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New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Any Home Remedies? Help...
(Message started by: num1eye on May 28th, 2004, 1:53pm)

Title: Any Home Remedies? Help...
Post by num1eye on May 28th, 2004, 1:53pm
I am a newbe here on the board so please bear with me. I have suffered from CH's for five years.  I get them at the same time of year and at first they lasted for about a week but over the years they have increased to three or more weeks.  I am now as of Wednesday on prenisone which my Dr. wants to try for a week.  He claims that it should knock the cluster out by next week and I should be fine for my vacation.  My question is does anyone have any home remedies that help with the pain.  I do not like to take drugs if I do not have to but I thought someone might know of something that helps when they either start or get going full blast.  Again thank you for whatever info you can give and I am truely sorry for anyone who has to live with these all the time.  I am sure one day there will be a cure.
Wayne [smiley=huh.gif]  

Title: Re: Any Home Remedies? Help...
Post by floridian on May 28th, 2004, 2:03pm
I would suggest you consider oxygen - you are breathing it all the time, a little concentrated O2 can really help most people knock out a headache.  Kinda like a megadose of Oxygen.

Cold air & cold packs help some.  Some people engage in vigorous activity when an attack starts.  Look for the 'circulatory technique' - it may help if you get the hang of it, and it is free of side effects.

Magnesium, melatonin, and B-vitamins have helped prevent for a lot of people, and there is some research to back up those.

Beyond that, there are thousands of things people have tried and claim to help.  Some of them may be right, I suspect lots of them just happened to try something when a cycle decided to end.

Title: Re: Any Home Remedies? Help...
Post by Bob_Johnson on May 29th, 2004, 3:10pm
Oxygen is effective for many people but it has side effects to attend to if not used properly. Ice packs, cold or hot showers work for some but I believe it's fair to say that these home remedies may cut the edge off of the pain but they don't stop the attack. (With oxygen, may find the pain returns soon after stopped using it.)

Prednisone works quickly to stop a cycle--but your doc should also have started you on a preventive medication so that it has a change to become effective even as you are working through the pred cycle. As soon as you stop the prednisone CH very often comes roaring back and you need the preventive med in your body and working before that happens.

My bias is that the only truely effective methods for treating cluster are prescription meds (magnesium being a exception for a small group of people). Unless you have a specific medical reason for not using them, I'd encourage you to examine your avoidance of drugs. Without some discrimination, such a posture leaves you vulnerable to conditions which can be safety and effectively treated.

Title: Re: Any Home Remedies? Help...
Post by ave on May 29th, 2004, 3:20pm
Wayne, try this page.

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/resources/meds.htm

In fact, try the whole ouch site (find the yellow link on the left of this board). There is a lot of \useful infothere.

I would not count too much on the cluster episode being wrapped up within a week, by the way. I shoulkdget to my doc and ask about preventive meds, like Verapamil, a calciumchannel antagonist.

good luck

Title: Re: Any Home Remedies? Help...
Post by Elaine on Jun 2nd, 2004, 5:00pm
Things that worked for me !
Cold Shower
Jumping in a COLD pool
Ice
Putting my face in fron of the air condition vent
something about the cold helps.
Feel free to email me any time

Title: Re: Any Home Remedies? Help...
Post by garygus on Jun 3rd, 2004, 11:46am
imitrex injections work the best at curtailing an attack  they are also used in migrain treatment but are expensive and insurance compans typically wont issue cluster patients enough .  ask your doc for samples.  they are easy to administer as they come in what looks like a ball point pen.
Gary.  a 30 year cluster pro



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