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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Exercises during cluster
        
(Message started by: vitaliy.se on Jan 4^th, 2008, 7:10pm)

Title: Exercises during cluster
Post by vitaliy.se on Jan 4^th, 2008, 7:10pm

Does anybody know what exercises are acceptable during the cluster?
I talk about exercises when we are not attacked. During the attack the only think that seems to help is walking (at least to me).

Do exercises affect the cluster length, do some exercises can trigger the attack?

Somehow I feel that swimming is good just like walking or even better.
By the way did someone try swimming during attack?
Somehow when I swim I feel that the attack CAN NOT START , probably because of type of briefing I use, I brief into water.

I think I should left boxing (at least boxing bags and work with partner or anything that shakes head isn't good).

What about jogging? (To me it looks same as boxing, shakes head to much)

Weight lifting? I think it is ok if I reduce the weights and number of tries.

What else? What do you do during the cluster to stay fit?

Regards,
Vitaliy S

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by Linda_Howell on Jan 4^th, 2008, 9:30pm

wow, I'll bet you are the first person from Russia we've had here. Welcome.

At first I thought you were asking if excersizing could help an attack or make it worse and then I read:

Quote:

What do you do during the cluster to stay fit?

so I guess I am confused. Could you explain exactly what you are asking?

Linda

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by GrandPotentate on Jan 4^th, 2008, 9:50pm

I did a lot of brisk walking during hits. It seems to help. Perhaps just something to do instead of sitting around and suffering. Perhaps it has some effect on blood chemistry. This was the most effective thing I had prior to getting oxygen. when the weather is crappy, I wear a path around my house (or hotel room - bummer!). When the weather is nice, I get some sightseeing around the neighborhood. Fortunately, most f my cycles have been springtime.

I haven't tried other exercise during hits yet. I did pick up a stationary bike, and will give it a shot next cycle. I do some biking in summertime, so it might help me get in shape for next summer.

Getting fixed up with oxygen was far more effective. It sounded like a lot of bother before I tried it, but I'm one of those who has had very good results!

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by vitaliy.se on Jan 5^th, 2008, 12:41am

on 01/04/08 at 21:30:55, Linda_Howell wrote:

wow, I'll bet you are the first person from Russia we've had here.

CH doesn't know borders :-)

on 01/04/08 at 21:30:55, Linda_Howell wrote:

At first I thought you were asking if excersizing could help an attack or make it worse and then I read:
so I guess I am confused. Could you explain exactly what you are asking?

Sorry for my English.
I was asking about the exercises that people with CH do to be/feel fit(to be in good physical or/and emotional conditions).
I believe that PAIN is only one side of the problem.
There is a proverb that came from ancient Greece "a sound mind in a sound body" (closed translation into English).
To stay in good conditions we must work out, but during CH I cannot do same things I used to do when I'm free of CH.
I can't do weight lifting (at least heavy weights), I'm sure boxing is forbidden.
Even jogging seems can trigger the attack.
Swimming is good for me. Somehow I feel that It will be good to swim even during the attack. When I swim long distances (>=1 km) I enter a sort of trance. Nothing exists to me. Just steady breathing and water. It makes me calm. (It is much easer to master pain if you don't concentrate on nothing particular.)

GrandPotentate suggest to do some biking. I'll give it a try if CH hit me in summer.

As for other exercises:
Running triggered my CH once.
It looks anything that makes head shaking must be forbidden during cluster. Also exercises that effect trapeze and neck muscles doesn't look good for me.

Regards,
Vitaliy S

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by kcopelin on Jan 5^th, 2008, 12:52am

Walking has the double advantage of helping me get fit and reduce the suffering involved in CH.

I have considered boxing, but where I live it would be called assault. ::)

Hope you have many pain free hours!!!
kathy

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by totka2 on Jan 5^th, 2008, 1:45am

Zdrastvuyte Vitya!
And welcom here.
Could you tell me something about Russian treatment protocol?
Styopka (Vengriya)

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jan 5^th, 2008, 8:22am

There is no clear MEDICAL answer to your question. Some people find exercise helpful even during an attack. The idea of increasing oxygen input to your body is likely there is a benefit for some.

On the other hand, a number of people here find that any activity which INCREASES the body temperature will trigger an attack.

The answer is for you to use your personal experience as a guide. But there is no medical reason to avoid, or to engage, in exercise during Cluster periods.

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by Linda_Howell on Jan 5^th, 2008, 12:13pm

Quote:

I have considered boxing, but where I live it would be called assault.

http://bestsmileys.com/lol/1.gif

Title: Re: Exercises during clusterin Cghb
Post by vitaliy.se on Jan 5^th, 2008, 3:06pm

on 01/05/08 at 01:45:43, totka2 wrote:

Zdrastvuyte Vitya!
And welcom here.
Could you tell me something about Russian treatment protocol?
Styopka (Vengriya)

Hello, I'm back again after 2 attacks.
Well. There is no much to say about treatment of CH in Russia.
I visited Dr Filatova. She is the head of special clinic dealing with headaches and also considered one of the most confident specialist in CH in Russia.
I was recomended to take Verapamil 240mg per day (starting from 40mg per day and increasing the dose slowly to 240mg).
Also she recomends to take sumatriptan drugs during the attack.
Here we don't have sumatriptan injections only nasal spray (quite expensive here, one dose costs about 25$) . Also we have sumatriptan in pills (I take pills).
In clinic you can receive oxygen treatment but it's hard to receive it at home here.
Also she recommends to try biofeedback.
Or, and there is one thing I forgot to mention, she insists that I take verapamil outside the cluster too. Not all the time of course but in the time when it is possible that cluster will start. In the begining of Fall for an instance.

Regards,
Vitaliy S

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by vitaliy.se on Jan 5^th, 2008, 3:33pm

on 01/05/08 at 01:45:43, totka2 wrote:

Zdrastvuyte Vitya!
And welcom here.
Could you tell me something about Russian treatment protocol?
Styopka (Vengriya)

Styopka what about CH treatment in Vengriya?
Is it hard to get Oxygen?

PS Just curious is Styopka means the same as Stepan or Stephan?

Regards,
Vitaliy S

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by totka2 on Jan 5^th, 2008, 4:40pm

The major prophylactic drugs for CHs are Prednisone (Medrol), Lithium (for chronics), Verapamil, Baclofen and Tegretol. Against attacks: Imigran injection or spray. (Spray is cheaper than over there, about $16/dose and injection is $22/shoot.)
Because of our f@cking National Health Found (the only insurance co.) unfortunately oxygen is not a licensed treatment here but we use it :P We get medical oxygen (if we can) or use industrial (welder) oxygen.

My Hungarian first name is István, I use Steve here but on the Russian class (30+ years ago) I was called Styopka.

PF
Styopka

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by vitaliy.se on Jan 5^th, 2008, 5:31pm

on 01/05/08 at 08:22:22, Bob_Johnson wrote:

On the other hand, a number of people here find that any activity which INCREASES the body temperature will trigger an attack.

To those people I suggest DRINK MORE WATER
the temperature increases during sport activity because the body loses about 2 or 3 litters of water. So if you work out drink more water. Drink it during the activity and after.
Warning: during the activity don't drink it at once, just take a bottle of water to gym and drink it in 5-6 sets.

Regards,
Vitaliy S

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by vitaliy.se on Jan 5^th, 2008, 5:47pm

Hello István,

Does spray helps and what is better spray or injections for you?
How fast they act?
(Pills help me in 25-35 min if I take it right before the attack.
Some how I feel when the attack is going to start even at night I wake up and know it is going to start in a minute, I take my pill with water and start to walk).

How much oxygen costs and is it safe to use welder oxygen?
Where did you get the mask, inflater etc for oxygen? Is it possible to buy it in Hungary?

Regards,
Vitaliy S

Title: Private chat of former reds ;;D
Post by totka2 on Jan 6^th, 2008, 1:34am

Hi Vitaliy,

Never tried the spray but as far as I know it works in about 10 mins.
I use an injection in 3 parts. This 2 mg of sumatriptan stop the pain in 5 mins like oxygen.

'Cos my mom suffers from serious asthma she has 2 tanks, regulators and bubblers from the Insurance for free. She uses one and I use the other. As well as I have a welder tank (regulator is from the USA).
Oxygen is cheap about $ 35/refill but enough for 30-50 attacks.

Check your PM,

Istvan

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by cash5542 on Jan 6^th, 2008, 10:28am

My daughter is a 22 year old CH sufferer. She has only had CH for a year and a half. She also has been swimming since she was 8 years old competitvely, including college and now a Master's group. She has never had a CH attack in the water, although recently she had one very brief shadow. The cold seems to be very good for her. I've heard sufing has similar effects too. She has found lifting will trigger an attack. I swim also to keep my heart and body healthy. It is the best exercise as long as the pool chemicals are maintained properly! Good luck and go get wet!

Charlotte

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by K-MAN on Jan 7^th, 2008, 12:30pm

Vitaliy,

I'm an amateur athlete and participate in swimming and fighting (boxing) when I'm not in a cluster cycle. When I have the headaches, exercise always triggers an attack.

Some other athletes here say that they can get relief from an attack if they exercise, and many say that running can help them with the pain. I have found just the opposite, and I avoid exercise during a cluster cycle. Exercise increases the frequency and intensity of my attacks.

It's different for everyone, so you will have to decide what works for you.

Title: Re: Exercises during cluster
Post by Beastfodder on Jan 10^th, 2008, 3:22pm

Different strokes for different folks - looks like you found a trigger for your CH.

I'd go for O2 first above anything else.

I get hit on the left side of my head and now when I get hit grab and lift the cyclinder in the left hand whilst taking the O2. Works for me and gets the old system pumping a bit.

Figure that if you're pushing the blood away from the head it can't be a bad thing plus a reasonably heavy cylinder keeps your mind off the attack.