Hi, I joined this forum following a conversation with my Dad (Now age 60) who suffered from cluster headaches every January-Febuary from the ages of 25 to 45.

From what he talked about, the only thing that ever solidly worked to help him stave off an attack was to start doing press-ups the minute he could feel one coming on. Strangely, despite trying chin ups, sit ups, squat thrusts and anything else you care to name - no other forms of exercise worked quite as well.

During the start of a cluster, enough press ups could almost completely abort an attack, but as they increased in severity (and as it became too easy to do so many press ups) my Dad would use them just as a kind of damage control.

He also talked about never having had an attack while playing sports (except for one particularly boring game of squash) but would always get them immediately before and after.

I guess this all links in with the stuff about testosterone I glanced at before posting this message, so sorry if this has all been said before.
Our question really is:  Is it common for people to use this kind of physical exertion technique in their headache prevention?

Also, on the off chance anyone reading this hasn’t tried press ups – it might be worth a go.

I have aborted a Cluster by doing push-ups as well. I did 3 sets of 30 all in about 2 minutes. It didnt just abort it on the spot but it did help, I was a newbie to 02 at the time but the 02 combined with push-ups that day was able to fight off the beast. Coach Bill

Welcome...

That absolutely makes sense.  It's about diverting blood flow to other parts of the body.

There are several here for whom different forms of exercise act as an abortive.

When in cycle I get hit after exercising.

-Dennis-

Some years back I used squats to abort attacks.  Worked well for over 60 attacks.
Then I got old and lazier and switched to huffing O2.

Did pushups all through my last period september - november, aborted all the small ones (Up to kip 6) the rest was endured with grittted teeth, no medication or O2 whatsoever. I firmly believe that just letting the headaches run it's course, will shorten the lenght of the period..

I used to go for an all out sprint run when an attack started. Sometimes it would abort an attack, often times it would just reduce the intensity.

Now I huff oxygen for 6-8 minutes and it's gone. Not in as good a shape as a result but I hurt a LOT less! ;)

Joe

Ecercise brings on a ch for me.  Count me as another lazy 02 user.

Beth  ;)

When in cycle, exercise is a trigger for me too.  I'm fine while actually exercising but as soon as I stop I get hit.  

Jeannie