Headache specialist serving Irvine, CA
Most people who end up at Irvine Headache Care have already seen several doctors. They've been told their scans are normal, given a prescription that didn't work, or referred somewhere else. Some have been living with daily headaches for years and have started to believe that this is just how things are going to be. It isn't.
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.
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
Conditions we treat
Dr. Cheng has specialized training in the full range of headache and facial pain disorders, including conditions that are routinely missed in general neurology settings.
PRIMARY HEADACHE
Migraine with and without aura
Chronic migraine
Vestibular migraine
Cluster headache
NDPH
Tension-type headache
FACIAL PAIN AND NEURALGIA
Trigeminal neuralgia
Occipital neuralgia
TMJ dysfunction
Hemicrania continua
Post-herpetic neuralgia
SUNCT / SUNA
COMPLEX AND SECONDARY
Post-traumatic headache
Medication overuse
CSF leaks
IIH
Headache in pregnancy
Post-COVID headache
Irvine 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 Irvine patients come here
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. At Irvine Headache Care 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
Patients can contact Irvine Headache Care directly and are welcome to self-refer.
FAQs
Do I need a referral to see a headache specialist in Irvine?
No referral is required. You can join the waitlist or contact us directly without going through your primary care physician first.
What is the difference between a headache specialist and a general neurologist?
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.
Does Dr. Cheng take insurance?
Irvine Headache Care is a direct-pay practice. A superbill is provided at each visit that you can submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
What if I have already seen multiple doctors without 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.
Does Dr. Cheng see patients in Mandarin?
Yes. Dr. Cheng is fluent in Mandarin and conducts complete neurological evaluations in both English and Mandarin.