Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> More cluster questions - ear pain?
        
(Message started by: Doug2 on Jun 1^st, 2004, 7:55pm)

Title: More cluster questions - ear pain?
Post by Doug2 on Jun 1^st, 2004, 7:55pm

Is it typical to get pain behind the ear (the bone behind the ear) with cluster headaches? After the pain/knawing around the eye, my ear area is the next one to exhibit most symptoms.

Is there a physiologic reason for this?

Is it typical for the cluster to change sides between attacks. Mine have always done that. I have episodes on both the right and left side (though not at the same time).

What are shadows? Are they actual visual symptons (which I don't get) or the knawing/pressure feelings that move around and that precede attacks.

Is there a sub-acute phase? Many times I'll get the knawing/pressure moving around my head but it does not always go into a full blown headache.

Thanks for any info you can provide!

Title: Re: More cluster questions - ear pain?
Post by miapet on Jun 1^st, 2004, 9:21pm

Somewhere in here (I'll look for it too), there is a post with a picture of the trigeminal nerve . . .it has multiple branches that hit the areas you are describing . . .
D's h/as have changed sides before, and I know there are others who have posted the same thing .. .it doesn't always do it and it doesn't always do it to everyone .. the nature of the beast is to do what it wants . .without rhyme or reason (that I can see) .. .
The 'knawing' you describe may be what others call shadows or pressure . . .more an annoyance or warning of things that might possibly come . . .
Sorry you are a member, but glad you found the board *smiles*
*positive light and energy*
miapet

Title: Re: More cluster questions - ear pain?
Post by ExplodingEyeBall on Jun 2^nd, 2004, 9:43am

Here's a picture that jonny posted for me a while back.

You can expect to have pain any place that this nerve runs.

The area behind the ear is one of my most painful areas during a CH beaten only by the extreme pain behind my eye.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3db29b3127cce9799793c4e800000001610

My HAs switch sides now. They didn't in the past but now I'll get hit for a while on one side and then things will cool down for a while and then suddenly here's some more on the wrong side.

Pat

Title: Re: More cluster questions - ear pain?
Post by Bucco on Jun 2^nd, 2004, 1:13pm

I have always experienced pressure behind my ear. In fact, I had ear surgeries on the side where I get the H/As and the first time I experienced the pain I now know as cluster headaches was when recovering from one of these surgeries. I talked to my ENT about it but he pooh-poohed the idea that the operation could have caused the headaches. I'm not so sure. :-/

Title: Re: More cluster questions - ear pain?
Post by Elaine on Jun 2^nd, 2004, 4:42pm

Yes when I get a cluster the whole side of my face hurts and that bone behind my ear. For years they treated me for ear problems.

Mine changed sides only a couple of times.

That pressure feelings before a attack is what I call a shadow.