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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Dealing with CH and other pain
        
(Message started by: SophiaK on Feb 19^th, 2006, 2:27pm)

Title: Dealing with CH and other pain
Post by SophiaK on Feb 19^th, 2006, 2:27pm

I am new to CH, I have back pain that is severe, caused by injuries sustained over a lifetime.
My question is: I notice that many on th board say not to use ibuprofon because they can cause 'rebound' headaches.
I awoke at 3:30 this AM with back pain and CH, the CH played out but the back pain wouldn't let me rest, so I took Ibuprofon.
Is this a question of fixing one and making the other worse?
I never had CH until late December. I am taking 80mg of Verapamil and so far haven't recieved any real benefit from it. I had a adverse reaction to Topamax.
From what I see on the message board I could be
'chronic'.

Title: Re: Dealing with CH and other pain
Post by Jasmyn on Feb 19^th, 2006, 4:01pm

Welcome Sophia.

I'm sorry you've got CH but glad that you found us. This is the best place to be.

I'll only comment on the Verapamil. It takes about 2 weeks to kick in. If you've been taking it for more than 2 weeks, see your doc again and ask him to up your dosage. Most of us here use 240mg x2 or more per day to benefit from it.

Read the other posts and the left hand side, there are good information and tips on this board.

Hang in there and wishing you pain free times.

Title: Re: Dealing with CH and other pain
Post by FramCire on Feb 19^th, 2006, 9:04pm

1. If you have only had CH since December, you are not chronic (yet). Someone else can get you the definition of chronic but you can't be chronic after having Ch for only 2 months.

2. My Dr says the AVERAGE cycle is 8 to 12 weeks for an episodic, so you are still well in the norm. This cycle has been going since November for me.

3. If verapamil doesn't give you much after you have given it a chance to work, talk to your Dr about going up in your dose. 480 mg/day is quite normal for Ch but VERY HIGH for it;s other use, so Fps tend to be a bit slow in upping the dose. MUST TALK TO YOUR DR first!!!!

You can use this link and print it out to give to our Dr if he/she doesn't want to up the dose. This link is also an extremely good read for you and any Dr that is treating you that doesn't have a lot of experience with CH.

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

4. Ask many questions, the people here are awesome.

Welcome aboard!! Glad to have you, just not glad you have to have us. To PF days ahead!

Title: Re: Dealing with CH and other pain
Post by Kate in Oz on Feb 20^th, 2006, 5:53am

Hi Sophia, welcome.

Have you tried magnesium??

I suffer from fibromyalgia which is a chronic pain syndrome, I find that taking 2x CHELATED MAGNESIUM 500mg in the morning helps with aches and pains. Sometimes I'll take a couple in the afternoon too if I'm really hurting.

Not aware of any side effects? Well worth a try I would think and I vaguely :P recall reading somewhere that it can help with CH.

Wishin you all the best,

Kate

Title: Re: Dealing with CH and other pain
Post by marlinsfan on Feb 20^th, 2006, 10:30am

Hi Sophia, Like you I also have a bad back caused by a lifetime of skiing hard. Usually harder than I should've. But it has been SOOO much fun....

I have disk herniations at L5/S1, L4/L5, and C6/C7, and disk bulging at C5/C6, C4/C5, and T4/T5. I too have pain every night in my back, and unless I take something, I cannot sleep.

I have been taking Celebrex for some time now. I used to take Vioxx, but that was pulled from the market, then I took Bextra, but that one was also pulled. I now take 200mg of Celebrex 2x every day. Breakfast and dinner. ;;D

I am PF now (from clusterheadaches only), and take Celebrex also while in cycle. It does nothing to prevent or abort the headaches, and it does not affect either the imitrex or oxygen I use to abort when in cycle.

I used to take ibuprofen (600 to 800 mg per night) to help me sleep thru the back pain, but I find that the celebrex is much easier on my stomach.

Just to repeat what others have said, you are not yet chronic. My last cycle lasted 13 weeks, and I have been chronic for 23 years.

Title: Re: Dealing with CH and other pain
Post by Richr8 on Feb 20^th, 2006, 10:46am

on 02/19/06 at 14:27:48, SophiaK wrote:

I notice that many on th board say not to use ibuprofon because they can cause 'rebound' headaches.
I am taking 80mg of Verapamil and so far haven't recieved any real benefit from it. I had a adverse reaction to Topamax.
From what I see on the message board I could be
'chronic'.

Along with rebound HAs, over consumption of ibupforfen has many undesirable side effects which are well documented.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682159.html

Your Verapamil dosage does seem low as I like many others here am currently taking 480mg a day. In regards to the Topamax, I too had adverse physiological and psychological side effects which made me stop taking it also.

Wishing you many PFDAN,

Rich

Title: Re: Dealing with CH and other pain
Post by SophiaK on Feb 20^th, 2006, 11:43am

Thank you all for the needed support.
I notice when talking about sleep aids (on the message boards) I haven't yet found anyone speaking about Ambien. Is there a reason for it not to be used?
I took 1/2 an Ambien and 2 Ibuprofen last night and had the most wonderful 7 hours of sleep.
I have chelated Magnesium here, also riboflavin is supposed to help.
When I see my doctor next Wed (the 8th Mar.) I will certainly ask him up the dosage on the Verapamil. It seems the small dosage is having some effect albeit light, but a noticable difference. Now that I'm taking a full tablet, I'm hoping for more good results.
Topomax is a horror for me. I wound up in the ER because of it and it was only 25mg.
Seems like so many people react poorly to it, yet there are those that do well. Again, thank you all for responding and giving me some solid information. S

Title: If it works, use it.
Post by Richr8 on Feb 20^th, 2006, 11:55am

on 02/20/06 at 11:43:15, SophiaK wrote:

I notice when talking about sleep aids (on the message boards) I haven't yet found anyone speaking about Ambien. Is there a reason for it not to be used?
I took 1/2 an Ambien and 2 Ibuprofen last night and had the most wonderful 7 hours of sleep.

I've been prescribed several sleep aids including Ambien. Unfortunately none of them worked for me. I finally got some sleep using 6mg of Melatonon.

Title: Re: Dealing with CH and other pain
Post by sandie99 on Feb 20^th, 2006, 12:06pm

Hi Sophia! :)

Warm welcome to ch.com! :)
I'm glad that you've found your way here.

Now, verapamil helped me a lot. It sent my ch into remission (I'm a chronic). My dose was 200mg first, then 400mg (at that time I fainted few times), then 600mg (no side effects) and remission. Good luck!

I hope that it or something else will help you with ch. :)

Best wishes & PF days,
Sanna