i recently just started to get cluster headaches again.  these first started about 6 years ago, but at the time i chalked them up to being bad headaches due to stress.  the first round lasted about a week with 1-2 level 9 headaches a day.  then they were gone for a year, then again showed up for about 2 weeks and then have been gone until last wednesday and are currently 1-2 level 6/7 episodes a day.  i finally decided to do some research and found this site.  so, my questions:

1.  are there any studies relating CH's to stress, foreign objects in the eye, or pimples on the scalp?  i've been under a fair amount of stress, but it hasn't been any more lately than in the past.  it's very possible i have an eyelash or something stuck behind my eye as i'm frequently getting lashes off my eye.  i also have a pimple on my scalp in the area of where my headaches are occuring, and i remember having a similar thing happen the last times i had a cluster. 

2.  any studies regarding eye strain?  i'm in front of a computer all day, but i get my eyes checked every year so me prescriptions shouldn't bee too far off. 

3. any info regarding jaw clenching?  i find myself frequently having to make myself relax my jaw / shoulder muscles, but this has been the case for most of my life, so why would the headaches go away for so long if this was a causing factor?


so far i've never taken anything besides some aleve or ibuprofen for the headaches, and they probably only had a placebo effect if anything.   i know this is not a medical site and any info your provide should be taken as purely informational, and i know most say there is no known cause, but i'm curious as to any kind of studies as to any possible similarities that people may find.  i look foward to hearing from any of you. 

Have you seen a neurologist or headache specialist? I'd want to rule out anything more dangerous and get a firm diagnosis. Then you can start a course of treatment. Find out what works, and what doesn't.

Brew wrote on Nov 30^th, 2009 at 5:52pm:

Have you seen a neurologist or headache specialist? I'd want to rule out anything more dangerous and get a firm diagnosis. Then you can start a course of treatment. Find out what works, and what doesn't.

Hello!

At this point, all I can do is echo Brew and say seeing a headache specialist neurologist and having an MRI are essential

I cannot stress the importance of an MRI enough.

Hopefully, once we know where you are with diagnosis etc we can advise more, right now all we would be doing is potentially leading you astray.

We WILL do all we can to help you though!

Helen

Brew wrote on Nov 30^th, 2009 at 5:52pm:

Have you seen a neurologist or headache specialist? I'd want to rule out anything more dangerous and get a firm diagnosis. Then you can start a course of treatment. Find out what works, and what doesn't.

I try very hard in my life to disagree with Brew whenever possible, but in this case, (I can't believe I'm saying this!!)  Listen to Brew, he speaks the truth!!!

;)

FramCire wrote on Nov 30^th, 2009 at 6:53pm:

Brew wrote on Nov 30th, 2009 at 5:52pm: Have you seen a neurologist or headache specialist? I'd want to rule out anything more dangerous and get a firm diagnosis. Then you can start a course of treatment. Find out what works, and what doesn't. I try very hard in my life to disagree with Brew whenever possible, but in this case, (I can't believe I'm saying this!!)  Listen to Brew, he speaks the truth!!! ;)

Dude - the night is still young!

I'm with Bill and Helen on this.  First, be certain it is CH before trying to treat it.

Secondly, none of the issues you mentioned will cause CH.  Some of them may be the result of dealing with it if it actually CH.  The best research seems to indicate CH is caused by a malfunctioning hypothalmus, hence not caused by any external issues.

Jerry