Cluster Headaches???

[Tano]

Hi all,

A good friend of ours suffers horribly from "Cluster Headaches". Every few months or so he is hit with one that can last for months. I'm not too familiar with them, but he asked me if I could do a little research on them on the internet. I saw a few post about migraines and got some really good ideas, but I'm not sure if their the same kind of headache. He has seen all kinds of doctors (this was before we knew him) and I'm not sure what kinds exactly, but he says not one could help. All they have done is prescribe meds, even shots that he has to give his self. I think he even went to a sleep clinic???? Anyhoo, any info and/or ideas that I could present to him would really be helpful. I think at this point he is willing to try just about anything!

Thanks

Tano

 

[Lilbitsnana]

Tano, I don't know what "cluster" headaches are. But, back in the mid 90's I started getting migraines. As many as twelve a month! Doctor's had no idea what was going on, and none of the meds stopped them. Went for an eye exam, was told I had a "light" sensitivity. I have to wear my sunglasses even when it is cloudy and gloomy outside (occasionally even in the house), but it helps a lot! Now, I only get one or two a year! Much better.

Sorry if this is thread-drift or if it is no help. But, sometimes the doc's don't have the answers. Maybe because they sometimes don't look in the right direction for the cause.

Anyway, I'm not in tears or throwing up all the time because of the migraines.

 

[Pogonip]

google Cluster headaches cayenne for some articles on the benefits of snorting cayenne pepper in relievng cluster headaches....gives you a clue on how painful cluster headaches can be, if cayenne's the cure! people with cluster headaches have suicided rather than suffer them. article below has some natural treatments, melatonin seems to help....


http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/yourhealth/healthgate/getcontent.asp?URLhealthgate="35543.html"

 

[Kathy in WV]

I don't see this on here anywhere so I'll tell you what worked for me. I thought I was having migraines again but when I went to the hospital for meds they didn't work. Finally one day this old Navy Doctor said he wanted to try something on me. He took a long q-tip thing and dipped it in Lidocaine and then inserted it about 4 or 5 inches up each nostril until he reached some kind of wall of nerves. (I think it was the Ganglia??????) Anyway, whatever kind of headache this was I got INSTANT relief. Whether private DOctors would do this I don't know but this one old military Doctor did it and I was so thankful!!! It takes some practice to do this to yourself so you hit the right spot. The lidocaine was great though. It doesn't burn-just numbs instantly. Whether I was having true cluster headaches I can't say, but it worked for me and might be worth a try for him.

 

[Trek]

This isn't much help, but many times cluster headaches are actually worsened or prolonged by the pain meds. Then they would be called "rebound headaches", but are so similar it's hard to tell. The only way I've found if it's a rebound headache or not is to ride them out without the pain meds. If they go away... it was probably a cluster headache turned rebound. When you have them though, you couldn't care less which headache it was. All you want is for it to go away.

 

[Brooks]

Tano, it might help us to know what meds he has taken that have helped and what meds have not helped. For instance, I didn't know that my headaches were (almost assuredly) migraines until my brother gave me a few of his Imitrex, which for the first time in my life made them go away. Not all migraines meds work equally on migraines, but it might give us a clue.

 

[inskanoot]

I have heard about feverfew used for migraines.

Headaches are frequently related to digestive disorders.

Several years ago, an herbalist recommended astragalus root capsules for my headaches. After two weeks of two capsules per day, no more headaches.