Hello, I'm still new to this forum, but I can tell you that this place has been a lot more help than my family Dr. The question I have, is ever since my first episodes of headaches about 5 weeks ago, I have a really bad scalp pain on my headache side. It really hurts to to barely touch my scalp, or even comb my hair on that side, the pain is constant and has never gone away yet. Is this a common symptom? If so, does it eventually go away? If it does, will it return with my next cycle ? Also, is there any treatment? Thank you in advance for any replies.

G'day Chris,
Are you still in a cycle and getting attacks, if so i'ts quite
normal to be tender to touch the top of your head on your
cluster side. If you are coming out of a cycle, again you
could be getting shadows, the Beast saying by for now,
again this is normal in some sufferers, and should soon
subside. It could also be a rebound headache caused
by any med's you are taking. If it persists then i suggest
you see your GP.

Hoppy.

Yes, definitely still in cycle and getting attacks, but again this is the first cycle I've ever had in my life . I noticed the scalp pain before I had my first headache , at the onset of horners syndrome, and was just wondering if was typical and temporary. I got a haircut the other day, and was almost in tears from the barber.

Chris, i feel for you, they are shadows, it's the Beast
introducing himself and letting you know there is an attack
on it's way. Are you on the D3 Regime or oxygen,? on the
left of this page. These options wer'nt available to me
in my 43yrs of suffering. I started on the D3 Regime during
my Spring 2012 cycle, and for the first time in 43yrs no
Fall CH's. The curtains are slowly closing on me now but
after suffering most of  my adult life to CH attacks i'm certainly going to grab every moment now.

Hoppy.

During the early months (or longer) of a new Cluster picture showing itself symptoms can vary in place, intensity, quality, etc. It may take months before a stable picture emerges.

Not a problem. Patience!

I recall that sensation during my early onset period: area around the temple was so sensitive that waving my hand over the area, moving the hair, triggered mild pain. Then it disappeared.

It can be an amusing disorder!

CBO - sounds like you and I started this around the same time.  I got what you are describing as well - so yes its normal.  Get on the d3 and a good preventive like Verapamil if you aren't already - Im at 240mg and my attacks have decreased a good bit.  Still have the scalp pain and the shadows as well, but less intense as I've been on the d3 and verapamil.

Agree - scalp pain was a sure sign for me.  Seems to be a fairly common occurrence, though I was never quite sure whether it was the CH, or the result of the Verapamil.  Either way, when I get occasional twinges now and then, I immediately tap my scalp to see if it hurts. So far, well over one year since my last cycle and the scalp is fine.  Now, if I could grow some hair out of my scalp...

I think I've heard that, if you have scalp tenderness, you might be a good candidate for a nerve block.  Google occipital nerve block or peripheral nerve block and cluster headache.  The reviews on the message board are mixed, but there's new research that looks promising as the techniques are refined.

I'm so glad you posted this... it never occurred to me that the pain I was feeling in my scalp was related to being in a cluster cycle!