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(Message started by: Jeepgun on Aug 11th, 2004, 12:28pm)
Title: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Jeepgun on Aug 11th, 2004, 12:28pm
I don't know if this will help anyone or not, but as a reformed headbanger, I thought I would list it here anyway.

Fighting The Pain: I have found this to be counter-productive when in the middle of a hit, and instead, as much as I am able, I get very quiet inside, focus on my breathing, and let the pain wash over me the way ocean waves pound against the side of a mountain. Instead of tensing up and screaming every swear word I know, (and I know a lot of them!) I expend the effort into doing my very best to relax. I'm not saying it's easy, but the times when I get all tense and start fighting, it seems only to make it worse.

Authorized Headbanging: When I feel that I simply MUST bang my head against something, I take my palm and begin patting myself rhythmically on my head, on the affected side, around the hairline, but not much harder than, for example, if I were to be applauding softly. The pain of a cluster headache cannot be hammered away, or ground away by digging the heel of your palm into your eye, but the rhythmic patting seems to diffuse the pain and "spread it out" a little, and in any case, the rhythmic nature of the patting seems to distract my mind from the pain in my eye.

Again, I don't know if this will help anyone else, but these are some little techniques that have proven effective for me...
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Big Dan on Aug 11th, 2004, 12:32pm
I did that last night with a strong shadow... and I had a major influx of caffine...


... but a full hit?... Can't do it...


I'd rather bust my head on the wall.





-Big Dan
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by don on Aug 11th, 2004, 12:34pm
Plaster of Paris is my friend.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Big Dan on Aug 11th, 2004, 12:39pm

on 08/11/04 at 12:34:16, don wrote:
Plaster of Paris is my friend.


That's "Freedom Plaster", Don....


;;D


-Big Dan
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by farmboy on Aug 11th, 2004, 12:47pm
freedom plaster.....................lmfao

good one

big dan
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by E-Double on Aug 11th, 2004, 1:02pm
I tend to use the base of my hand (palm/wrist) to rhythmically pound or tap right by the base of my skull near my right ear  or take my thumb and press while steadily following the path of the nerve. This one seems to help the shadows

But sometimes just need to give a fucking wollop!
That goes for the big bastards!!

Unfortunately I have yet to have it "wash all over me or pass me by" can't wait though.

Whatever works ;)

E
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Gator on Aug 11th, 2004, 1:05pm
I know you are right and that fighting it makes it worse.  That's been my experience as well.

On the lower Kips I do the Zen-type thing you speak of - slow deep breaths, concentrate on something besides the pain and allow the pain to just wash over me, etc.  Sometimes, I put on my headphones and crank up the hardest heavy metal I have - LOUD.  I have one of those Creative Labs MuVo 128 USB Key MP3 Players loaded for just such an occassion.  The distraction seems to help.

BUT, when the really big ones hit I lose control of any logical thought process.  Sitting quietly still just isn't possible - period.  I have tried.

Good post.  I'd bet a lot of people have never thought about this method of handling the attacks.


Gator
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Jeepgun on Aug 11th, 2004, 1:12pm
Thanks, Gator. For the really BIG monsters, then I go ahead and load up the Imitrex, and if I can't sit still, then I pace. It doesn't exactly pass me by, but it does make it more manageable if I can gain some detachment from it...
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by BruceD on Aug 11th, 2004, 1:20pm
Breathing is a good thing & I've done the relax & just breath deeply on low Kips, but forget it for full blown ones. For those I Kips I find myself wandering to either our steel front door or one of the basement jack posts & just banging away.

Ahhhhhh ... cool steel ... good.

BruceD
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by AnthonyT on Aug 11th, 2004, 1:44pm
Yes, I agree with this as well. If I have enough warning time (sometimes the shadows are like a friend in that way ;) ), I try to quickly fall into a trance. If available, patterned sound/music does seem to help for me, just as Gator explains it.

But if the beast gets it's shrill violin playing even louder on my trigeminal, that's it: I lose... I can no longer remain calm and resign myself to riding it through. It's hard to say what the "success rate" seems to be for warding off full attacks, but it feels like I sneak past roughly 1 out of 3 full attacks if I'm able to relax enough during the ramp-up.

I also avoid violent headbanging as much as I can. Grinding my head into a pillow, then solidly tapping around my skull as if it's an old mechanical typewriter... I think the worst I do is pressing my palm hard. I feel like I'm tearing out hair mashing it against my head. Sometimes, in the depths of pain, I'd love to find a solid block of concrete and just do a full-body swing into the edge of it to smash the top side of my cranium... I'm glad there are no such handy objects around when all rational thought has fled.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by IndianaJohn on Aug 11th, 2004, 2:56pm
I'm a rocker myself, with massaging my head in a circular mothion on the right (pain) side.  I also get a hellacious muscle spasm in my right cheek that I try to gouge out.  Actually the messaging does a pretty good job.  Sometime it's like distributing the pain, other times it's just something to do...
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by miCHel on Aug 11th, 2004, 3:42pm
I also try not to be too violent with myself.  But sometimes, if massaging my head doesn't work and trying to bury my head in a pillow doesn't work... I can lose it big time.

I make a fist and punch myself in the forehead like a crazy maniac.  My girlfriend saw that once and she freaked out.

Maybe I should sleep with boxing gloves on...  ;)

miCHel
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by kimh on Aug 11th, 2004, 4:06pm
Over the years, i've discovered the same thing.  It all has to do with giving in to that "panic button"....once the pain reaches a certain point i've been known to throw myself around the house and make contact with heavy objects, but for the most part, i've become pretty good at what i refer to as "flatlining".  Sounds weird but that's what i try to do.  It's a state of being that i seek out that i've developed over time.  Experience has taught me that when i flip out - well, so does the Beast***  

PFDAN
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Jeepgun on Aug 11th, 2004, 4:16pm
Thanks, Kim. (I was starting to think I was the only one that did this, and that maybe I was crazy. Wait: I know I'm crazy, but you know what I mean...)  ;;D
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by don on Aug 11th, 2004, 5:39pm

Quote:
That's "Freedom Plaster",


LMAO

Your right.

Under stressful conditions it will crack,cut and run.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by synergy2120 on Aug 11th, 2004, 5:51pm
Marc rocks and rubs his head - sometimes this helps sometimes it doesnt - but when the pain reaches no10 there is no holding back - espcially if it last for a while.

Marc just loses control - punches the crap out of his legs and thumps the walls - he used to head butt the wall but i have stopped him from doing this as he could cause himself more damaging.

Marc has smashed his elbow against the wall before so hard that he nearly broke it.

Marc and me are convinced that he CANT break his hands anymore because they have become so tough after years of being smashed against things.

The pain got so bad last night that he went out in the garden and smashed the crap out of the concrete walls of the house - his hands are well cut up.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by karma on Aug 11th, 2004, 6:18pm
When it gets serious I've found that constant but light pressure on a certain area like the neck or temple or eye etc. will work for a couple secs. but then when the pain begins to come back just a small movement to a spot in the same area will give me a couple more seconds. This seems to confuse the m.f. and gives me a chance to get it back under control.
    another is don't blow the nose hard! When the pressure feels too great hold the clear side and blow ever so lightly.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Becky on Aug 11th, 2004, 6:25pm
Frank,

I do much of the same thing. I never have banged my head into anything. Just try and relax and control my breathing. and work on the pressure points. (which is easier to do on someone else then yourself).  I have weaned myself off my prev. ( I know call me crazy, but they weren't working anyway). I have only used my DHE twice in the last month ( and that was because I had 3 10's in a row). By the way I am chronic 7-8  hits a day. Most of the time I will just let my leg bounce up and down very fast, and go with it. Most of the time no one knows when I am getting hit.
So try it, it does not work for everyone. But even if it helps a little it is better than nothing.

Wishing everyone PFDAN

Love and Hugs

Bec
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Jeepgun on Aug 11th, 2004, 6:26pm
Speaking of pressure points, I've found a couple that seem to help, but may not work for everyone.

With your fingertips of left hand, trace your eyebrows to the point that they meet your temples and the outsides of your eyes. You will feel slight indentations there. While holding pressure on those two points with your left thumb and middle finger, cup your right hand on the back of your neck and squeeze the ropy muscles on the back of your neck. I've found that this seems to bring slight relief also.

What I'm trying to do with this thread, is explore alternative pain-relief measures that people can take when they don't have Imitrex, don't want to use it because of rebounds and shadows, can't use it because of heart-related problems, or get caught somewhere without Imitrex. These are various things that I did during the eight years that I suffered with CH before finding this site.

Add to this, Charlie's technique of re-directing blood-flow to the extremities, cold compresses, refrigerated nose drops... Anything else?

-Frank
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Little Deb on Aug 11th, 2004, 7:23pm
Well, Frank..........I would say you would be a great candidate for natural labor!  All of your descriptions are exactly what you use for controlling the pain of labor.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes you scream really bad words!!

I still would choose labor over a CH any day.  But I agree, the more tense you get with a big one, and the more violent you are....the beast fights right back.  The same is true for labor...if you tense up and fight it, it just takes longer and more pushes.  At least with labor, it does end, and you get a wonderful gift for enduring the pain.

more babies.......less CH................Little Deb ;)
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting S
Post by Jeepgun on Aug 11th, 2004, 7:53pm
Thank you, Deb. If I'm ever in labor, I'll be sure to keep these techniques in mind.  ;;D Seriously, though: Thank you. I know there are more of these kinds of things that I haven't heard of. If we can't have less CH, maybe we can have a little less pain, and maybe we can get by with a little less medication. Wouldn't that be a great thing? :)
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by karma on Aug 11th, 2004, 11:46pm
Breath, Breath, Breath
Practice it when you feel good and concentrate on doing it when the pain is building.
Slooooooow, Deeeeep and Regular. You can do it when your pacing and its FREE.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Headbanging and Fighting
Post by Cerberus on Aug 11th, 2004, 11:57pm
shit....

CH sux and there is no end to the things I have done to help "ease" the pain. Even the smallest CH wipes me out after the abort, be it trex or O2 I am plain done when it receeds....If no meds are working see instructions below:

When in doubt...Kill something. Doesn't make the pain go away but somehow a small piece of me feels just a smidgen better afterwards.

Ramon


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