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(Message started by: workinattheY on Oct 14^th, 2002, 4:48pm)

Title: exercise?
Post by workinattheY on Oct 14^th, 2002, 4:48pm

Has anyone else found that regular exercise helps keep the cycles from returning? I have suffered from CHs for over twenty years. I went through all the different docs and treatments, glasses, prednisone, cafergot etc... When I began working out a few years ago the intensity and duration of the cycles began to shorten. I also found a great Dr. who has worked with me but he believes as I do that exercise really helps. So, has anyone else heard of this?

Hal

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by echo on Oct 14^th, 2002, 4:51pm

I have heard of this before. Seems that an increase in oxgenated blood caused by exercise and subsequent hard breathing can help ease the pain. This is probably the reason that O2 tanks help many of the CH sufferers.
I personally only run to the store for cigarettes.

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by LTBullitt on Oct 14^th, 2002, 5:20pm

It's all guess work right? So thats the best I can do.
Cadio I think falls into the plus dept overall in that it keeps the blood flowing nice and even like.
Weight training I've got mixed reviews b/c when I'm out of a cycle all seems fine and any kind of exercise helps in my opinion.
But, I find with the weights if I am training during a cycle I get hit HARD everytime I finish and almost always within minutes.
And it seems the heavier the weights, the more intense the training session the harder the beast strikes.
It's as if intensity feeds off intensity.
Just my experience for what it's worth.
...Andrew

PS I do find the better physical shape I'm in the better to fight the beast, esp mentally.

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by 2late on Oct 14^th, 2002, 6:03pm

i work out 3 times a week but only out of cycle, it's almost a trigger for me, weight training only, i can't speak for other exercises, i can't get into any other exercise except for the 12 ounce curl ;D ..........2late

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Ueli on Oct 14^th, 2002, 8:10pm

Oh my goodness,
It looks like nobody is reading the post they reply too.

The question from workinattheY was about the influence of regular exercise on the cycle. For those that didn't do their homework: the cycle is that period of time, measured in weeks, months or years, iWhere the cluster attacks occur on a daily basis. The time between cycles, when for months or years there are no cluster attacks is called remission (I wish I knew the feeling of this :().

It's a tricky question what does influence the length (and intensity) of a cycle or the duration of remission and what does not. There is no way to check what otherwise would have been. One can only make an educated guess, by comparing to preceding cycles. But keep in mind that clusters are changing over time, getting worse at first and easing up with age (considering this, I still must be young ;D).

What echo is talking about is, that some people, but by no means all, can quickly abort a starting attack by vigorous exercise.

What LTBullitt mentions has to do with relaxing. Many say that coming down from a heavy stress (exercise by example) can trigger an attack.

The brain is our most important organ, it takes top priority on all resources. So, as long someone is still kicking his brain gets the required amount of oxygen. Physical state has probably not much influence. Therefore, I tend to discount workinattheY's theory, otherwise I had to take up sports ;D.

PFNADs
Ueli

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Charlie on Oct 14^th, 2002, 11:00pm

We really hate you Ueli :) ;) :D ;D :o 8)

(gotta wait for the smilies)

Charlie 8)

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by kim on Oct 15^th, 2002, 10:48am

I'm sending U some really sexy gym shorts ;D ;D ;D

Don't mind me LOL, I'M IN REMISSION! LOL Bahahaha! ;D

:-*

The Stinka :D

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Mark C on Oct 15^th, 2002, 11:29am

Natural History

"There is a paucity of literature on the long-term prognosis of CH, but the available evidence suggests it is a lifelong disorder in most patients. In one study, about one-tenth of patients with ECH evolved into CCH, whereas one-third of patients with CCH transformed into ECH. An encouraging piece of information for CH sufferers is that a substantial proportion of them can expect to develop longer remission periods as they age."

I copied this from the OUCH site. I am sure regular exercise has a positive effect not only on Clusterheads but Earthlings as well, however, as we age, according to the good Doctors work attached, we may expect to see some relief from the frequency of CH as well as possible changes in the style of attacks.
Later,
Mark

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by LTBullitt on Oct 15^th, 2002, 3:59pm

on 10/14/02 at 20:10:55, Ueli wrote:

Hey, I never once claimed here or anywhere else that I could read.

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by gtar_man on Oct 15^th, 2002, 8:12pm

Exercise is one of the best treatments there is for depression, so my take would be that if you can do it without it triggering attacks, go for it, at least the cardio-type stuff.
Some people are able to hump iron, some aren't. I tried it a few years ago and popped a vessel in my back (subdural hematoma). :P Took eight months to recover and was the ONLY thing I've ever experienced more painful than CH.

Mike

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Mighty_Rooster on Oct 15^th, 2002, 9:25pm

I am a newcomer to this website and I am sad to see so many others suffering this nightmare. I have had headaches off and on for many years and always tried to bury them in painkillers. It was not until recently, at the beckoning of my wife, that I went to see a doctor. The visit to the emergeny room and a shot of demerol opened my eyes to the fact that I may have a medical condition beyond a normal headache. I have been weight training for about 15 years and always prided myself on the ability to take a great amount of pain. This 'cluster headache' is beyond anything I have ever experienced in the gym. Just so that this response does not seem completey disconnected from the original post, I do think that a regular workout routine can do nothing by help your overall healh. I look forward to participating on this board.

Title: Re: exercise? It works for me
Post by Qigong on Oct 15^th, 2002, 11:56pm

for me I have to get up and do a slow jog for about 5 minutes when the beast calls me from my sleep. I've gotten cluster headache attacks when I was training for marathons, or playing international rugby...so for me being in top physical shape did not keep the beast away....but some people are different

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by chris_the_chemist on Oct 16^th, 2002, 1:51am

Can't say that regular excercise prevents a cluster from appearing, but I do find that slamming through push-ups when I've got a head-ripper helps quite a bit. It's also in line with several other abortive therapies which seek to decrease effective vascularization, or bolster blood pressure.

~ Chris

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by oringkid on Oct 16^th, 2002, 10:03am

This is what I think, based on ...not much, but what seems like common sense to me:

I think that our "dance" is the body's way of telling us what it needs. When we exercise moderately, something happens or is released that allows our brains to absorb more oxygen, which seems to be what is needed to stop the pain (in most cases I think) But, when we do extremely strenuous exercise, the vascular dialation is increased and the rather sudden decrease when we stop the exercise contributes to the nerve irritation.

I know, that last part is iffy, but it seems to me that part of our pain is due to inflammation of the nerves and dialation of the vessels around the nerves which press on or further irritate the nerves.

I may be WAY off base here, but with my limited knowledge of the various structures of the human brain, it's the best I can do. LOL But it just SEEMS right.

Sherry

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by sueellen83 on Oct 16^th, 2002, 12:42pm

Hey Sherry,

I think you may be right about the nerve irritation part.
I've noticed as the cycle progresses it seems like the CH's are more intense.... as if the nerve is so irritated it can't handle any more abuse. ;)

Don't know what this has to do with exercise but, ..... oh well. :)

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by LTBullitt on Oct 16^th, 2002, 1:44pm

I have to work out tonight and I am in a cycle and it will trigger a cluster.
So when I come whinning on here afterwards looking for sympathy, be sure to give me the big "FUCK YOU!!!!"
:)

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by paul_b on Oct 16^th, 2002, 2:15pm

Da Beast don't care whether you exercise or not. When he wants to blast ya, he will. I have a healthy bod, a slim, trim, arthritically flexible mean machine with a hyperthalamus that has the demon. Phooey.

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Charlie on Oct 16^th, 2002, 9:28pm

Lots of good stuff here. Over the life of this board there have been many posts that strenuous, even violent exercise, will help shorten our attacks. It is not a preventative. I like to think that excercise reinforces my belief in a vascular remedy.

Still, I don't care if you paint youself blue and worship an effigy of Lawrence Welk, so long as it helps.......well that would be wierd.....Guy Lombardo then? ::)

Weird old Charlie

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by StanTheMan on Oct 18^th, 2002, 8:29am

During my last cycle, I noticed that exercise during the initial onset of an attack seemed to help lessen the severity of it -- not always, but most of the time.

Since it's already well established that exercise is good for your heart and your body as a whole, I say that CH'er should be encouraged to exercise regularly.
Let's face it: since we must deal with a rather debilitating disorder, we need to give our bodies all the help we can. Proper diet, exercise, quitting smoking, etc. is all part of the equation.

That's my 2 cents! PFDAN to all...

StanTheMan ;D

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Bob P on Oct 18^th, 2002, 11:05am

From Dr. Goadsby in the OUCH Library:

"Alcohol, nitroglycerine, exercise and elevated environmental temperature are recognised precipitants of acute cluster attacks."

Note that he is saying that exercise, while in cycle, may trigger an attack. It has also been noted that, for a number of people, a couple of minutes of streneous exercise when they feel an attack starting has aborted the attack. How does this work? Don't know but could guess that blood is directed to the muscles doing the exercise and thereby reduces the dialation of the cranial vessels. Also the deep breathing accompaning exercise may oxygenate the blood enough to cause some constriction.

I'm guessing it's the later as I remember a post from a guy who could abort a building attack by hyperventillating, almost to the point of passing out.

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Drk^Angel on Oct 18^th, 2002, 11:11am

Stan... Why should I help my body? What has it ever done for me? :P

PFDAN................................... Drk^Angel

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by StanTheMan on Oct 18^th, 2002, 1:23pm

Hi Drk!

I simply believe in doing what I can (within reason, of course) to help this "old" body of mine deal with CH's.
If there's something I can do that can potentially lessen the severity of a beast visitation, I'm gonna do it, or at least give it a try!
Sorry if I touched on a nerve there Drk. I hate having to deal with the beast just as much as the next guy, but I'm trying to be positive about it, not bitter.

Kind regards to you and everyone. PFDAN.

StanTheMan

:)

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Drk^Angel on Oct 18^th, 2002, 2:42pm

'twas a joke Stan... That was the reason for the :P... LOL ;D

PFDAN............................. Drk^Angel

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by StanTheMan on Oct 18^th, 2002, 2:56pm

Okee dokey! Thanks!
I thought maybe my comment about quitting smoking might have stepped on some toes . . .
or 'sumptin like dat! ;D

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Drk^Angel on Oct 18^th, 2002, 3:02pm

Nah... I stopped smoking 3 weeks ago. Although now you'll prolly get Charlie preachin' again... LOL ;D

PFDAN................................. Drk^Angel

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by mglenna on Oct 22^nd, 2002, 2:54pm

I first started suffering from clusters about 7 years ago as a junior in high school. About 2 years ago I started exercising and I haven't had a full-blown cluster since. I work out 5-6 times a week now and still no clusters. Could be coincidence though.

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Svenn on Oct 22^nd, 2002, 3:59pm

exercise?
I thought that was dangerous.
What would our neighbour think
Bet they will think that there is a sick person freaking out start running.
Its safer for all parts if i just trimming my fingertips on the keyboard ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: exercise?
Post by Charlie on Oct 22^nd, 2002, 5:09pm

Strenuous, even violent excercise, must have a benevolent effect on the vascular components of CH.

Just be careful though.

Excercise--good; having a bus catch you--bad. :o :D

Charlie ::)