Posted by NicholasD on October 19, 2001 at 23:29:51:
In Reply to: Life cycle of cluster headache posted by simon anscomb on October 19, 2001 at 21:01:07:
makes some of us susceptable to CH's, the treatment can consist of making us less susceptable or avoiding whatever triggers these things. You you hit the achives of this board, there are a whole range of treatments and not all work for all people. Likewise, a whole range of triggers, certain, foods, tobaco, alcohol, airborne chemicals. Some of the treatments result in rebound making these CH's worse and more frequent. I was also in a bad auto accident and would have never related physical head movement to triggering a CH. My nero used some five dollar word to describe it and I didn't write it down, so this is also a possibility. Four years off and on with a good physical therapist corrected this problem, but if she turned my head to sharply, my nose would plug up with that spike like pain in my right eye leaving my right ear.My current treatment is O2 from an oxygen concentrator, I already experienced a contaminated O2 tank from a medical supply house, that was pure hell and an occasional prednisone tablet, but it took a long time to learn this combination. I can also break a headache by coating the inside of my nostril with Orajel, but this is just me.The most difficult challenge is finding a good neuro that understands these headaches and is not bent on a particular type of treatment. Also helps to observe your self and try to learn if any conditions, food, places, or whatever trigger these things. I never got a CH fishing 20 miles off shore in Lake Michigan or when flying my own plane but have to stay away from open menure spreading and paper mills, but this is just me. You have to learn which treatment works and what triggers affect you.I had these things off and on for 30 years and at times was ready to blow my head off, so know the feeling. At times like this, a 150mg Demerol and a 25 mg Vistaril shot in the butt always worked, slept 36 hours straight after a bad seige. These shots have also been known to break a cycle.Hang in there, and hope that you can find what works for you fast, never 100% relief, but life can be much better and productive.