Anyone with Cluster headaches?

[zygy]

Just curious... just about the same time that I started having symptoms increase I also started to get these painful headaches at night.  Unlike my migraines it does not help to be in bed, I actually get up and walk around my house to help the pain.  They seem to be like cluster headaches but I don't feel that they are the "worst" pain ever like clusters are described as.  I get them for a few days and then they go away again for a month or two and then I will get them again.  Very migraine like, mostly on one side of the head, around the eye and back of the head.  Feels like someone puts an ice cream scooper around your eye... not a great feeling.  I even think it causes my eyes to tear and one side of my nose to be stuffed up (also sounding like cluster headaches).  It hurts like a bad migraine but not to the extent it sounds like a true cluster headache would, you definitely can't sleep through it though.  Just wondering if anyone else gets this??

[*Stormy*]

I can totally relate!! It was so bad by my 3rd I was using a belly sling!!

I guess my Dh needs to do a little more investigation...lol...

Ambyr- I do that too with back massages all the time and my DH is always like "keep it down or the kids are going to think we are doing something else"..LOL

[selmaS]

I too have spots......I always asked DH to rub my neck and shoulders....DH said I was like a dog, responding when he rubbed one of the spots......

As for the HA's I feel we all get many diff types of HA's and it is hard to know how to classify them as they do change so often....many drs had dx'd me with migraines, but the meds never helped.

LOL...what a great way to refer to this..exactly.....the release of the support with those overused muscles are so ahhhhhhhh...I can totally relate : )

"selma"

[stephanie_C]

This is too funny! It was my husband (now my ex-husband) who found the spots! I was having him rub my neck and shoulders during a typical round of HAs and when he was rubbing right at the base of my head I leaned back and put the weight of my head in his hands so I wasn't using my muscles to support my head and like I said it was like this weird feeling ran all the way down my body. (ok one more weird thing then I think I'll be done for the day). To all the moms out there - it is like when you're pregnant and someone stands in front of you and holds up your belly so you don't have to support it yourself. Its just this momentary feeling of "ahhhhhh" when you can just relax the muscles that have been so over used. Can anyone relate?

[cyberpyxi]

I have one just under my ear, I can usually find it when I'm rubbing the skull right around my ear, towards my jaw. However, the one my hubby found is actually on my neck. I have to lay with my head facing downwards, making the muscles a little taunt. it's only on my left side, just above the halfway area of my neck... when he finds it, I always burst out with "Oh!", makes us both giggle, cuz I can't help the sound.

[*Stormy*]

Ok I'm looking for those spots right now..lol..that would be so nice. I know that I do get sensitive spots that I want to rub to feel better but I don't know if they are a good or bad thing! Definitely do have areas that directly relate to the headaches though..

I just went swimming with the kids and the warm water has made everything feel better for awhile...

Carolyn

[cyberpyxi]

My husband found those spots on me! I was amazed... not weird at all, it's fantastic!!! I found that if I lay in one position, neck bent just so, and he works on them, he can even take the edge off of my CF HAs!
Have you tried caffeine? I know that makes it all the harder to sleep, but when I get my horrible headaches, I down a bottle of Crystal Light Strawberry Energy water (little packets, and a 16.9 oz bottle of water). I now swear by the Crystal Light. Caffeine and lots of water helps a swelling brain, swelling blood vessels, etc.

I have been diagnosed with Cluster HAs, Migraines, and Chiari's... of course, I still think that the Clusters & Migraines were a misdiagnoses, but my NS said that after my surgery (in JUNE! SO EXCITED/SCARED!), I will probably still have headaches, but nothing like the CM HAs.

[stephanie_C]

This sounds like my kind of HA too! Mine are basically constant. Sometimes they are worse than other times, but basically there 24/7 for the past 4 months or so (again another reason why I'm finally considering surgery). Usually in the back of my head and goes forward to right behind my eyes. It's usually worse on one side.

OK, this is going to sound strange but bear w/ me. There are two spots in the back of my head near the base of my skull off to both sides of mid-line, kinda behind both ears where if I rub it just right I get this crazy relief. (I know this sounds a little weird). It's like I can feel water or something just go down through my whole body, arms and legs and down to my fingers and toes. For a few moments I feel so good. (ok ok I guess its sound really weird) So I am constantly walking around rubbing the base of my head trying to find those spots again! I'm sure I look like quite silly!

[*Stormy*]

Well I am definately not a one type headache kind of gal!! lol I seem to get them all...

Yes, I do get the ones like you are talking about, mine seem to like to settle more on my right and I still get them after surgery. I know exactly what you mean about the eye, mine usually feels kind of numb like too when they are happening and the muscles feel weaker than normal. Mine are not dropping agonizing pain either...like a cluster headache is usually described. When sleeping sometimes I find it is an experiment to get you head and neck in exactly the right position...for me when I hit the right one I can feel it ease off a little. I know what you mean though, lying down does not help and for me sometimes it makes it worse. My eyes seems to burn a lot with these and the only relief is to keep closing my eyes. Have you tried raising the end of your mattress a little bit? Sometimes that helps, as laying flat seems to be the worst. I hope you find some relief soon!
Carolyn