What Are Cluster Headaches?
Published July 6, 2009 | 
Many people out there have never before heard the term “cluster headaches“. And just as many others have heard the term cluster headaches but have no idea what a cluster headache actually is. Many people believe they are a headache that gathers in one part of the head or face. Others still believe it’s just an alternate term for migraines. However these are all misconceptions, cluster headaches are very different from other types of headaches. In this article we’ll cover what cluster headaches are and why they are different from an ordinary headache or migraines.
Cluster headaches are named so because of their tendency to occur repeatedly over a certain period of time. It is true that they are felt on only one side of the head or face as well. In most sufferers the cluster headaches will occur on the exact same side each time, although there are a few cases in which the cluster headaches will switch from side to side. However, it is extremely rare for cluster headaches to switch sides or to attack both sides of the head at once.
The pain of cluster headaches can surpass the pain of a regular headache or even the pain of a migraine. A cluster headache tends to be a very sharp, debilitating pain that feels akin to a sharp knife or an electric shock to the eyes. What’s worse is that this overpowering pain can last up to 90 minutes or so and can greatly disrupt one’s day.
Unlike regular headaches which are a dull, vague pain, cluster headaches are much worse with the sharp pains they bring. A regular headache is unpleasant and maybe a little irritating, but they aren’t as debilitating as a cluster headache. Any sufferer will tell you they aren’t even in the same league.
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If you’re male, over the age of 40, and overweight, you are at high risk for developing sleep apnea. You may have already developed it and don’t know it yet. If you are chronically fatigued and never feel as though you’ve gotten a good night’s rest, it’s a good sign that you could have the condition.
Hi I was free of my cluster headaches for about 2 years after suffering for approxametly 2 years, and now they have returned. Can this be stress related? I have also gained a bit of weight since then, also I always seem to be tired all the time.
Hi Fred,
It is quite possible to be headache free for a year or more (in your case two) and then having the active periods starting again. I’d check with your doctor to start a treatment so you can go through the days as painfree as possible.
Leslie
hello, my name is mike. i have numberous cluster headaches daily. once the headaches accur (sudden spike), then my body jerks and my hands go numb.also, at the moment of impact i have short term momery lost few minutes then i regroup. i was put tried anti-seisure meds and it made me feel sudated and it caused me to have very bad mood swings. then i tried a opitcal nerve block. i was to happy with that treatment either. roughly 25 minutes after the treatment the numbness was gone but my headache was still present. the next day, i awoke with feelings like the left side of my face was drooping and slearing my words as i spoke. i am a chef and a kitchen is not a safe place when im having these problems. can you please help, thanks chefnorrell@yahoo.com
Hi Michael,
I’m no doctor myself, and I never heard of the combination cluster headaches with seizures, but if I were you I’d run (not go, RUN) to a neurologist to get this checked out. This is not good. Make sure to take a look at ouchuk.org before you go so you have some basic knowledge of the correct medication for cluster headaches and you’ll know what to expect.
Leslie
I have been having cluster headaches for the past 4 years or so. I have yet to determine a specific trigger. Been to a neurologist and he ran all kinds of tests all of which came back normal. My headaches are very intense generally always on the left side of my face around the eye and over to the temple. I cant seem to find anything to keep them from happening and once they do hit I cannot get rid of them. They usually go on for a minimum of 4 days and I usually end up having to go to the hospital. When I go there it seems the only thing that helps is a mix of phenergan, benadryl, and dilaudid, but most are hesitant to do this because of drug addicts. This week I have had an episode and 2 days in with that treatment it did not work, so I am figuring that it is only ready to break up after so many days. If anyone can help me find a better solution to keep them away or get rid of them once they come on please help. I’m tired of being looked at like a lunatic when I go to the hospital after 3-4 days of agonizing pain and all they hear is “headache”. I will take any advice I can get.
Hi Tori,
I don’t know if you are going to a neurologist for treatment, if you aren’t, you just do that. Besides that, take a look at the following site: http://ouchuk.org/html/clusters_treatments.asp They have all the medication listed your doctor should try out (depending on your background) which can help. I hope this helps you.
Leslie
This note is for Tori. You are not alone! CAT Scans/MRI/Spinal Tap blah blah blaj…I was in the hospital right around when you were for the 4th time that month. The ER knows me by first name. They finally admitted that I was out of their league and to see a neurologist. I had a doctor make the referral and I got in a lot quicker.
I have suffered with Cluster Headaches on and off since age 18. I am now 48 years old and am just beginning another set of attacks. I have tried just about every known medicine, oxygen treatments, herbal remedies, biofeedback therapy, yoga sessions, exercise regimines, etc. for the past 30 years. I have kept a journal (but lost it in Hurricane Katrina) and can honestly say that the best treatment I know is a combination of exercise (fat can contribute to cluster attacks and I’ve recently gained weight), avoidance of certain foods and chemicals (in my case I avoid sugar, chocolate and caffein products), anti-allergy regimine (benadryl) and if an attack happens, Imitrex pills with 5mg Vicodin and a dark room to pace back and forth in while holding my neck cradled in my hand. 30 years I’ve waited for the cure for this, I don’t think I’ll ever see it in my lifetime. As I write this, I’m feeling another attack coming on again. God help me!
I started to have cluster headaches since 1997. I was 17yrs old and just thought they were migrains. I went to the ER a few times had cat scans MRI’s X-Rays, I went to an eye DR. and he X-Rayed my eye that was in pain( right eye) and all that didnt do nothing for me. NOBODY seemed to understand the severity of the pain! Until I seen a neurologist, he knew exactly what I was talking about and he even described the pain I was feeling. Even though he didnt have a cure for me it was a big reliefe to me since everyone else thought I was crazy! My cluster headaches get pretty painful, and only you guys know what im talking about. I live in Arizona and I get mine during the Begining of summer and they come and go about every other day, sometimes 2-3 days in a row. They last about 4-6 weeks and then Im pain free for the rest of the year. The pain starts in my right eye and temple, sometimes the pain gets so bad that my teeth on the effected side start to hurt! I get in very bad moods and just dont want anyone talking to me at that time. I take Excederin Migrain, half of the time it does stop it if I take it right when it is starting “SOMETIMES” But other than that I just have to suffer through it! I found out that during my cluster period my headaches start if I sleep too much, not enough, skip meals, or drink alcohol. But I have been peer pressured to have a beer during these periods and I regret EVERY drop later when the pain starts. It hurts so bad that if i was garunteed to not have that pain any more by amputating my eye I would do it!(for those who dont understand the pain, thats how bad it is)So hopefully a cure is found soon.This really sucks for us!
Hi all – I feel for you all. My husband reached out to this site about a year ago and although he’s still struggling with the headaches (ice pick / cluster headaches….they feel like an ice pick is being thrust into his skull) from time to time, we’ve made some headway. His neurologist (who has beenw onderful) prescribed nortriptyline which is considered an anti depressant. He’s on a low dossage which doesn’t seem to alter his mood – not in that ‘foggy’ state. At first nothing seemed to improve until I spoke with someone else at work who happened to suffer with the same exact symptoms. She mentioned that along with the medication she was taking from her Neurologist, she starting taking ‘magnesium’ which helped her tremendously. My husband has been taking them ever since and has noticed measureable improvement. I was told that magnesium doesn’t work for everyone, but its worth a try.
hi my cluster headache effects is exactly like “CLEMENTE”I spent four years of chronic cluster headache patients. Pain during certain hours of the day usually occurs 3 to 4 times. Pain behind the eyes of the start and after 15 minutes the right half of the my head is contain of very very pain. Runny eyes and nose with the right side of the jaw is extremely painful.original pain is behind the eyes with most perspiration and The pain is permanently high or low .In this time myeyes are extremely sensitive to light.my body is shaking because I Suffered much pain.While I sitting in ground I pressure my head in my hands Usually leave a cloth between the teeth to prevent erosion Also takes between 45 to 120 minutes.All drugs such as lithium and verapamil or Ergotamine was taking.Relevant tests such as MRI and blood test have performed well .But the only effective drug for me was a strong corticosteroid (prednisolone 50 mg daily) .The two years that I take this medicine.Once because of severe side effects (severe fine hair. Legs pain and swelling. Sharp increase in weight. Backache) I stop the medication for 2 months.But as soon as discontinued medication for severe headaches than before returning After two months, so I was forced to continue taking.During the two months I started taking prednisone from 50 to 25.I am now taking daily 25 mg prednisolone .But time is three to four times a week I get very severe headaches.I’m afraid of raising the dose of drug.Also None of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics or the Ergotamine is an effective pain.Somatrybtan is not bad but I have not tried it, type IV.Please believe that I have a high pain tolerance threshold But these headaches are so severe that sometimes painful I think to beat my head against the wall and fell down unconscious.I’ve experienced the pain of breaking my hand So the pain of kidney stones But this is most painful of all, I really can not handle it.I heard that cluster headaches may cause serious damage to the optic nerve and blindness.Except for the use of steroids and surgery on the trigeminal nerve behind the eye Leading to failure of the glands secrete tears is there another way to treat this disease Please help me .Thanks NAVID 32 years old from Iran.
I have been suffering cluster headaches
for 30 years and I have discovered the best
advice I can offer is this. Drink plenty of water,
eat healthy and get plenty of exercise and rest
When an attack occurs I have found cold air forced
into the eye socket can dramatically alter the
headache. Go sit in your car and turn the air on
high. Don’t ear too many imitrex it could rebound
and they may get worse. Small doses of caffeine
can also be helpful. I hope this offers someone relief
I have had CHRONIC Clusters for over 6 years now. Unbelievable pain, people just don’t understand. I have tried MANY remedies, and it seems they will work for a short time with some relief, then all of a sudden they quit working and I have to alter what I am doing. I have done the cold air from my car many times, and usually does offer some relief. Currently I am taking 500mg of magnesium, along with 400mg of Vitamin B2, 10,000IU of Vitamin D3 and 400mg of COQ10. This has DRAMATICALLY reduced my number of headaches. I also use oxygen therapy if at home and I feel one coming on..90% of the time this will abort the headache! I continue to experiment with different regiments of vitamins and supplements to find the right one, but I think this will be ongoing for awhile. I check out numerous websites to get input from other CHer’s and you’d be suprised at all the different remedies and reliefs people are using…good luck to all in finding yours……
I’ve been there done that and what helped most was a very hot washcloth on me face…the right side, and on the back of my neck. For thirty years I tried everything except heavy duty drugs. Asperin etc didn’t work. The headaches are gone now. I give my husband credit for that. He forced me to let my mind explode in anger and I became another person. I like me now, I say what is on my mind and not regret it. I may hurt some ones feelings, but it is better them than me. I found that I could delay the headaches while I was awake but as soon as I went to sleep it came back. I lost weight mostly because food made me sick and I would throw up. While my three month bout was in progress I was not a fun person to be around. My small children were great and seemed to know the right thing to do and that was leave me alone…All that said it was the hot towel an my face and neck that seemed to work best. I France they have a med. for clusters that is taken everyday to prevent them from starting. But it isn’t available here in the US. Why???? Who knows….
I am going through a cluster series right now. Always start at the end of Aug. Sometimes oxygen works, but tonight it did not. Absolutely bruttle pain. Has anyone tried dry needling or accupuncture? I always have associated pain and sensitivity in my upper trapezius. Also, what about maraquana for pain relief?
Karen