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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> New and unsure
        
(Message started by: coach75 on Jun 8^th, 2004, 5:17pm)

Title: New and unsure
Post by coach75 on Jun 8^th, 2004, 5:17pm

I was diagnosed with cluster headaches about 10-11 years ago, but my symptoms are different from what I have read so far. My headaches are very intense, like an ice pick in the temple, but the pain lasts for only about a minute. I also have irregular occurances. I have actually gone without an episode for over a year and then out of nowhere I have an attack. Does anyone else have symptoms like these? Do clusters start out this way? The doctor said they could be caused by previous concusions but really didn't have a clue. Let me knwo what you have heard. Thanks.

Title: Re: New and unsure
Post by thomas on Jun 8^th, 2004, 5:21pm

Look at this, print it and take it into your doctor's office.
http://www.clusterheadaches.org/comparison_table.htm

Title: Re: New and unsure
Post by pubgirl on Jun 8^th, 2004, 8:31pm

Coach

Be happy it isn't CH, but in addition to the conditions on Drummer's table (Thomas' link above containing CPH details) there is also SUNCT and Trigeminal Neuralgia to consider. There actually also is a condition called "Icepick Headache" would you believe?

Have a good read around and the particular headache condition you have may become more clear. The good news is that almost all of the short-lived unilateral headache conditions are VERY responsive to Indomethacin.

Wendy

Title: Re: New and unsure
Post by eyes_afire on Jun 8^th, 2004, 8:56pm

Wow, I'm amazed at the wide variety of symptoms that people are presenting with recently. I only wish there was a more comprehensive comparison table (or a document that doesn't take forever to read!... hint hint IHS, LOL). Anyhow, I have been inspired to collect my favorite links describing the related headache types and sometimes unrelated types that can be confused with cluster headaches.

cluster headache:
http://www.upstate.edu/neurology/haas/hpcldx.htm

chronic paroxysmal hemicrania
http://www.upstate.edu/neurology/haas/hpcldx.htm#cph

SUNCT syndrome
http://www.upstate.edu/neurology/haas/hpstab.htm#sunct

idiopathic stabbing headache
http://www.upstate.edu/neurology/haas/hpstab.htm

hemicrania continua
http://www.upstate.edu/neurology/haas/hphemi.htm

trigeminal neuralgia
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/trigemin_doc.htm

hypnic headache
http://www.mhni.com/faqs_unique.htm#hypnic

exploding noise
http://www.mhni.com/faqs_unique.htm#exploding_noises

DISCLAIMER: This is no substitute for a diagnosis. See the neurologist for a diagnosis. This is only to point people in the right direction

--- Steve

Title: Re: New and unsure
Post by pubgirl on Jun 8^th, 2004, 9:13pm

Great post and some great links Eyes!

I work on the Cluster Headache helpline and we get loads of calls from people with symptoms which have led to a Ch diagnosis, often from neuros who should know better, but definitely aren't CH. We have to be pretty clued up about differential diagnoses (although we don't diagnose of course ;;D) but it really helps to have good links to refer people to if we suspect a certain other headache condition. Thank you so much for those!

I also find the American Council for Headache Education (www.achenet.org) information useful e.g their page on Hemicrania Continua

http://www.achenet.org/articles/6.php

The difficult ones are usually people with chronic daily headacghe conditions (have lots of good links for those too!) and migrainous conditions with some Ch features as migraine is a very weird beastie with LOTS of forms.

Incidentally, one of our expert people 'over the pond' has done a more comprehensive chart than Drummers one on the OUCh page but I only have it in Word format for my own reference, perhaps I should get him to offer it to OUCh to post up??

Wendy

Title: Re: New and unsure
Post by eyes_afire on Jun 8^th, 2004, 9:22pm

Thanks Wendy. The key to good links is to have well organized info for the newbie... links so that when you click them, *poof* there's a synopsis. Nobody wants to go digging through some 60 page tome of technical terms when they're desperate. I carefully selected those links so they go *poof* and get an idea of what's being discussed. But, of course, I'm always looking for more info, so I'll check out those you provided.

--- Steve

Title: Re: New and unsure
Post by pubgirl on Jun 8^th, 2004, 9:26pm

Not meaning to belittle Drummer's chart, but I do think OUCH would benefit from the one I use, as it has more of the misdiagnosed HA conditions on it.
We could then refer new people with different symptoms to that first

Wendy

Title: Re: New and unsure
Post by coach75 on Jun 8^th, 2004, 10:39pm

Thanks for the info. It looks like I have some research to do. Good luck to all of you in finding some more permanent relief.