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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> not sure if cluster or CPH???
        
(Message started by: blanchie on Jul 4^th, 2004, 9:30pm)

Title: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by blanchie on Jul 4^th, 2004, 9:30pm

I am 47..started getting these head pains in my 30's..the last time which was 2 years ago..was the first time "cluster headache" was even mentioned to me..have had CT scans...MRI's..

this past Friday..I experienced my latest..I don't have a personal physician in the area..as I moved here a year ago..and haven't needed one...I went to a Primacare urgent care facility..I was prescribed Imitrex tablets..they did not help...

This is what I experience..I know it's coming by some minor jabs above and behind my right ear..always in the same place...the jabs(feels like somebody sticking a knitting needle in my head)..become more intense..more frequent...this lasts for about 3 hours..the jabbing on and off....disappears for a few hours..then starts all over again...this last time...it started on Friday morning..and have had no jabs..since this Sunday morning....since this is a holiday weekend..hard to even locate a doc to see...did not go to ER...as the last time I went..2 years ago..they did nothing..but prescribe a pain releiver..which I researched and found to be prescribed for mild pain...my pain was anything BUT mild..

I want to find a doctor...be able to say..I have cluster or CPH...so I can get proper medication...if it is CPH..the indomethacin...isn't an option as I am allergic to aspirin

does what I have described..sound like cluster or CPH???

Title: Re: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by TxBasslady on Jul 5^th, 2004, 12:55am

Kinda hard to tell. I have never had a cluster last for 3 hours. I realize that everyone is different....but for me, CH only lasted about 1 1/2 hours. This was before I had medication and a diagnosis.

You need to take the cluster quiz located in the links to the left. If you feel you indeed do have CH, then you should find a doc who is versed on CH.

CH ( if you're episodic) normally occurs at the same time of the day or night. Normally the pain is located only on one side of the head. For me, my right side. The right eye, nostril, and temple area are involved, and at the peak of my pain, I do have pain in the area of my right ear, and neck.

Check out the links to the left.....but it's best not to try and self diagnose. There are meds out there that will help whether it's CH, CPH or whatever. You need to find a neuro or a good gp and see what is recommended for your situation.

Keep in touch and let us know what you find out.

PF vibes,

Jean

Title: Re: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by pubgirl on Jul 5^th, 2004, 8:27am

Blanchie
Indomethacin and aspirin are different drug families, are you sure you can't take it?

Can you take ibuprofen? If you can, you may well be all right with Indo as they are boths NSAIDS.

Shame if not as Indomethacin is a very good diagnostic rule in/out treatment.

Wendy

Title: Re: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 5^th, 2004, 8:39pm

I'm sorry you're in pain, but glad you found this site.

I would also encourage you to take the cluster quiz to the left and read the medical info as well. You'll find other excellent links to medical articles on this site, as well.

But your very next task should be to find a good doc in your area - preferably one who specializes in headaches.

My own clusters never feel like a "jabbing" knitting needle. Feel more like a railroad spike being slowly driven deeper and deeper into my eye. I also have radiation of the pain into my temple, the back of my throat, and into my upper teeth on the affected side. Pleasant, huh?

It's not fun for any of us with head pain, regardless of the diagnosis.

Sending hugs and good wishes. Keep us informed.

Kris

Title: Re: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by thomas on Jul 6^th, 2004, 12:18pm

CPH would be 5-10 mins. Clusters could last 3 hours.

Title: Re: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by eyes_afire on Jul 6^th, 2004, 6:38pm

Maybe CPH, but maybe not. Check out the links that I'm pasting below. Hopefully they help you figure out what's going on.

Here are my favorite links describing some of the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias and other unrelated headache types:

cluster headache:
http://www.hospital-doctor.co.uk/hd_news/hd_news_article.asp?ID=2498&Section=Feature

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: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by blanchie on Jul 6^th, 2004, 9:22pm

I wanted to THANK all of you who responded..this website and message board has provided me with great information..

have had no attacks since yesterday morning..I found a neuro thru a physician search..and fortunately for me due to a cancellation was able to see me today..I think I found a good one..:)...he spent 2 hours with me..ruled out CPH...was given a prescription for Imitrex tablets..and samples of Amerge...best of all..the confidence that when this happens again..I have somebody who understands pain..and will help me deal with it...

thank you all again..my heart goes out to all of you..after reading this message board..I feel fortunate that my episodes are periodic and not chronic...

Sincerely,
Lisa (blanchie)

Title: Re: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by Prense on Jul 6^th, 2004, 11:37pm

on 07/06/04 at 21:22:06, blanchie wrote:

.he spent 2 hours with me..ruled out CPH...

Wow, 2 hours from a neuro...

If I may, how did he rule out CPH?

You really did not post much detail about your attacks, but what you did say does not sound typical of CH. CH is anything but jabbing. Boring is the word mostly used. Constant, relentless... Jabbing indicates moments of eased pain (cyclic).

I do not know much about CPH other than the symptoms are similar to CH except the duration.

Either way, glad you had a good experience with the doc.

Chris

Title: Re: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by blanchie on Jul 7^th, 2004, 11:32am

Hi Chris

My doctor ruled out CPH because of the duration?..my attacks last for several hours...he did say I did not have all the symptoms of CH..but wasn't concerned with labeling it..given what I experience..he would still treat it with triptans..personally, I feel the definition of Idiopathic Stabbing Headache most accurately describes what I experience...

I get these stabbing/jabbing pains(like being stabbed with a knitting needle) behind my ear..always on one side...that increase with frequency and severity...for several hours..they disappear for a few hours..then resume...this lasts usually for 3-5 days..the longest lasting on and off for 2 weeks..these seem to occur every 2-3 years...I don't get the symptoms of CH..like tearing of the eye..or stuffiness of nose..or eye turning red.....

here is some info on my new doctor...he sure seemed knowledgable...http://headaches.about.com/cs/profiles/p/krusz_jc.htm

take care

Lisa

Title: Re: not sure if cluster or CPH???
Post by alleyoop49 on Jul 7^th, 2004, 1:12pm

on 07/06/04 at 21:22:06, blanchie wrote:

was given a prescription for Imitrex tablets..

Hi Lisa,

Glad you found a good neuro, but if it is CH, imitrex tabs won't do ZIP!

Good Luck and PFNAD,

.........................alley ;)