Hi everybody!

My headaches started about three years ago, causing me to drop out of gigs and vacations. I figured out soon after getting these that exercise (even though that's that last thing you'd want to do) seems to abort most of my headaches if I start soon enough. I jog quietly up and down the stairs of our house, do pushups, crunches... It takes anywhere from two to twenty minutes and most of the time I can avoid that massive pain. Some days, like during the bad seasons, I feel like I end up exercising once an hour or more.

I am in way better shape now and have less attacks, but still about 5% slip through and it's horrible. Mostly they slip through due to me not being able to start my process soon enough. It still keeps me home in the nasty months, and sometimes I'm up all night aborting, but it's worth the work.

Anyone else have luck with exercise? I know it's different for all of us. Oh - and this is probably not the kind of thing most people should try (ask your doc). Am I crazy? After these headaches, yes.

Also lots of water has helped, I believe. OK. I can't wait explore this message board.

Thanks!

Welcome to the board. I used to go for an all out sprint when a CH started, 10-20 minutes and it would start to subside. In the old days, it's all I had in my arsenal, but that's like facing Goliath with a sling and a rock, dude, you can't believe the number if effective options you now have to slay beasty's ass! ;)

First off, I need to know, are you working with a headache specialist neuro yet? We have seen the best results from doing so. There are hundreds of headache types, some which mimic CH, and it’s important to eliminate those before arriving at a firm diagnosis. I’ve had CH for over 35years, they haven’t killed me yet! You need an organized approach to managing them so they don’t manage your life. I use a 3 pronged approach, many use a similar approach. But first and MOST IMPORTANTLY

Follow this link to the medications section of this board and read the post 

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It’s a vitamin/mineral/fish oil supplement, all over the counter stuff. It’s up to an 81% success rate of those who try it and respond to the survey so you’re just shooting yourself in the foot if you don’t give it a shot. I’m 3 years pain free on it after a 35 plus year track record with episodic CH. Best of all, it’s healthy for you even without CH!

As of January 20, 2013, the compiled raw data indicates an efficacy of 80%. 240 out of the 300 CH'ers who have started this regimen and stayed on it for a month or more have experienced a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of their CH... 78% of the 300 CH'ers experienced a pain free response and 60% of the 300 have remained essentially pain free. Episodic and chronic CH'ers respond to this regimen at roughly the same rate.

Preliminary survey results indicate most of these CH'ers were pain free before the end of the third week with some responding in a little as 12 to 24 hours. The average time to respond is five days

So all that follows will be worthless I hope……….but still…

1: A good prevent med. A med I take daily, while on cycle, to reduce the number and intensity of my attacks. I use lithium, it blocks 60-70% of my attack. Verapamil is the most common first line prevent, topomax also has a loyal following. Some have to combine lithium and verapamil together to get relief. These are some of the meds that emphasize the importance of a headache specialist doctor, as most GP's are scared to death of lithium, and afraid to prescribe verapamil at the doses it works for us.

2: A transitional med. Most prevents will take up to 2 weeks to become effective. I go on a prednisone taper, from 80 mg to zero over a two week period to give me a break while my prevent builds up. Prednisone will provide up to 100% relief for many CH’ers but is harsh on the system and should only be used for short periods of time.

3: An abortive therapy, the attack starts, now what? Oxygen should be your first line abortive. You think exercise is effective, imagine sitting back in your recliner, breathing pure 02 for 10 minutes, and the pain is completely gone. Breathing pure 02 will abort an attack for me in less then 10 minutes, that’s completely pain free. Read this link as it must be used correctly or it will not work

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This link will show you how to get set up with welding oxygen:

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Imitrex nasal spray and injectables are very effective abortives. I use the injectables, they’re expensive, and I rarely use them, mostly just when I get caught away from the oxygen. The pill form generally works too slow to be effective for CH’ers.


For now, get some energy drinks. Rock Star, Monster, any containing the combo of caffeine and taurine, chug it down as fast as you can when you feel an attack starting. Many can abort or at least really reduce an attack using these.

Finally, visit our sister board for “alternative” treatment methods outside of mainstream medicine. As you’ll see from all the success stories on this board, there is something to it.

clusterbusters.com


Read everything you can on this board, if you are a CH’er, knowledge is your best ally. We’ll help you all we can.

Joe

Hi and welcome

You're not the only one to get some relief from exercise when a CH hits, but there are lots and lots of other methods that are often a lot more effective.

Joe has given you some great advice.

Also read up all you can on the forums here. You'll learn so much more about how to deal with CH from people who understand what you're going through as we go through it too.

Ask all the questions you can think of too.

At least 30-yrs ago my doc suggested exercise as a response to Cluster. Over the years others found this useful and now, use of oxygen (see box, left) has become well grounded as an effective treatment.

The limitations are: bulk of equipment if you away from your gear; duration of effectiveness as an abortive is less than some of the meds--although some folks use have worked out using both oxygen and pills, etc. which resolves this problem.

Hope you are working with a doc who has experience/skill with complex headache disorders for you need both an abortive for attacks and a preventive. (Explore the PDF file, below. Print out and use as a tool to discuss treatment options with any doc you see.)
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

2.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

3. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
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Explore:   START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE. Two books, one free, available as an e-book; second aimed as professionals. Section of many journal articles. Site worth exploring. Robbins is one of the leading headache docs in the Chicago area.

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