This likely will not help everyone especially not those with severe chronic cases. But I have found that as soon as I get a hint of cluster, I put an ice cube in a thin cloth and put it just in front of my ear on the side of cluster.  Right in front of that little bump called the Tragus. I hold it there and am very still.  Usually it will start to help in less than 5 minutes. This may have been posted before or others may find other helpful spots to ice.  But wanted to share.  About to go get the supplies for the Anti-inflammatory therapy..

Wonderful thing about Cluster: if the pain doesn't get you you'll go nuts with the conflicting "fixes" which fill our lives!

Yes, ice packs work for some. Years ago we had run about folks putting their head in a freezer. Then the role of heat: also a run about using a hair dryer directed at your temple: worked for some, made pain worse for otherrs. Ditto for usng exercise during an attack, except that heating up your body triggered/increase pain for others.

Point being, we experiment and try this and that; share our experiences and then move on to find something which works for OUR body. Be patient! You're not nuts or failing if you try something and it doesn't work for YOU.

Patience is a major coping skill....

Until a few years ago I had an Intenist in Shelby who knew nothing about Cluster but--he trusted me. Anything I wanted to try was O.K.with him and it was out of this wonderful relationship that I found the treatments which worked for me.

But the most charming part of the story: When I moved away he wrote a thank you note thanking me for what I had taught him!

We should all be so blessed!