Ascension Illinois Comprehensive Headache and Migraine Unit

Headaches and migraines can be overwhelming. But you're not alone. We're here for you. At the Ascension Illinois Comprehensive Headache and Migraine Unit, we offer solutions for pain and deliver personalized care when your physical and mental health are affected by these conditions. Our doctors and care teams work together to deliver medication therapies, physical and psychological therapy and other treatment options for you.

The Ascension Illinois Comprehensive Headache and Migraine Unit has a multispecialty approach to headache diagnosis, treatment and management. Our care team includes doctors, nurses, a psychologist, pharmacists, dietitians, physical therapists, recreational therapists and counselors.

Headache and migraine care includes:

• Individualized medication therapy: Based on diagnosis and previous response to therapy. Patients who benefit from multiple medications are closely monitored by the unit's full-time pharmacist.
• Psychological intervention: Patients participate in group therapy sessions. If necessary, individual psychological and psychiatric counseling is also available.
• Biofeedback training: A non-medication therapy that supports mental and physical health and other therapies.
• Physical and activity therapy: Activities may include stress management, relaxation training, art therapy and pet therapy. The goal is to help patients understand the causes of their headaches and available treatments.
• Alternative therapies: Massage therapy and acupuncture complement the treatment program, helping patients relieve stress and tension.
• Detoxification: Medically-supervised withdrawal helps to lessen or eliminate substance dependency. Patients are fully supported throughout the program.

The 43-bed unit is designed to foster a soothing, quiet and welcoming environment. The unit features relaxation and therapy spaces, a biofeedback suite and an incredible view of Lake Michigan.

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Alexander Feoktistov, MD

Co-Medical Director, Ascension Illinois Comprehensive Headache and Migraine Unit

Dr. Feoktistov is a nationally recognized leader in headache and pain medicine with more than two decades of clinical, academic, and research expertise. He is board-certified in Headache Medicine and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pain Medicine, with advanced expertise spanning interventional headache procedures, neuromodulation, and comprehensive inpatient headache management. Dr. Feoktistov is widely regarded for his expertise in managing complex and refractory headache disorders, advancing evidence-based interventional strategies, and leading multidisciplinary inpatient and outpatient headache programs.

Bradley Torphy, MD

Co-Medical Director, Ascension Illinois Comprehensive Headache and Migraine Unit

Dr. Torphy is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in headache medicine. As Co-Medical Director of the Ascension Illinois Comprehensive Headache and Migraine Unit, Dr. Torphy oversees advanced inpatient and outpatient care pathways for patients with refractory migraine, status migrainosus, cluster headache, and complex secondary headache disorders. He is known for integrating evidence-based protocols, including IV therapy regimens, neurostimulation, and multidisciplinary education, into a coordinated unit that emphasizes safety, compassionate care, and rapid clinical stabilization.