Back in Dec/Jan i went through my typical cluster cycle. Attacks throughout the day - anywhere between 5-7 per day.  I believe this ended sometime at the end of January.  A few weeks ago i began a new cycle, but it is totally different.  Now I have 2-3 attacks per day but they do not start until around 8 or 9pm.  And I have a real hard time aborting them.  O2 has helped in the past but does not abort unless i stay on it for at least 30 minutes.  Also - the neck and shoulder pain now stay with me constantly - i can't get the knot loosened up at all.  Has anyone else experienced two different types of cycles?  I need to get back on the prednisone, but i really hate what it does to you.

Please: need some history. How long have you had CH? Who diagnosed? What meds are you using for prevention; the effect; the dosing?

Broadly speaking, CH can take months to years to settle down to a stable pattern. Variation quality of pain, site, etc. is very common and doesn't seem to signal anything of clinical importance, in most cases.

Others have written to express they too have a "knot" at the back of their neck and/or shoulder area. I'm not sure this is directly related to CHs but seems to be addressable through massage or chiropracty. I don't recall hearing it helped resolve any issues with CHs though. And I echo what Bob said, but I woul like to add could you please describe your O2 equipment and technique? 30 minutes is longer than many of us experience, but not off the charts. Blessings. lance

This cycle has been different for me too. Total neck and shoulder tightness and knots. I've also had a mixture of clusters AND regular type migraines this time. I try really hard to not take too much medication because I believe it just prolongs them but it's hard to just endure. I believe I've fallen victim to rebounds before and am trying to not let that happen this time. They actually went away for about two weeks but just came back in full force which has made me very sad.  :'(
Just went and had a massage. That helped a lot!  I feel like they change every time I get them and I always feel like a science experiment.  I wish someone would figure out a cure.

:( I have never noticed having any other pain I would associate with CH. But I have had a rebound migrane from taking to much over the counter meds. I understand how hard it is to stay away from them though, I dunno if it's the pain talking but I always feel like if I just take something or do something specific it will go away even though that's never the case..
Also, my cycles are never ever predictable. I can go 6mths without one or two years. And sometimes I will have one a day and others I will have 3 or 4.. I have even had a cycle change half way through, but I associated that particular cycle with an huge increase in stress. Maybe that had something to do with it? I hope your cycle is over and you're feeling better!

I have a different kind of cycle all the time, ie different from most reported.  Neurologist says I show 75 per cent signs of clusters but 25 per cent not.  That 25 per cent is that I have them every day, no day without, that it always starts with a weakness in my left arm and shoulder then laterally in my left leg (cluster is on left side) I keep increasing Verapamil now on 320 (that is common with CH) but I use 50mg sumatriptan tablets to abort and they usually work. I get no relief from 02.  Maybe there are different kinds of CH emerging.

Johns,

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