Let me be the first to call bullshit.

         Potter

Potter-heh! So well and eloquently said. I do have a serious question, here, though. I know I read somewhere about 4 Way Nasal spray being used (perhaps as one kind of abortive?) but I can't remember who or where. Sinus headaches can hurt, and there is a form of ocular migraine, both of which I believe can exacerbate a cluster.  Just wondering.

Potter: That's a strange response from someone who knows what these feel like. I don't remember trying to profit from anything that I've said. What damage or harm could I possibly do by suggesting something that worked for me? Your stance is fairly arrogant and unfortunately the first reply to my post. Too bad a newbie to the site who just found out what he's been dealing with might not even give it a second thought due your comment. He'd be much better off trying Imitrex, O2, psychotics, MJ,  nerve blocks, or kill his liver by taking 20 advil a night before he figures out that aint working, etc! Better yet maybe he'll go through 20K of dental work thinking that it's bad teeth till he runs out of candidates but still has the headaches and then another few grand on sinus surgery just to have them return. Yeah, that's a much better plan.
Delta: I guess I do unashamedly fall into your category. That would be because I was just dagnosed a week or so ago since it took 3 years for any DR to diagnose it. Knew nothing about a cluster headache before then but a lot of what I've read since then I could've written first hand. Yes I felt as though I needed to tout something that I tried that worked for me. In the short period of time that I've been aware of these I wasn't quite able to read every post or possible remedy that's been made public on the subject. Just thought I'd post something that I found helpful since the alternate relief methods I listed above don't sound appealing to me. This combination may have been "touted" many times before for all I know. I wish I'd found out about it a couple of years ago! If one person tries it and gets any degree of relief, I've helped for about 10 bucks worth of OTC meds.
If you are content with your treatment, great! If you've tried this combination and it didn't work for you, you have my sympathy.

I must add however mine returned last night after a short week hiatus. I tried  my mix again but didn't get the same result as before. The first couple of sprays helped somewhat. I then blew my nose with success and a subsequent spray helped even more. I guess I needed to clense the pallet so to speak. That episode still took another 15 minutes more to subside enough to let me fall back to sleep. I guess it was too established by then. Woke up with another round about 2 hrs later, blew my nose first this time and shot the mist more vertically up the nose and got relief within about 5 minutes that time. It does burn a little bit at first but it's actually a distracton to the real pain.

Let my clarify my position: I'm not selling anything!!! If you don't like the sound of it or have tried it w/o success, sobeit! If you do try it and have success, fantastic, glad for that (Still not selling it though)
Jeff

Sorry dude, quick check on Google:
"The hypothalamus regulates the hormonal system and emotions. The “higher” brain has limited control over the hypothalamus. Because of the physical closeness of sexual and aggressive centers within the hypothalamus, sexual instinct and violence become connected for lust murderers. The hypothalamus may be damaged through malnutrition or injury."

Britanica:
Region of the brain containing a control centre for many autonomic-nervous-system functions. Its complex interaction with the pituitary gland makes it an important part of the endocrine system. As a critical link between the body's two control systems, the hypothalamus regulates homeostasis. Nervous and hormonal pathways connect it with the pituitary, which it stimulates to release various hormones. The hypothalamus influences food intake, weight regulation, fluid intake and balance, thirst, body heat, and the sleep cycle. Disorders can produce pituitary dysfunction, diabetes insipidus, insomnia, and temperature fluctuations.

Health Dictionary:
The part of the brain that controls hunger, thirst, and body temperature and regulates various activities in the body connected with metabolism, including the maintaining of water balance. The hypothalamus also controls the action of the pituitary gland.

Everything I've been able to read so far is saying "they" don't know what causes CH.

I'm no Dr. but I do know the difference between a raping murder spree and a headache episode.
And I don't have a sleep disorder, hot flashes, diabetes, weight or lactation issues either.

Don't know what I did to twist you off so bad but whatever it was I apologize. If you don't care for the direction of my postings please ignore me (really).

If you don't believe that an infected wound in your sinus / nasal passage that encroaches on the nerve bundle "could" cause these, fine.

FWIW the plaque I referred to in my guestbook would be invisible to an MRI or CT scan due to its density. If they could see it they could also detect a blockage in your arteries with the same scan, which can't be done!

I'm convinced that I'm onto something that may be innocuos enough to be overlooked in normal nasal exams. I'd had 2 MRI's and a CT scan along with surgery to repair a deviated suptum and remove a "significant" bone spur from the uppermost portion of my septum. All of this occurred within an inch or so of where I believe the plaque later dislodged from . It absolutely can be overlooked by the medical profession.
You do believe in toothaches don't you? Same nerve bundle, same type of pain, different INFECTION. Which, by the way can be temporarily calmed bycontact with benzocaine.
You're right, this is far fetched.
Probably even more crazy than a high school sophomore discovering a cure / treatment for a specific type of cancer this week.

Dang me for being a dreamer.

Like I said, please ignore me.
Jeff

Jeff Savage wrote on May 19^th, 2010 at 9:42pm:

  So the Hypothalamus has nothing to do with clusters and clusters are caused by a boogered up nose. What a crock.

                  Potter

Jeff Savage wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 12:09am:

     One.

    Potter

There are 38 articles in PubMed that mention lidocaine and cluster headaches. There are a few others that mention related local anesthetics. It sometimes works. It is not as effective as many other treatments, but if it does work for anyone, great!

Lidocaine can directly block cluster pain when applied to the painful area around the trigeminal nerve, and it can block clusters indirectly when used as a nerve block in areas of the neck, face or sinuses. The hypothalamus is indeed a key player in this pain syndrome, but it is not the only one. Hypothalamus sends messages to activate the trigeminal nerve, and the pain occurs in the trigeminal nerve right behind one eye.

Potter - you are the bullshitter.

Jeff - It's obvious you feel strongly (and, fwiw, you are wrong about the use of the word "cause" in this case - you've merely found a method of treatment that works for you), but you need to tone down the personal attacks or you'll be outta here so fast your head will spin.

Consider yourself warned by someone who has no power to do anything about it.

Jeff Savage wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 8:53pm:

       I guess my choice would be to promulgate proven methods for quick, cheap, safe methods to abort the cluster headaches. Oxygen is the method of choice and I'm sure that o2 administered correctly would dry up your stuffy nose and clear your brain.
        You spelled defecate wrong.

          Potter

Jeff Savage wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 9:07pm:



S -I -G -H -H -H -H -H...WTF?...this grows tiresome. 28 yr dancer myself...if I could generate the amount of anger, animosity, and stubborness displayed so far...I could expect not to see 29...

WHATEVER works for you brother is fine with me...if you never had another ch I would rejoice...as would we all.....

Best,

Jon

Potter wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 9:04pm:

Sorry 'bout that.
Jeff

FramCire wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 11:00pm:

1. Absolute apologies to Potter and all. Truly not here to argue.
2. No. I'm suggesting that the mass compounded the aggravation of the nerves in that area due to it's size. An infection in the pocket it came from may have been responsible for the headaches by allowing either air or infection to contact the nerves. Similar to a toothache I guess? Some pore or gland at that area had to have secreted the material which formed the mass that I have labeled plaque.  My guess, (that's all it is) is that over time the mass went from small and insignificant to the size it was when it was displaced / ejected/ whatever. It's visible characteristics indicated that it was infected. I think the infections over time ate into the tissue enlarging the cavity / crater. The shape of the mass was not conical so the tissue actually held it in place until whatever happened that day allowed it to "pop out" Can't think of a better description sorry. The subsequent headaches after the ejection likely were the result of infection. I have previously said that they changed after the ejection in that the pain was no longer intense at my teeth.
Look, I'm not trying to start anything other than possibility. I am not trying to outfox you or malign you and your collective efforts to control this thing. It's just damn scary that in spite of the efforts of the Dr's that I've seen up to this point this was missed. I'm not saying this is what's causing everyone's either, that'd be crazy. But what if it did cause a percentage of them? Maybe someone who read my post might ask a different question next time they go to the Dr. For all I know I've been misdiagnosed yet again and my symptoms only mimic CH? I just don't know. I think, obviously, that it would be wrong not to throw it out for discussion though.
Nite,
Jeff