I was wondering if the stiffness/soreness in the neck area (CH side only) is a common with others during thier cycles? (Husband has episodic ch 14 yrs)
Do chronic sufferers also get this?
Thanks - DG

Dereksgirl,
Yes, I too get very stiff neck and upper shoulder muscles on the same side during my cycle.
For the longest time I thought if only I could loosen them (I'm a massage therapist) I'd break the cycle, but no.  Massage doesn't help with the CH, but it does give me temporary relief from the stiff muscles.
-Gary

Hi DG,

I also get the neck pain/ stiffness on the CH affected side.  I am chronic, and have used ice and massage to help a little during hits.

A few days to a week without severe headaches, and I notice the neck pain subsides.

Does your husband use O2 yet??  It has helped me a little with the neck issues as the hits don't last as long.

Val

my neck and upper shoulders were sooooo sore constantly when my CH began.... believe it or not (and you can find this in my story so far post) the occipital nerve block only gave me 2 pain free days but relieved almost 885-90% of my neck pain which then was completely alleviated (for now)  by an acupuncturist/body work person/energy healer

My neck would be sore constantly and not just fduring the headaches..... One would think that its just from getting tense from the headaches but then why would the nerve block help?  Methinks it is more than just tension ffrom the hits themselves

Alway sore left side all during cycle,out of cycle no pain at all..

Have any of you that have the neck pain at the start of your ch session into or used to be into workingout? I know this is a lot like my post i just put up im just new here and glad to not feel like some weirdo anymore.And have any of you had an mri or x-ray or what not. I finally got a doc to get me an mri and i'm going to a head and neck pain clinic in ann arbor next week to see what they thank. There is definitely issues on the report but i cant make sence of it. Its just that ive had chiropractors and a guy i used to work out with tell me its my neck.  Ahh maybe its just all in my head hee hee hee

fastteamster wrote on Apr 8^th, 2011 at 1:34am:

Have any of you that have the neck pain at the start of your ch session into or used to be into workingout? I know this is a lot like my post i just put up im just new here and glad to not feel like some weirdo anymore.And have any of you had an mri or x-ray or what not. I finally got a doc to get me an mri and i'm going to a head and neck pain clinic in ann arbor next week to see what they thank. There is definitely issues on the report but i cant make sence of it. Its just that ive had chiropractors and a guy i used to work out with tell me its my neck.  Ahh maybe its just all in my head hee hee hee

You'll find that most people here will have had a combination of x-rays, CT and MRI scans plus various other diagnostic tests before CH was diagnosed.

There have been many people on the forums who have been to a chiropracter with nobody reporting a sucess with CH.

Whilst neck problems can frequently cause headaches, they are not the cause of CHs. This does not mean to say that you can't also have a neck problem as well as CH.

Yes.... I work out alot. but it didnt seem to make neck pain worse... actually kinda loosend me up... OTHER than benching BUT not becuase of benching but because I have a bad habit of craning my neck oddly when benching that I have to NOT do.....

Chiropractors are very hit or miss like anything else. some are good, some are bad.... I found when it comes to that type of thing, make sure they have been practicing for awhile and while you wont like the following: I have found when it comes to chiros and acupuncturists.... the really expensive ones are really expensive for a reason, they actually do something

Why dont you look into ROLFing.... maybe just a get 3 sessions, one on your neck, one on your chest and one on upper back.  if you dont know anything about rolfing PM me

fastteamster wrote on Apr 8^th, 2011 at 1:34am:

And have any of you had an mri or x-ray or what not.

I had an MRI last cycle, about four and a half years ago... came up clean.


fastteamster wrote on Apr 8^th, 2011 at 1:34am:

Its just that ive had chiropractors and a guy i used to work out with tell me its my neck.

I have tightness in my neck and upper shoulders - in or out of cycle.  But it is DEFINITELY WORSE when I'm in cycle.
I wish it was just the muscles that cause the CH, but Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Deep Tissue Massage have no effect on the headaches.  Chiropractic will actually trigger them when I'm in cycle. Massage helps as a temporary relief from the discomfort of the tight muscles. :)

rolfing is a little different and to say its a deep tissue massga is like saying a CH is just a headache......

the nerve block helped my neck and shoulders so much I swear..... it was worth it for that, granted it was only 2 pain free days in the head but no jinx... my neck was never that sore again

My neck and shoulder get sore, but I think partly because I press the ice bag and press on my temple as hard as I can during cluster. I have had my neck get sore as a precurser to one coming on tho.

I don't believe the 'ganglion' is the cause of the h/a, but there have been several times when I have triggered a h/a by laying down in a certain position or having my head in a certain position... or is this just coincidental?

i have soreness in my neck and right below my shoulderblade on my right side (cluster side) in and out of cycle but lately think im more chronic then episodic so makes sense. I feel its ganglion just an annoying reminder of my pathway of the beast ;)

I too get a sore neck and should.My signal a headache is coming is the stiffness in my neck.It starts at my lower neck/upper shoulder area and quickly works it way up the side of my head.I feel that twitch and my neck and shoulder start to tighten up.I know in 10 minutes Ill be engulfed in pain.
      Ice pack and wife rubbing shoulder helps a little.Think its more of a distraction for the nerves rather than an actual easing of the pain..if that makes any sense.

my neck and upper right (cluster side) shoulder blade always sore I have been pretty chronic since my last major cycle back in dec 09. just an annoying knot right by my shoulder blade.
Anthony

Had major head and neck trauma due to a bad car accident when I was 3 years old. Therefore, have had all the tests CT, MRI and Nerve work, etc. All have come up clean and produced nothing except the pain I experience during my cycles, which lead me to believe it does not have much to do with the accident.

Pfunk 8-)

Hi all. Pain and stiffness at the base of my neck on the right side is normally present when I am in cycle (episodic CH sufferer here). The pain and stiffness can get pretty intense, depending on how bad the recent headaches have been. 

I too get a stiff neck on the same side as the cluster headache. I find  rubbing it makes the pain worse after a brief reprisal.

The neck is sore for sure. I wonder if  some of it is the over the anxiety of the next visit, the pills and lack of sleep. I have kept a cold rag on the neck and head which seems to provide some relief.

Always stiff/sore neck-unilateral w/ limited mobility in cycle.