Cluster Headaches

[Dogmama]

I don't get headaches. BUT, for the last five days, I've had excruciating headaches that occur the same time each day (evening), are behind my left eye making it tear up, radiates down to my teeth and laughs at aspirin. I'm very restless with these - trying to find a good head position, walking around wanting to bang my head against a wall to make them stop. I finally cave in & take a sleeping pill, put a hot bean bag over my face and when I wake up (several hours later) the headache is gone but a residual dull ache remains for several hours.

I checked with Dr. Google and they are classic cluster headaches. I'm supposed to go out of town in five days to a 3 day dog training conference and I'm traveling in the evening - my worst times. Oh, and apparently air travel makes these headaches worse.

Has anybody had these? What did you do? I will cave in & make a doctor's appointment tomorrow...

[smilingcat]

Sometimes deep tissue massage around the neck and shoulder helped to relieve some pain. The kind of massage that is bit uncomfortable like sports and Swedish massage. mine starts as a stress related headache and turns into a full blown migrane while I'm asleep. Headache wakes me up...

Another thing that helps is chiro.

It's different for each person. So massage may help or may not. I also sit under a really hot shower and just soak my head. Shower doesn't have to be full on just enough to get my head soaking. And I stretch my neck and shoulder as much as I can. Sometimes my back too.

Crossing my fingers for you and hope it breaks before you have to fly.

[Dogmama]

Cancelled my trip because I cannot function when I have this headache. The upside is that I moved the registration to the next seminar which is the end of March in Norfolk VA.

Called my massage therapist & she has the flu but will see her when she gets better. Going to (gasp) make a dr. appt. tomorrow.

[azfiddle]

Oh- so sorry to hear this! I don't get many headaches but last night I woke up with one at about 11:30 pm, in much the same place as you describe- I did try some self massage, and eventually was able to get back to sleep.

Good call postponing the air travel. I had one experience where I had a problem on descent - sometimes called aerosinusitus - not fun!

Good luck with finding a solution- wish I could help.

[Dogmama]

Just saw doctor & he said they're definitely cluster headaches & prescribed migraine medication & an MRI. We'll see if I have a brain!

[Wahine]

Are the meds helping? When's the MRI?

There are some other potential diagnoses besides cluster headache (which is neurologically/vascular in origin) that are mechanical in nature. If the cluster headache avenue doesn't pan out, let me know and I'll direct you to more information.

[Dogmama]

MRI is tomorrow. Doc prescribed imitrex but it doesn't seem to help much. I had two headaches back-to-back yesterday. It's worrisome because I'm starting my dog training business and don't want to have to cancel on a client because of a headache. But, once I get them, I'm incapacitated for several hours.

Can the MRI definitively diagnose a cluster headache? I thought he was just ruling out other things.

[ny biker]

I've had migraines for years, not cluster headaches, but my experience has been that a neurologist who specializes in headaches is best for diagnosing and treating them. If your doctor is not a headache specialist, and you find that his recommended treatment is not working, then you should consider seeing someone else.

Feedback to your doctor is also important -- if the Imitrex is not working, let him know. There are other meds out there which might be more helpful, or you might just need a stronger dosage.

Also, do research on your own to see if lifestyle changes might be helpful. When my migraines were at their worst, it was very important to keep to a regular schedule for eating and sleeping. Stress management can also be very important (though I never did figure out how to do that). Grinding my teeth contributed to the problem, and I also found that wearing heavy necklaces bothered me. Other people find that certain foods can be migraine triggers -- I don't know if cluster headaches also can react to foods, but it's worth finding out.

Good luck!!

[Wahine]

The MRI is for ruling out something else that may be causing the headaches. The probability of seeing anything on MRI is low, but it's frequently recommended for anyone who starts having unusual headaches that has not been head achy before.

There is really good research out there to support the use of acupuncture for the treatment of headaches. You might want to look into that. And, there are also mechanical causes for these types of headaches that involve the upper spinal segments of the neck. These can sometimes be treated by an appropriately trained PT or a Chiropractor.

I would wait on PT or Chiro until you have the MRI results back.

[smilingcat]

Migraine med prescribed to me made it lot worse. My doctor at the time told me to stop immediately. So you would not be the only person where the meds didn't help. It seems to be a hit or miss sort of thing. One good thing is that it didn't make it worse and you know that it doesn't work so one thing off the list of potential "fix".

I hope you get over it quick!!

[Dogmama]

Had MRI & doc already called. It is "inconclusive" and they are seeing evidence of mini-strokes. I've never had high blood pressure or any of the symptoms of a stroke so who knows. Being referred to a neurologist. Sux because I'm way healthier than most of my 59 year old cohorts. My grandmother died from a stroke but she was 94!

Doc is going to prescribe pure oxygen for headaches. Says that makes some cluster headaches go away. I usually get one around 3PM, so I'm a little over an hour away and my head is already tuning up for it. Ugh.

[Dogmama]

Well, oxygen didn't work. It's like putting out a forest fire with a squirt gun. In fact, I think it rebounds & makes it worse. I'm just coming off a 16 hour cluster headache. Took sleeping pills & they barely helped. Hopefully seeing neurologist this week.

A cluster headache is like having that brain freeze that you get when you eat ice cream too fast - except it keeps pulsing for hours on end. Excruciating.

Also, I wrecked my back in the gym - I think trying to do pikes. My hip screams when I try to walk. It's been over two weeks. Time to get into the spine doc. I am not sure about chiropractic because I have so many bad discs & nerve problems back there.

I feel like I'm 100 years old.

[Howieduck]

I get terrible headaches if/ when I injure my back or neck!
They may go if you get your back sorted perhaps?

[OakLeaf]

Aw, Dogmama, hope you feel better soon!

May I suggest an osteopath trained in Sutherland's techniques? http://cranialacademy.org/search.html?Submit=Accept They realign the skeletal structure using gentle technique that's nothing like chiropractic. Unlike an orthopedic surgeon (or neurosurgeon, whichever one commonly works on spines in your area), they don't see the knife as the first or even the second line of treatment, but unlike a chiropractor, they're familiar with surgery and won't be shy about a surgical referral if that's what you really need.

Finding a Board-certified neuromusculoskeletal practitioner was what put me on the road to recovering from my injuries, and it was totally worth the long drive to the nearest one. I hope there's someone nearer you than to me.

[Dogmama]

Aw, Dogmama, hope you feel better soon!

May I suggest an osteopath trained in Sutherland's techniques? http://cranialacademy.org/search.html?Submit=Accept They realign the skeletal structure using gentle technique that's nothing like chiropractic. Unlike an orthopedic surgeon (or neurosurgeon, whichever one commonly works on spines in your area), they don't see the knife as the first or even the second line of treatment, but unlike a chiropractor, they're familiar with surgery and won't be shy about a surgical referral if that's what you really need.

Finding a Board-certified neuromusculoskeletal practitioner was what put me on the road to recovering from my injuries, and it was totally worth the long drive to the nearest one. I hope there's someone nearer you than to me.

OMG Oak - thank you so much! I clicked on your link & found a doctor TWO MILES AWAY from me! Since my PCP ordered me to see a Neuro, I'm going to do that first for my head. But DEFINITELY for my lower back - this sounds exactly like what I need. Usually my spine doc does an MRI, clucks a little & sends me to PT. And if PT doesn't work, it's the knife - not! I have stenosis, bone spurs, slipped disks, just generally a train wreck down there. That is the main reason I've always had to have bikes fitted to me and I ride a more upright position than most people.

[Wahine]

Aw, Dogmama, hope you feel better soon!

May I suggest an osteopath trained in Sutherland's techniques? http://cranialacademy.org/search.html?Submit=Accept They realign the skeletal structure using gentle technique that's nothing like chiropractic. Unlike an orthopedic surgeon (or neurosurgeon, whichever one commonly works on spines in your area), they don't see the knife as the first or even the second line of treatment, but unlike a chiropractor, they're familiar with surgery and won't be shy about a surgical referral if that's what you really need.

Finding a Board-certified neuromusculoskeletal practitioner was what put me on the road to recovering from my injuries, and it was totally worth the long drive to the nearest one. I hope there's someone nearer you than to me.

This is a great suggestion. I don't often think of Osteopaths because we don't have many of them in Canada where I was trained and started my career. PTs where I'm from use a lot of osteopathic methods and are very well trained in manual therapy. Not so much here in the US.

[Dogmama]

I do believe in osteopathic manipulation and am totally for anything that doesn't involve medications. I'm seeing a neurologist for my headaches tomorrow so hopefully can get some answers there. I'm seeing my spine doc in two weeks for my lower back/hip issues. I'll mention manipulation to him. I'm a tad wary because before I had my cervical fusion I went to a chiropractor who made it MUCH worse. My spine doc says I have a lot of nerve involvement, bone spurs, etc., and if a manipulation results in aggravating a nerve, I'm in trouble.

All that said - it sounds like an osteopath who is highly trained would be a good investment. I used to have adjustments a lot as a kid (headaches) and they were wonderful.

On the up side - I've had 24 headache-free hours. WHOO HOOO!!! This is after my 15 marathon cluster headache sunday/monday.

[Wahine]

I'm seeing my spine doc in two weeks for my lower back/hip issues. I'll mention manipulation to him
On the up side - I've had 24 headache-free hours. WHOO HOOO!!! This is after my 15 marathon cluster headache sunday/monday.

Do discuss it with your doc, but don't call it manipulation. Some doctors will automatically interpret that phrase as a chiro style manipulation that involves more force and carries higher risk, including serious potential side effects in the neck. It can be a strong knee jerk reaction to the word manipulation and no matter what you say after that, you won't be able to have a meaningful conversation about it. Instead I would call it manual therapy with an Osteopath.