Hey guys, it's the girl with all the questions once again. Just trust people going through it more than the doc and his research. I need him but want answers from my "trial and error" folks. I used to get migraines before they upgraded to ch four years ago. Migraines to the best of my knowledge are the opposite of clusters meaning migraine-constricted and clusters-dialated. I am so used to the heat helping that it's what I do when I have a cluster. Due to all of the ice pack advice on here, am I doing myself a dis-service by using heat when I should be using cold to restrict and reduce the dialation?

I think you will find a fairly even split.  Ice just makes me agitated so I use heat - like steaming hot showers or hot cloths.  Perhaps it's a trial and error thing.

Carol

remission lover wrote on Dec 5^th, 2009 at 3:09pm:

Migraines to the best of my knowledge are the opposite of clusters meaning migraine-constricted and clusters-dialated.

Then why do so many drugs work on both, namely the triptan family?

Although there have been times when a blow torch to the eye might have felt better I haved always used a frozen bag of peas for some relief.

Several years ago we had some interesting parallel messages about the use of heat and cold to hit an attack. Some used hot showers or hair dryers (directed at the site of the pain); others use ice packs, even putting their heads into the freezer! Both worked.....

And let's not forget Goadsby's observation:

Interesting to note that he is saying that the primary mode of action is NOT as a vasoconstrictor but on its effect on the central nervous system. Doesn't change our appreciation of this class of meds but suggests we need to change how we think about the nature of CH.
==============================
Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2007;(177):129-43.   


Serotonin receptor ligands: treatments of acute migraine and cluster headache.

Goadsby PJ.

Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. peterg@ion.ucl.ac.uk

Fuelled by the development of the serotonin 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonists, the triptans, the last 15 years has seen an explosion of interest in the treatment of acute migraine and cluster headache. Sumatriptan was the first of these agonists, and it launched a wave of therapeutic advances. These medicines are effective and safe. Triptans were developed as cranial vasoconstrictors to mimic the desirable effects of serotonin, while avoiding its side-effects. IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN SHOWN THAT THE TRIPTANS' MAJOR ACTION IS NEURONAL, WITH BOTH PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL TRIGEMINAL INHIBITORY EFFECTS, AS WELL AS ACTIONS IN THE THALAMUS AND AT CENTRAL MODULATORY SITES, SUCH AS THE PERIAQUEDUCTAL GREY MATTER. Further refinements may be possible as the 5-HT(1D) and 5-HT(1F) receptor agonists are explored. Serotonin receptor pharmacology has contributed much to the better management of patients with primary headache disorders.

PMID: 17087122 [PubMed]

I think it has the most to do with distraction from the pain at hand. Either is on one end or the other of the sensory spectrum.

Quote:

most to do with distraction from the pain at hand.

Exactly the reason I,  and a lot of us bang our heads into walls, and other hard places.

I've tried heat...it made it so much worse. 

I use ice packs. I think if I can somehow remove my eye and just stuff it with ice I'd feel in heaven  ;D.

On the serious side, I like how the ice is helping. After all, the cold is a vaso-constrictor and I really feel good when I apply the ice bag on my eye.

This cycle has just finished for me, so I went for a massage to "get the knots out".  To treat a cluster headache, the massage therapist suggested putting ice on the back of the head (to constrict the blood flow) and heat on the shoulders and back (to increase the blood flow) to redirect the blood flow.  It makes sense to me, but I am hoping that I won't have to try it!  Anyone else want to try and let me know?
CC

In theory, makes sense to me too. Will give it a shot and let you know how it pans out. Thanks for weighin in. And a Merry X-mas to the beast disappearing for you in time for the holidays!!
Roberta

I have never tried heat or cold. I just bang my head. exercise, o2.

I used to love heat but cold works for me much better nowdays.But not icecubes in bag or something just ice packs gel.(maybe that's why cold didn't help in the past)
there are also some creams for neck and face which give an cold sensation which you might find helpful for both ch and migraines.

Tried heat once and that was that!
NEVER AGAIN for me! :P
Ice, YES! ;)

I use both. I like to start with a nice cold gel pack for alittle bit longer than I can stand then put the pack in the mircowave for about a minute so that it is nice and hot. Although this works best if I could only choose between hot or cold, I would definitly choose hot.