Hi Ya'll
Now they're talking about doing a nerve block. Any body tried it? My husband is going on four months. 

Thanks,
Lizzzz

i tried it and it is expensive and i had a hit 3 hours later, so for me its a no go

I've had it done twice, both in Oct. 2008. 10/2 pain free 14 hours, 10/23 pain free 16 hours.

The injections are not that bad considering. I did it twice. They are given behind the ears. Some people get months and more of relief.

Good Luck, Don

I am pleased to have Peter Goadsby as my Doc now.  Regarding the greater occipital nerve block, he claims that one third of CH patients have their episodes completely stopped, one third have no effect, and one third have a temporary hiatus of 2-4 weeks of attacks.  Of this latter group, once the headaches return, the duration of the episode is still reduced by the number of days/weeks the patient has been headache free.  I.e., you don't start your cluster episode from square one.  I met with him after 7 weeks of headaches.  He recommends that I wait until the beginning of the next headache period in a year or so, and then try the nerve block.  Also, if you read the article he and others published in 2006, the odds are better for CH sufferers if they experience tenderness in the scalp region above the greater occipital nerve.  I do have some of this tenderness on the top of my head where the nerve passes, so I might be a good candidate for this reason.

One thing I have learned is that there are always things to try, things to do.  I think it's shameful that they "showed you the door."  Not a pain clinic I would want to patronize!