I came across some recent studies on possible alternatives to help clusters. I don't know about you guys, but having to get my back operated on is bad enough. I wouldn't want ANYONE to mess with my brain...especially when the success rate is so minimal considering the part of the body they're messing with. The psilocybin/LSD results are surprisingly high. Like I said in the other post, they're aren't giving these people enough to trip their balls off for 8 hours then be up all night, they're just administering a small amount. No big time hallucinations, maybe just some exaggerated colors and a few smiles. :) :) :)

Deep brain stimulation, which can significantly reduce the frequency of headaches for some patients. In this procedure, a wire lead is surgically implanted in the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls sleep and the body's biological clock. These systems are believed to be involved in the genesis of cluster headaches. The lead is connected to an implanted pacemaker-like device programmed to send electrical pulses that prevent cluster attacks from occurring.

A newer procedure uses a similar approach to stimulate the occipital nerve or nerves in the back of the scalp. Invasive brain surgery is not required, and this procedure is likely a next step when medications aren't helpful, even before considering deep brain stimulation. How occipital nerve stimulation works precisely is not entirely understood; it's an active area of research. Some patients benefit greatly from occipital nerve stimulation. Others get moderate, mild or no benefit at all. For about half of patients, headache frequency decreases by at least 50 percent.

Deep brain stimulation or occipital nerve stimulation should be considered only when all medical options have been exhausted and should only be done at a medical center with expertise in performing the procedures.

Some current hallucinogenic test results:

Results: Of the 53 participants in the primary analysis, 52 had used psilocybin and nine had used LSD to treat their cluster headaches. Twenty-two (85%) of 26 psilocybin users reported that psilocybin had aborted attacks; 25 (52%) of 48 psilocybin users and seven (88%) of 8 LSD users reported termination of at least one cluster period; and 18 (95%) of 19 psilocybin users and four (80%) of five LSD users reported extension of their remission period. Twenty-two (42%) psilocybin users and two (22%) LSD users experienced therapeutic effects with sub-hallucinogenic doses. In the secondary analysis, 76 (52%) of the 147 respondents reported that psilocybin terminated at least one cluster period.

Hmmm -  it's been , what, 35 or more years since I took any hallucinogenics, and even then I only tried it a few times and decided I didn't like the feeling.  It sounds almost magical that it can help abort clusters.  I'm not getting how that works.  Unfortunately for me I have a full time and very detail oriented job and need to stay very focused.  But I got an occipital nerve block about 5 weeks ago.  It cut my headaches in half, from 3 - 6 a day to 2 - 3 a day, and even gave me a few extra days off.  I normally have a single day or 2 days in a row about every six weeks.  Since the nerve block I've had 1 or 2 days off a week.  I am definitely going for another one as soon as I feel this one wear off.  It's been a true lifesaver for me.  And it was very simple - a big shot of lidocaine into the nerve, took all of 30 seconds, no invasion.  I recommend it!