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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> vigorous excersize the only cure
        
(Message started by: koh123 on Feb 12^th, 2003, 4:27pm)

Title: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by koh123 on Feb 12^th, 2003, 4:27pm

I have been diagnosed as a cluster headache sufferer for the last 10 years. None of the medications I have been prescribed have worked.

I have just recently discovered that intensive pushups and/or dips will relieve me of my headache within 5 minutes. The headache still will occur at the same frequency as before but the duration of each can essentially be reduced to 5 minutes.

Just wondering if anyone has seen literature or has had similar results from such excersize.

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Bob P on Feb 12^th, 2003, 5:46pm

Works for me. Squats. Do 'em till my thighs burn and I'm huffing and puffing. Then sit down with an ice pack and the HA is gone in 7-10 minutes.

I'm old and lazy now so I prefer to drop a tab of cafergot, slap on the O2 mask and just sit back and relax.

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by jonny on Feb 12^th, 2003, 6:10pm

on 02/12/03 at 17:46:48, Bob P wrote:

I'm old and lazy now

Sorry Bob, but old and lazy is when you have all day to cruise down a sea coast highway on your Harley with the wind blowing your three foot beard over each shoulder.

You have a few years to be a young'in ;D

...........................jonny

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by ave on Feb 12^th, 2003, 6:11pm

And true to the malefic cluster canon, for just as many of us, excercise makes it worse.... Go figure!

Pacing I can deal with; excercise raises my blood pressure and I flip cause of the pain

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by suzy617 on Feb 12^th, 2003, 6:18pm

I'm with you Bob. I prefer to pop a pill and do the rocky rock. I couldnt even imagine doing any kind of excersize except if trying to rip my head off counts...

suzy
(honk)

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Marc on Feb 12^th, 2003, 7:21pm

I've posted this many times before, but I too can abort most of my CH's with exercise IF, and ONLY IF I do it BEFORE the pain ramps up. Once I'm hurting, I couldn't do it if my life depended on it.

I used to think that it was the increased respiratory rate. Now I suspect that it's more like Charlie's method, re-directing the blood flow. I can often kill a CH in 3-4 minutes if I make my thighs really burn - without even getting my heart rate up. I'm not in good shape so getting that "burn" is really easy!

Marc

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Mr.Happy on Feb 12^th, 2003, 7:42pm

KOH,

I have to vote as a member of the Old Farts Club on this one. Headbanger calls for meds. Too many rotted bones and joints to do the atheletic endurance thing.......although there _ARE_ those among the clan who swear by such. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. Even heavy pacing stokes the mental mania. The last time my thighs burned, I'd dropped a smoke thru my crotch on the interstate during rush hour.
If heavy exercise works, then by ALL MEANS, tear it up, man. It's a lot healthier than popping pills......but alas.... exothermic endeavers are part of the history of my body, Part I. It's canned air, Verap, and anything that ends in Triptan for me.
Keep pumping and humping as long as you can.

It's not the years....it's the miles.....
RJ

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Roxy on Feb 12^th, 2003, 7:48pm

on 02/12/03 at 19:21:35, Marc wrote:

I too can abort most of my CH's with exercise IF, and ONLY IF I do it BEFORE the pain ramps up. Once I'm hurting, I couldn't do it if my life depended on it.

Before I was diagnosed and discovered 02, this method worked frequently for me. Can't remember how I discovered it though.

There are also some other enjoyable ways to get vigorous excercise.....it works as an abortive too..... ;D

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by jonny on Feb 12^th, 2003, 7:56pm

on 02/12/03 at 19:48:04, Roxy wrote:

There are also some other enjoyable ways to get vigorous excercise.....it works as an abortive too..... ;D

When the day comes that I can think of sex as the beast is rolling up on me I will bow to you.

Aint happening here.

..................................jonny

PS: When my head ramps from 0-10 in less than 8 mins there is no bonner even with the Mule.

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Ann on Feb 12^th, 2003, 8:01pm

Vigourous exercise..hmmmm...now that rings a bell. What is that again? ;D I'll pace around until the pain becomes unbearable and than I can't get to my imitrex fast enough. Give me a shot or get out of my way! This last cycle, I would get hit right in the middle of my volleyball game. Bastard just doesn't know when to leave me alone! I can't see myself do deep knee bends with my cigarette in one hand, and my water bottle in the other! LOL.... hmmmm..maybe I'll get my hon to take a pic! LMAO

hugs
Ann

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Marc on Feb 12^th, 2003, 8:17pm

Jonny,

You're missing Roxy's point! If my theory is right, then re-directing blood to the mule ought to use at least as much blood as my thighs...... Ya gotta act fast, because you are right, after the pain sets in......... no way.

Marc

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Ann on Feb 12^th, 2003, 8:23pm

ok... I don't got no mule ;) but sex is not an option...and I don't want to hear any of course she doesn't cause she's a woman comments! >:(
When I get hit it takes everything I have not to scream when my hon rubs my neck...forget any other body part! If'n you can do it..hats off to you, but for me...there's no way.

hugs
Ann

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by jonny on Feb 12^th, 2003, 8:24pm

on 02/12/03 at 20:17:20, Marc wrote:

Your missing my point, Bro.

When I feel the head ramping up the last thing im thinking is getting it up cause I know my head is about to explode.

If you can do it all the power to you and all that can......I cant!!

...................................jonny

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Jarvis on Feb 12^th, 2003, 8:31pm

Koh - I do the same as you. Never found a med that works in 20+ years. . Pushups at the first sign will often reduce the time of an attack and occasionaly abort them completely. I've been doing this for several years now. I think its the endorphins that are created that do the trick. . With pushups you get the muscle burn right at the base of the neck and poof its gone. Another benefit for me using pushups is that I recover afterwards much quicker and ready to go. . It's not the cure but it works better than any drug I have tried to date. Glad to hear it works for you too.

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Marc on Feb 12^th, 2003, 8:42pm

Yo Jonny!

I was just making a Mule joke! This has come up before and I agree - no possible way.

Marc

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by jonny on Feb 12^th, 2003, 8:43pm

on 02/12/03 at 20:17:20, Marc wrote:

I wanna revise my answer, Dude.

Are you telling me that when you feel the beast ramping on your head you can get it up and have sex before it reaches a 10? (Re-direct the blood)

That is fucking completly nuts in my world!!!

..........................jonny

REVISED.........I hear that Dude......LOL

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by JDH on Feb 12^th, 2003, 9:29pm

LMAO! reading this stuff and trying to imagine myself dealing with the beast and doing ANYTHING else, let alone trying to get off. And besides, my wife thinks the o2 mask is a turn off.

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Roxy on Feb 12^th, 2003, 9:33pm

Guys....it was a joke! :-/

At a 5 or above...there is nothing for me but 02 and imitrex. When in pain, sex is not an option....unless, maybe, you're one who likes the two together. I want no one even near me....I would prefer everyone to go miles away. That may be how I learned exercise could sometimes abort....running my butt off, trying to outrun the pain.

Title: just tonite
Post by rumplestiltskin on Feb 13^th, 2003, 12:57am

same ole, same ole...I found myself, zomig under tongue, o2 mask on and runnin in place on cold concrete (just added the cold floor part in deference to Charlie's get the heat somewhere else posts)...the runnin seems to be the only sustainable exercize this old body can withstand. Painfree before the dirty bastard even made a good showin.

Maybe in the interest of science we should dedicate a room at the cornvention to the study of Roxy's method. Give the ole O2 bottle a spin and let the treatment begin.

This hole redirect bloodflow thing is interesting. The cold floor theory ...sort of baiting the bloodflow to warm the feet...with practice I could be a baiting master....

...does it also follow that I would entice the engorging blood flow to aid erection by dropping my penis in a bucket of icewater? I think not.

During a Cluster is probably the only time I don't think of sex even though I repeat "fuck, fuck, fuck" over and over....cum to think of it ...during sex I never think of God either although I moan "oh God" and "Jeeesus" a lot. Does that makes me guilty of taking the name of sex in vein?

Yes...exercize does help abort my CH.

good grief
den

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by AKH on Feb 13^th, 2003, 1:33am

i've found that if ive got only moderate pain (or pain thats left after taking a pain killer), and still able to function ok, weight lifting can stop the pain.
Bench press, squats, or anything that gives you a muscle pump and causes veins to bulge is going to reduce the blood pressure inside your head (to the point where you're feeling light headed). also this will cause an endorphin release.

however, cardio exercise doesn't really help me at all.

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Linda_Howell on Feb 13^th, 2003, 3:32am

So...Koh.....intensive push-ups and/or dips will relieve your HA's......good for you. Then keep doing them.

Not everything works for everyone. Stay away from the Narcotics and pain-killers. They don't work for CH and will cause rebounds from hell, make you become addicted. This is your brain. This is your brain on Codeine/Darvocet/demerol/ etc.

LindaH

Title: Re: just tonite
Post by Roxy on Feb 13^th, 2003, 3:58am

on 02/13/03 at 00:57:51, rumplestiltskin wrote:

I repeat "fuck, fuck, fuck" over and over....

I think there are times, during a ch, that we all speak the same language.

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by TomM on Feb 13^th, 2003, 12:12pm

Quote:

I have to vote as a member of the Old Farts Club on this one. Headbanger calls for meds. Too many rotted bones and joints to do the atheletic endurance thing.......

I'm with Bob on this one, although I must say you're not an old fart until they put that plastic wreath on your grave...

The sex thing works for me, if and only if, it's a KIP 4 or less. Once it ramps up, forget it and anything else 'cause we're dancin'! Lucky for me, I'm only eposiodic so these thing don't hit too often [excluding the past 2 days, of course]. GD MF beast. It's THAT time of year for me.

TomM

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by hdbngr on Feb 13^th, 2003, 12:15pm

There is a very pretty man on TV advertising a piece of exercise equipment called the "Gazelle" that looks easy...

Any elevation of blood pressure drives me nuts, but I'm keeping an eye open for ideas. I have heard endorphin release helps. Gravity is also becoming an issue as the years pass and the beast keeps kicking his feet up on my couch...sigh.

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by oringkid on Feb 13^th, 2003, 5:49pm

LMAO! Den!!!

The sex thing works for me if the pain has not gone higher than about a 5. If over that...can't do it. Sometimes it is just too much to even try it. And I think in both cases (the exercise and the sex) it is endorphins that do the trick. I have found endorphins are fast acting pain relievers (and also will unstuff a stuffy nose LOL) but that the relief is VERY short lived. But I must say that the relief albeit brief is complete! No inkling of pain exists in those short minutes. Now all we have to do is come up with a synthetic endorphin that is long lasting!

Sher

Title: Re: vigorous excersize the only cure
Post by Charlie on Feb 14^th, 2003, 12:08am

Thanks Den. Glad Georgia's presence hasn't gotten in your way wit woids. 8) Onward:

Yes. I think exercise has a similar effect on circulation. I doubt it doesn't matter how it's done It probably has the effect of moving blood around but I had better luck with the circulatory feedback thing:

Dr. Wright's Circulatory Technique

This is not transcendental meditation, imagery, relaxation, or anything psychic. It's entirely physical and takes a lot of work and concentration. Give this method a good workout. It’s not a miracle, but it’s been helpful to many.

When I was diagnosed, my neurologist said to treat this as a vascular problem. I was told to concentrate on “redirecting” blood circulation in order to retard flow to the head. This is done by trying to “send” blood into the arms and hands or other extremities. When properly done, your hands will become warm and redder with increased circulation. I also found it easier to concentrate on one hand.

This relieves just slightly, the pressure on the affected vessel, which indirectly causes our pain. We all have this ability but it can be exhausting. I was often able shorten my attacks from about half an hour to no more than a few minutes. Sometimes, when awake, I could entirely abort the attack IF I KEPT AT IT. Often, I would suffer only minor discomfort instead of excruciating pain. Do not stop just because your hands are warm or redder. Keep this up until you are sure it's subsided. If you let up or lose concentration, it’s very hard to restart this process. It may take some time but when this works, the relief is almost immediate.

I learned this from the doctor in a few minutes. He simply told me to try to keep blood away from the head. He thought it easiest to concentrate on the arms and hands but any place that works for you is fine. He said to think of it as "filling your hands" with redirected blood. It’s important to keep at it THROUGH the pain. This will be difficult, but it’s the only way this technique will work. Don’t let up until you are sure the attack has ended.

This will not always work, but I think it will always have at least some effect on the severity and duration of the attacks. It can be useful between medications or while waiting for some other drug to take effect. All it takes is a little practice. It was fairly easy to learn and what I'm writing here is more than I got from the doctor, as I've drawn from my own experience.

When awakened in horrible pain, it’s very hard to focus, but I think it’s always worth a try. This costs nothing but hard work, is harmless, non-invasive, and it gives us a fighting chance.

I wish you the best of luck - Charlie Strand