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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Another spin on water treatment
        
(Message started by: mochoajr on Jan 15^th, 2005, 10:04pm)

Title: Another spin on water treatment
Post by mochoajr on Jan 15^th, 2005, 10:04pm

This may be a weird treatment but it worked for me, I suffered clusters for 10 years. every 2 years for 30 to 45 days usually between Aug. and Dec. I haven't had a cluster since I started doing this for now 5 years and I wanted to share my expierence.
Note: It never aborted a headache or stopped a cycle, but HAS stopped episodes for 5 years.

I sit down with a bottle of ice cold water to start. I use my hand to cup some water, and lower my head to almost knee level and I slowly inhale the water through the nostril on the side I get my headache, the right side for me. I hold the water in my sinuses what feels like about the point closest to the bridge of my nose and corner of my eye. If done right, it hurts a bit. I usually expiernce shrinking, reddening, and tearing of my eye on the same side, almost exactly like when I have a cluster. I repeat this until it no longer hurts to do so, usually 3 to 4 times. I have to do this every couple of weeks, and I have the impression that the more it hurts the closer I was to a cluster. I know it doesn't sound very medical, but it helped me and I felt that I had a responsibility to share it with others. Prior I had tried everything else and nothing would spare me from the pain, and the doctors couldn't help.

Manuel Ochoa Jr

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by BobG on Jan 16^th, 2005, 12:28pm

Manuel, that is a new twist on the water treatment! But, hey, whatever works, go for it.

Welcome to the board.

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by mochoajr on Jan 16^th, 2005, 9:19pm

I knew people would think I was crazy. Thats why I've never posted. I started treating myself this way because the last time I had a cluster the hospital insisted putting me on oxygen (which did nothing for me) but the oxygen was cold and every once in a while the cold would hit just the right spot and I would get a few seconds relief. The next day during another cluster out of desperation and not wanting to go to emergency and wait 2 hours for treatment, I tried to create the same effect the oxygen did and I used cold water and it did give me a couple of minutes relief and then the headache would come back and it only worked 2 or three times, and I'd end up going back to emergency.
But after that cycle ended and it was almost time for one again I would get in an almost panic when I felt certain symptoms that I thought was signaling the start of another cycle and I would do the whole thing with cold water and pray that I didn't get a headache. well that year went and I never started a cycle. So I continued to treat myself but thought maybe It just skipped a cycle but last year I missed again. I still have symptoms that are similar to my clusters. Places on my head that I used to bang on to get a few seconds relief when I had cluster still get slight jabs of pain occasionally, like behind my right eye, and some places still become, I guess inflamed is the word, and a little swolen and tender, ususally my right temple and the base of my head on the right side. And the pain feels like a single nerve that goes from my eye along my head to the back, down the side to the temple, jaw joint, and jaw line. So I know they're there waiting to come back. I just hope that someday a cure is found.

Manuel

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by E-Double on Jan 16^th, 2005, 9:37pm

That's "cool" Manuel....Literally ;)

We have all developed our own little tricks throughout the years that have helped us.
I never thought to try that one though.
I'm glad you have found a trick that works for you and thank you for sharing.

It may be something that can be archived along with other non-medicinal treatments that help people get by.

Welcome to the family and here's wishing you pain free days!

Eric

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by Rock_Lobster on Jan 17^th, 2005, 7:50am

I do not think you are all that crazy.

Read the thread on sinus problems that Lizzie started.

Sinus issues can trigger a cycle for me. One of the treatments is bathing the sinus in saline.

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by benj on Jan 17^th, 2005, 11:13am

Snorting water through your nose to get pain relief?

I dunno mate, sounds as if you are going to have to talk with a bunch of people who do things like smacking their heads against walls and inject all manner of things into themselves for a non-saturday night rush, and drink so much water that their bladders will burst (just because maybe...)

Oh wait a second, I think you've come to the right place!

Doesn't sound stupid or crazy when you have a bunch of desperate people (who'll give virtually anything a crack to reduce pain) listening!!

Glad you found something that works so well for you, now for that bottle of ice water.........

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by BobG on Jan 17^th, 2005, 12:42pm

on 01/16/05 at 21:19:45, mochoajr wrote:

And the pain feels like a single nerve that goes from my eye along my head to the back, down the side to the temple, jaw joint, and jaw line.
Manuel

Here's the trigeminal nerve that is the source of the pain. Follow the orange colored nerve and you will see that is, in fact, one nerve from the temple to the eye, nose and jaw.
http://www.clusterheadaches.org/images/trigeminal_nerve.jpg

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by Margi on Jan 17^th, 2005, 3:23pm

Yikes - careful you don't drown!!

Have you ever tried applying ice instead? I wonder if it's not the temp of the water that's bringing you relief. Sinus swelling is very common in clusterheads. I would think it would be a whole lot easier to apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas to your face than to snort water upside down!

but, hey - if it's bringing you relief, then good on ya!

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by floridian on Jan 18^th, 2005, 2:23pm

Interesting treatment, thanks for sharing. I suspect there might be something to it - I have used cold to some good effect, but never so close to the source of the pain. That might desensitize the nerve or something.

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by mochoa.jr on Jan 19^th, 2005, 4:17am

Thanks for everybodies input.... I think I'm the one that thought I might have lost it. My wife still thinks I'm a little out there, but she's glad she hasn't had to take me to emergency. As to the question about Ice, No.... I've never tried it. I'm not ashamed to admit that I don't have the guts to test if the headaches return if I stop treating myself. Thanks for the illustration BobG, that really gives me confidence that there might be a medical reason why this works for me.

Thanks Again Everybody

Title: Re: Another spin on water treatment
Post by MOMO3 on Jan 19^th, 2005, 8:57pm

That's great that this treatment worked for you. I know people whose doctors recommended this same treatment for sinus infections, except using saline water. Not so crazy especially if it brings you relief. :)