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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Killer Neck Pain
        
(Message started by: Scrooge on Feb 11^th, 2008, 7:40pm)

Title: Killer Neck Pain
Post by Scrooge on Feb 11^th, 2008, 7:40pm

I was curious if anyone has a suggestion about very bad neck aches that occur during cluster periods. The pain isn't as bad as a cluster attack but it still is very uncomfortable. My trex does eliminate the pain but I need to save my shots for the clusters themselves. Is there anything I should be doing or taking?

By the way, are neck aches of this type common?

Thanks a bunch!!

Title: Re: Killer Neck P
Post by Ray on Feb 11^th, 2008, 8:07pm

Dear Scrooge:

I would guess that the stress invoked by the CH is causing you to "tense up" and causing the neck pain. Maybe an Ibuprophen would help. Muscle relaxers tend to be habit forming, and carry their own risks.

With best wishes,

Ray

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by George_J on Feb 11^th, 2008, 9:26pm

Very common. And yes, they are miserable.

Haven't found anything that helps a great deal, although ice helps some. I will say one thing about it, though--resist the temptation to get a deep tissue massage. Speaking only from my own experience, it doesn't help at all, and it HURTS. Something else is going on there besides tense muscles. Have you checked to see whether you get a "cluster lump" during a hit? Sounds like you might.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by birdman on Feb 13^th, 2008, 11:34am

Could very well be tension headaches from the stress of CH. I get them every cycle and also during stressful periods. Many ways to handle tension headaches - anti-inflammatroy meds, massage, exercise, relaxation techniques, etc.

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by monty on Feb 13^th, 2008, 12:11pm

May be referred pain from the headache. Many reports of a 'cluster lump' - a ganglion or nerve cluster that swells up during a hit or cycle.

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by Ob1kanobee on Feb 16^th, 2008, 12:18am

I have used ice packs, Ben Gay, o2, strong cup of coffee, pull at you hair on top of you head and Goodies powders to name a few.
I just got rid of constant head pain for the last 5 hours with stiff neck after a CH hit right before and a strong cup of coffee took it away.

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by Scrooge on Feb 16^th, 2008, 9:55am

I appreciate all of the feedback. I am fairly certain that my pain is not of the tension type but who knows. At least now I am some ideas.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by Ob1kanobee on Feb 17^th, 2008, 2:35am

Try a strong cup of coffee, works for me lately on those neck pains.

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by Robaird on Feb 19^th, 2008, 3:41am

Hi Scrooge,

I'm fairly certain most sufferers experience this at one time or another for various reasons. In my experience, if I so much as massage my neck during a cycle, this will almost certainly trigger a hit. Nearly all my shadows are accompanied by severe neck pain/constriction. That dread and tension invoked during a cycle or immediately prior to one may also exacerbate the condition.

I never allow any manipulation of my neck by anyone, and I'm always very conscious of my head elevation and posture.

From my very limited research, I've begun to suspect that the carotid arterial system is involved in some way, shape or form. It may well be the constriction of this artery which is, at least partially, the cause.

Once, not so long ago, when I was shadowing hard, one Chinese doctor literally insisted that I had tension headaches (all my protestations fell on deaf ears) and proceeded to give me muscle relaxant injections in my neck. I knew he was barking up the wrong tree, and I managed to weasel some of my "cocktail meds" outta him as a trade-off, so I suffered him gladly as a kind of indulgence: I mean, I had nothing to lose! Not only did this delay the onset of my cycle, it also alleviated the manifestations of neck pain during all subsequent hits. So, I kept going back for the injections weekly like clockwork.

It kinda freed me up a bit, and like you said, even though the discomfort is nothing compared to a kip7+, it's really comforting not having to deal with that added b/s.

In any case, I know how you feel. And I don't recommend drastic medical experimentation: just saying how something worked for me, mate!

All the best to you and PF vibes!

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by lennycohen on Feb 22^nd, 2008, 6:52am

As you may have noticed from some of the other threads, suboccipital nerve blocks can help quite a bit for cluster in some people - the trigeminal nerve (which is directly involved with the cluster) also ennervates the occipital nerve (which runs down the back of your neck) to some degree, this may explain the neck pain, especially if it is one sided, on your cluster side

Title: Re: Killer Neck Pain
Post by Stinger on Feb 22^nd, 2008, 1:46pm

Oddly enough, when my CH started in 1989, they started with a very bad neck pain before I actually got into the headaches. I think I had the neck pains for 2 or 3 weeks then they turned to headaches. Of course I didn't know what they were until about 1998 or so. I haven't had any neck pain since 1989.