choose Irvine Headache Care
One of the country's top headache specialists, in your backyard
Until now, getting access to a UCNS-certified headache specialist has typically meant driving to Los Angeles or waiting months at a large academic medical center. Irvine Headache Care is located in Costa Mesa, and new patients are typically seen within a week of contacting the practice.
Appointments built around your case, not a schedule
Your first visit is a full hour. Dr. Cheng will take a complete history, ask about things prior providers may not have thought to ask, and build a treatment plan specific to your case rather than your diagnosis code.
Every appointment is with Dr. Cheng
At most neurology practices, follow-up care gets handed off to nurse practitioners or covered by whoever is available. That does not happen here. Your case stays with one physician from the first visit forward.
No referral needed
Costa Mesa patients can contact Irvine Headache Care directly and are welcome to self-refer.
FAQs
Do I need a referral if I live in Costa Mesa?
No referral is required. You can join the waitlist or contact us directly without going through your primary care physician first.
General neurologists are trained to manage a wide range of neurological conditions. Headache specialists focus exclusively on headache and facial pain disorders, which means greater diagnostic depth and access to treatments most general neurologists do not regularly use.
What is the difference between a headache specialist and a general neurologist?
Does Dr. Cheng take insurance?
Irvine Headache Care is a direct-care practice. A superbill is provided at each visit that you can submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
What if I have seen multiple specialists and still do not have answers?
Complex and previously misdiagnosed cases are central to what this practice was built for. Dr. Cheng will review your full history without the assumptions that may have shaped your care elsewhere.
How soon can I be seen?
We are currently accepting founding patients for our June 2026 opening. Joining the waitlist secures your appointment for when we open.
Does Dr. Cheng see patients in Mandarin?
Yes. Dr. Cheng is fluent in Mandarin and conducts complete neurological evaluations in both English and Mandarin.
How far is Irvine Headache Care from Costa Mesa?
The practice is located in Costa Mesa!