This afternoon I had the greater and lesser occipital nerve block procedure performed.  I was completely numb for the first 5-6 hours and shortly after that the lidocaine/bupivicaine started to wear off from a skin surface perspective.  I am still able to feel the pain although today it's not as bad.  I was told that would likely fade with the anesthetic.  I was told it was take 2-7 days for the steroid used to take effect.  At this point I have experience 2 CH attacks since the procedure, first being minimal, the second, being much closer to the pain rate before the injections.

I am very hopeful and fearful at the same time.  If this doesn't work idk what I'm going to do.  I cannot stand the amount of pain that occurs at regular intervals.  My doc is hesitant to prescribe my any pain medications at this point, I have received Tramadol 50mg tabs, to take every 8 hours PRN.  It's sort of pathetic that it's not working.

I am looking into getting a O2 tank and mask but won't be able to afford it until the end of November, so unless this 3 month cycle ends or obviously switched to chronic it may be too late or insufficient medical care.

I have an appointment in Mid-November to review and I'm going to ask for something to aid with pain relief.  After three months of little success, I'm about to freak out, however I do not want to appear drug seeking.  It's a slipper slope.  My first PCP labeled me as addiction risk because she wasn't informed of cluster headaches, and ever since then it has haunted me.   In my state doctors and view a prescription history and it's obvious that I'm not shopping around for medications. 

How do you deal with doctors when you're obviously in massive pain and they're sort of dicking you around (sorry for language; but for lack of a better work)

Thanks everyone,
Cluster Ed (Eddie/Edward)

When I have had to  go the ER, I usually get an injection of a pain med.  Dilaudid if my memory serves.  We've also tried Stadol, Demorol, Morphine... etc.  Not many work, but the Dilaudid injections do help to block the pain for the attack at hand, but does little for a lasting effect as it's half life is fairly small. 

I have tried other medication like Celebrex, Gabapentin, and Toradol Injections (at home).  None of them have worked and Celebrex also caused a fever for me.

I'm still up because I'm afraid to go to bed tonight, after the injections across my entire head, face, and neck.

What do you use?  The problem is that I have not found a proper abortive medication that will arrest and attack.  Triptans have also caused allergic reations so sever i would not try them again (SubQ Inj, Tablets, and IN sprays).  I have also tried the Lidocaine solution for nasal use to hit a plexus of nerves within the lining that would abort.  Did nothing but burn my nose and throat.

My preventative meds are Topamax and Verapamil.

ClusterEd wrote on Oct 24^th, 2012 at 2:53am:

Answer: Oxygen correctly administered.
Skyhawk5 wrote on Oct 24^th, 2012 at 1:17am:

Nuf said.