Posted by Jean-Louis on August 31, 1998 at 15:25:13:
Hello again everyone. Despite early successful results with the Ritalin treatment, I regret to have to inform you that the treatment failed. The attacks came back with greater frequency and higher levels of pain than ever. Needless to say, I stopped taking Ritalin. That doesn't mean that it may not work for you. It's certainly worth a try. Now here's an interesting bit of development. As my next course of action, I decided to consult with a Chiropractor (I know, I know!!) on the urging of a cluster sufferer who claimed total remission. Since nothing has worked thus far, I decided that I had nothing to lose but a few bucks (cheap compared to the price of Imitrex!). It's ironic that over the years I spent a fortune for Docs., several Cats, Mirs, drugs but noone ever suggested taking neck x-rays. In any event, the x-rays revealed a serious degenerative joint diseace of the cervical spine (fairly common in all of us that have lived a few years!), including pronounced loss of disc height at multiple levels, osteophyte formation (spurs) and diminuation of the spacing between the lateral masses of C1 and C2. The conclusion goes on to say that "This abnormality is forcing the brain stem (pons, medulla oblongata) upward into the cerebral hemispheres, which, in turn, are being forced upward into the endosteum of the cranium." I can hear the crowd demanding to know why it is that I then only experience clusters on a periodic basis - good question! The bottom line is that on 8/26 I got on a regimentation of 1/2 teasp. of Knox unflavored gelatin (Chordroitin Sulfate) with a 10 oz. glass of water twice daily plus 1000mg vitamin C twice daily and 10 glasses of water per day. I'm also undergoing spinal traction 3 times weekly ($75.00 week. I've not had a headache in 5 days. Go figure it!!
Pain free days to all.