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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Exercise 
        
(Message started by: Katherinecm on Aug 23^rd, 2006, 1:46pm)

Title: Exercise
Post by Katherinecm on Aug 23^rd, 2006, 1:46pm

A post in the medication side on Zomig nasal spray made me wonder... how much exercise do people get when they are in cycle? I used to be in pretty great shape (marathon, etc) and even in spring I went on 40 mile bike rides almost daily but lately I haven't been getting hardly any exercise except for walking the dog.

I figure it's hot and heat triggers attacks for me, and I almost always get hit when I stop exercising, so I've been avoiding it.

Has anyone forced themselves to excercise even though it triggers attacks, and does it make any difference? Excercise is supposed to decrease inflammation, after all...

Title: Re: Exercise
Post by Bond007 on Aug 23^rd, 2006, 2:07pm

My current cycle started in October 2005 and in the beginning I was still working out hard in the gym. As long as my CH was either low grade (Kip 1-3) or right at the start at even the beginning of a big hit and I could still concentrate on the workout at hand, I was able to make it through my routine. The HA would fade into oblivion for several hours up to the rest of the day. But, when the next attack did strike, it was excruciatingly painful and escalated to a Kip 7-10 swiftly. I guess when those endorphins wear off, they're gone for good until you can replenish them with another good workout.

Lately, however, my attacks have been far too frequent and severe that I feel incredibly drained, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Too much to even attempt a light workout at the gym. I'm utterly exhausted by the end of the day. I've even stopped going to Taekwondo, which I love.

Of course, some of it's in fear of getting hit with sooooooo many people around. I don't want to make a spectacle of myself in a crowded gym or dojang. Hell, I almost lost it in Wal-Mart a few days back and screamed at a young girl who was trying to check out at the self-checkout lane right in front of me as I was getting hit.

Anyway, back to your original question. Yes, when I can, I do find that exercise helps to relieve my attacks FOR THAT MOMENT and for a short time afterwards. Partly because exercise releases endorphins and partly because exercise does force you to breathe more deeply thus bringing more oxygen into your bloodstream. And, we all know that more highly oxygenated blood helps alleviate CH.

Title: Re: Exercise
Post by kevinpix on Aug 23^rd, 2006, 4:41pm

I find it that I get more hits while at rest, so I stay really busy. I've been digging out my pond by hand for 3 years now, about 5 more to go! Exercise is good for handling the attacks, it's better to keep your heart healthy too. Good luck, and never give up!

Title: Re: Exercise
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 23^rd, 2006, 4:47pm

I'm a workout nut in or out of cycle. I used to go on a hard run when a head ache started and found sometimes it would abort it, more often it would just keep it from ratcheting up too high. I've never seen a relationship in me between working out and getting more or less hits. Like every other thing about the beast it loves to tease us with its random nature!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Exercise
Post by seasonalboomer on Aug 24^th, 2006, 9:47am

Katherine,

My pattern sounds much like yours. I'm a marathoner and run year round. When I'm in cycle I usually get hit after about 40 minutes of running, which means for a long run I'm running with CH, or for shorter runs, getting hit within 10-15 minutes of finishing.

I used to cut way back when in cycle but after I got my O2 I found that the post-running hits were especially easy to put down with O2. So, I finish a run, grab a red bull, sit on the floor next to my tank and crank it up while I cool down. Then, rarely does anything ramp up beyond a Kip 3.

It's looking like I'm wrapping up a little mini-CH summer cycle where the almost the only hits I got were from running. Ran through the whole time thanks to Mr. Oh-two.

So keep on running!

Scott

Title: Re: Exercise
Post by TimJohnson on Aug 25^th, 2006, 12:08am

I love basketball, but can't play it unless I'm out of cycle. And definitely not in the summer! Sometimes even out of cycle, the bball will trigger a hit.

Title: Re: Exercise
Post by Charlotte on Aug 25^th, 2006, 12:50am

I'm a non-structured exercise freak. I am fortunate to work in a 3 story building, & my coworkers know that I will gladly deliver anything anywhere upon rquest. I usually park several blocks away and wallk fast to my car. I've been known to break into exercise in the file room, and fortunately my coworkers think it is funny rather than annoying. I'm careful not to kick in the direction of other humans. Exercise does not make my headache worse, and it gives me something to do with the frenetic energy bursts after the sweating, and I get hit every 2 hours, so I have a lot of energy bursts during the day.

The new med plan is easing the pain, but all the periferal stuff is still there. Pain is down to shadows & kip 5 or less most of the time. (My coworkers have been teasing me a lot lately because I am feeling better and they're making up for lost time when it was my turn but they gave me a break.)

Charlotte

Title: Re: Exercise
Post by georgej on Aug 25^th, 2006, 1:56am

I'm quite active almost all the time, in cycle and out. Hiking, mostly--stuff like that. Like Bond, I do taekwondo (Songahm--only a first-level brown belt), and I've never had it be a problem, although I don't know whether it does anything one way or another for the H/A.

On the other hand, one of my worst hits ever came on a June afternoon about ten years ago when I was laying sod at my brother-in-law's house. It was hard sweaty work, and then I had a beer, even though I knew better. I ended up crawling into the house on my hands and knees, hid in a closet, curled into a fetal position on the floor, banged my head against the wall and screamed. I almost never get that bad. Almost never lose control to that point. Scared hell out of everybody.

I haven't forgotten that lesson.

Best,

George