Hi. I've suffered from clusters since I was a teen (now 42) and thankfully I've got it easy compared to some of you. I'd say I'm definitely episodic and relatively minor in comparison to others. Just got over a very minor one.
That being said, I have a problem with the one of the frequent symptoms being restlessness/the need to walk. I see this associated with clusters everywhere and while that may be common, I don't think it's defining. When they occur for me there will be no walking around.  There may be thrashing and there's certainly going to be rubbing and various positioning in a desperate attempt to make it go away, but walking is never going to happen during the peak time. Also, while I never come close to vomiting, there are tinges of nausea during an episode and well, eating is just unthinkable anyway.

I know it's probably likely that the majority of sufferers DO experience the need to move about more, but I just want to state that it's not true with me.

I was a rocker.  Sat in a chair and rocked back and forth.

It seems that everyone has their own version of the "dance", possibly with a few personal variations according to the Kipp number. For me it can be laying face down on a bed or the floor, just constantly moving around or possibly half sitting, half crouching on the floor, just rocking.

Another Michigander here. Many years ago I would pace, scream, hit myself etc. In fact in 1989 I went out the front door screaming, after I came back in the house the Sheriff showed up.

Now I go to my CH room and drop to the floor & sit Indian style until the hit is over. Trying not to move.

Don

As so many of my hits have occurred at work, I've developed a pretty low-key ritual. Don't wanna scare the "normies" 

I hide in the corner near the bathroom, one of few spots left to stand in our crowded workspace.  My left hand will be clamped to my leaking left eye, and I may be facing the wall as if to ram my head through it.  If it's bad enough, there may be tiny surprised gasps...quiet expressions of shock, I guess.  All of this in a space about 1 foot square.

So no, I don't need to move a lot.  But given the space and privacy, I'd run a marathon to get away from this pain in my head.

Personally, I don't see the difference.  You say you don't feel the need to walk...but you also state you thrash around and need to re-position yourself.  Others need to rock or bicycle kick. Still others, do something else. (we are not called head-bangers for no good reason)  That is my my mode of dealing with it along with pacing and rocking.
It doesn't seem to matter...we are all having the need to move in SOME way.  Dr. Peter Goadsby, who has spoken at many of our conventions told us this..."when a cluster headache presents itself, there is absolutely NO WAY you can NOT move around"

(For those who don't know, Dr. Goadsby is one of the  pre-eminent neurologists in the country who has advocated for us.)

Those who say they sit absolutely still, or lay down quietly would be torture to the majority of us. This kind of headache is NOT migraine where they HAVE to lay still.   

Fighting the anxiety and agitation from a full blown CH attack has caused me to do all of the above and more. Some of this I'll call knee jerk reactions. It was impossible to avoid.

Over time I realized some of my reactions made the pain worse and extended the attack. Such as raising my blood pressure. I still pace during heavy shadows and pre-attack. This makes my wife very nervous and is one more reason I try to avoid these reactions.

The statement in the movie Platoon, "take the pain!", comes to mind. So I learned to rock as little as possible during hard attacks as each movement makes the pain spike for ME.

This is MY way, I can't ask or expect anyone else to just "take the pain".

Don

I believe this was why my husband was not diagnosed sooner.  He would punch and squeeze himself in the head, cry and yell on the way to the ER...but once there, he tried to keep himself all together.  As he would be sitting UPRIGHT fully or actually leaning forward a bit, (no laying back at all) his eyes closed, his head leaning into his right hand in the temple eye area, usually fingers of that hand were poking into his head wherever they were positioned.  They would give him pain meds....and if he spoke, usually was very short.  He really gets agitated which is one of the beginning signs for me if we are in public.The nurses would come in and ask how he was doing.  I would tell them he was still having pain...how did I know?  His feet!!! They never stopped moving!! It may even seem like he is asleep from all the meds, but his feet still were going!  If he had to move, he would grip on things so tightly, cause his eyes are usually shut.  Light sensitive, slight nausea, and NO eating during a hit for sure.  Sometimes not until quite a while afterward. He does NOT prefer total quiet though.  The TV or music that he likes on.  I think it helps him to try and focus on something other than the pain.

I think someone on the boards mentioned a Japanese study a while back, seemed to mention that they are much more reserved during attacks on the whole. I believe there is definitely a tendency to want to move in some way during an attack. But I also believe it is possible for a person to learn to control even the worst of worst pain... if that weren't so, we would not have stories of Civil War soldiers undergoing surgery with zero anaesthetics.  Yes, it CAN be learned.  No, it is NOT easy nor even desired, in a modern world with access to modern medicine.

It depends.  Sometimes I can simply sit and rock and make pathetic little noises.  At other times, I've been known to go walkabout.

During my last cycle, I had one of the hits in an unfamiliar space, and wandered around banging into things.  Broke the middle toe on my right foot.  Didn't even feel it at the time.  It would probably not be a good thing to get hit when I'm out in the boonies somewhere, because I don't pay any particular attention to where I'm going.  I can't say that's ever happened, for whatever reason.  Probably a good thing.

Best,

George