The pain from these headaches is caused from the blood vessels being unable to control their dilation and just pouring blood into your skull.
Well this is the same thing that happens with a brainfreeze, except your blood vessels are doing it on purpose so the pain is a lot less and brief.  When I was having a headache I realized that it's just an extreme brainfreeze and I need to get the blood out of my head to other parts of my body.

So I grabbed two Ice packs with both hands and stood on two others and blood seemed to leave my head and aim for my hands and feet.

(If you can't stand for whatever reason it helps to put freezing cold ice packs on ur belly)

uh...o.k.

Since you're from Az.  I assume you know what you're talking about.

Careful Linda,

This is a new person here...don't need him going off on some rant like some may do!  I did hehe  8-)  You don't have the answer either even though you over 7,000 posts!

Hi Matt-

I put icepacks on my head too during a hit and press it real hard.   Don't know much about ice on my feet at the same time.  But I am of the opinion, that if it works for you and helps you with your pain then more power to you   ;)

In desperate times , I may find myself one day pulling out more icepacks-  who knows?   :)

Thanks for being here-  Hoping you get some more relief soon!

Kelly

My dad suffered from CH for 25 years.
He found one doctor within our county who committed the majority of his studies to CH because he had them as a result from a brain tumor.  this is what he believed to cause the actual pain from the HAs, and I don't usually do the Icepacks, we have a hottub thats always 25 degrees cooler than the outside... guess it shouldnt be called a hottub
but I jump in that now.

and don't insult people from Arizona, because its too damn hot here to take peoples crap about living here.

So, this is the cure we've all been looking for? I am intrigued, to say the least.

Hi Matt,

How long did it take to abort the hit this way?  

I believe this is a lot like breathing air directly out of an A/C or any other technique for inducing vasoconstriction through hyperthermia.

While it sound pretty painful to have ice on the soles of your feet, I'm glad you found something that works for you.

-Dennis-

I read in the past about some one who walked on a cold tile floor and that seemed to help him.  Makes sense to me.  Glad it's helping.

Ice never seems to work for me (I prefer a hot pack on the neck) but I'll give it a try.

I’ll bet it works for this guy though!

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Roland. ;)

i find ice can help and will try it on my fingers and on my toes ( ooh WET WET WET)!!!! ;)

if it works for you then all power to you but i doubt its the magic cure.

to be able to say what causes ch is quite a statement. actually what you describe is the main effect of a migraine. ch has many other complicated and unkown cause'e and effects.

sorry i have a thing about folks that say its a migraine.

anyway a multi pronged attack is my approach and i am always looking for another weapon to my arsenal as the beast is always changing tactics so i must always change too. i have to say standing on ice oacks sounds really cold. sure its not diversion effect??

i apologize if i am bit snippy. [smiley=smokin.gif]

Hi, Matt,
It is the vascular stimulation, you could also go for a jog and have the same result.  Coffee or energy drinks will do the same. I live in Montana, when being hit ,I will go stick my head in a snow bank. It is like heaven ,on the hot head and fire eyes.
BTW: Please disregard the spiteful post of our resident troll Geewilly.

I hope you have a treatment plan that works for you. Read and study your condition. You will find the information you gather will help you in the future, to keep the doctors from treating you improperly.
all the best
thebb
PS: Ice can also make things worse for some people, and heat is their saviour.
Never relax ever.
Karl is right, your describing migraines. Our pain comes from the trigerminal nerve. I think.
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Thanks Matt.  I frequently use ice when battling the the beast.  I never thought to use ice on other parts of the body.  I will keep that in mind the next go around.

As for the nay sayers, keep in mind the drug of choice with most clusterheads are triptans.  Triptans were developed to treat migraines and work as a vasoconstrictor.  CH may have other contributors to our pain, but there is a vascular componet involved.  Matt never said it is the magic cure, it is just what he does to battle the beast.  Thanks for sharing Matt.

Thomas  

Quote:

As for the nay sayers,

I am not reading any nay saying, just different opinions. :-/
There is much more work to be done regarding CH research.
Many treatments for CH are migraine hand me downs. CH is not migraine and triptans fail for CH often.Others are beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, psychotropics and many more. There are reported results and failures for all. It is very individual and unique to all of us. Matt posted what worked for him we all have relevant experience that we will post based on that. They will all be different. and the more you know ;) Thanks for posting that.


Quote:

keep in mind the drug of choice with most clusterheads are triptans.

There is no drug of choice for us in my opinion. With this level of pain and the relentlessness  of it...there is no choice. Treat it or die. Learn to live with it and control it or die. Study it find what works for you or ....well you get my point.That is my opinion. Get hit with a 16 month episode and your going to try anything.
 I have had many treatments work one or two times and then fail. Over the years I have found that you must have an open mind to all treatments or you will fail in the most important battle of your life. :o  ...the battle with CH.


Quote:

CH may have other contributors to our pain, but there is a vascular componet involved.

I couldn't agree more and thanks for posting that. 8-)


Edit:Here's the way I see it.
What are the causes of Cluster Headache?
The cluster headache condition appears to be caused by an abnormality in the hypothalamus.
The Hypothalamus is the control center of all autonomic regulatory activities of the body. It has been said that the hypothalamus is the brain of the brain. It is the hub for automatic and endocrine homeostatic systems such as cardiovascular, temperature, and abdominal visceral regulation. It manages all endocrine hormonal levels, pituitary gland regulation, blood pressure regulation, hunger and salt cravings, feeding reflexes, thirst, body temperature, hydration, heart rate, bladder function, water preservation, hormonal/neurotransmitter regulation, ovarian function, testicular function, mood & behavioral functions, wakefulness, metabolism, sleep cycles and energy levels.sensory processing, and organizing body metabolism, as well as ingestive behaviors. It appears that almost everything the Hypothalamus does is related in some way to the management of brain and body connection, linking the psyche (mind) to the body.

This abnormality is an extra-thick layer of cells. It is something CH sufferers are born with, although Chiropractors will tell you it is caused by misalignment in the neck or spine. This was one theory, but it has been disproved long ago - so don't waste your money.

Your odd hypothalamus sends scrambled messages to your nervous system, causing vascular constriction and other as-yet unknown effects which cause immense PAIN which is not treatable with any normal pain medicine.

CH headaches are not actually a 'headache' like a migraine or a caffeine withdrawal headache. It is more like a type of direct brain-dysfunction that is more painful and disabling that anyone can imagine.





I hate this condition with a frikkkkkin passion. >:(
all the best
thebb

wrote on Sep 8^th, 2008 at 1:29pm:

Quote: As for the nay sayers, I am not reading any nay saying, just different opinions. :-/ There is much more work to be done regarding CH research. Many treatments for CH are migraine hand me downs. CH is not migraine and triptans fail for CH often.Others are beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, psychotropics and many more. There are reported results and failures for all. It is very individual and unique to all of us. Matt posted what worked for him we all have relevant experience that we will post based on that. They will all be different. and the more you know ;) Thanks for posting that. [quote]keep in mind the drug of choice with most clusterheads are triptans.

There is no drug of choice for us in my opinion. With this level of pain and the relentlessness  of it...there is no choice. Treat it or die. Learn to live with it and control it or die. Study it find what works for you or ....well you get my point.That is my opinion. Get hit with a 16 month episode and your going to try anything.
 I have had many treatments work one or two times and then fail. Over the years I have found that you must have an open mind to all treatments or you will fail in the most important battle of your life. :o  ...the battle with CH.


Quote:

CH may have other contributors to our pain, but there is a vascular componet involved.

I couldn't agree more and thanks for posting that. 8-)

I hate this condition with a frikkkkkin passion. >:(
all the best
thebb



[/quote]

Well said Thebzz,  I am glad you can read it that way.  The written word is often reciever based.  Differing opinions are good, and I see that for the most part, but there are a few twists of what the original post states and a couple stabs of sarcasm in there as well.  I don't mean to go all Geewilly or anything, but really, is Geewilly the only one crossing the line?  

And yes, you are right.  Triptans are one of many drugs used to fight the beast.  I like the way you phrase it.

Thomas

Quote:

but really, is Geewilly the only one crossing the line?

Given his history, yes.  :oYou will see Thomas. Dont feed the troll. It's about CH, not Geewilly or anyone else for that matter. 8-)
Hey Matt, I love working around walk in freezers. :D Going to sub-zero with the whole body for 15 min. provides some relief.
all the best
thebb

I am sorry  :-[ if i crossed an unknown line, i just don't appreciate someone patronizing me with a cure all of standing on ice.
yes vasocconstriction or vasodilation are a part of ch. in all actuality it is a syptom of a larger problem with the hypothalmus.
i am not equipped to handle a scientific debate  :D, the real issue is I don't think standing on ice is going to stop the horrible  pain we all share.
sorry i am so skeptical of the original post. I will bow out with apologies to the original and Thomas
its all good 8-)

He never said that CH was caused by the vascular component, but "the pain of CH" is caused by the vascular component, which is true.  Gotta read all the words.

like I said I bow out !!!!

First, I'm 17 and a senior in high school battling this for only about two weeks.
My dad is the one who gives me ideas from his experiences of battling CH for 25 years.
I never said this is the magic cure, so don't make it seem like i said that.
It works for me so I put it out here for people like me who hate the idea of having to constantly take pills and risk becoming dependent on pills.

Quote:

My dad is the one who gives me ideas from his experiences of battling CH for 25 years.

He gets my vote, that's who I would listen to.
Thanks for participating Matt.  Dad has gotten you to a neurologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.? Hope your not getting hit too bad.
What do you use to abort your HA?
all the best
thebb

Matt i offer you a sincere apology. i was being an ass.
to explain a little i am having a hard time and i guess i am just a bit tempermental.
honestly i am normlly a nice and compassionate man. you just caught me on a bad day.
give me another chance and i promise i will be nicer. :-[

Karl,

We have all been where you are now so don't sweat it and believe me, I and many others totally understand....been there, done that... so quit being so hard on yourself (even though the apology was very cool).

Fingers crossed for many, many PF days, months, years and decades ahead.

wrote on Sep 8^th, 2008 at 5:27pm:

I am sorry  :-[ if i crossed an unknown line, i just don't appreciate someone patronizing me with a cure all of standing on ice. yes vasocconstriction or vasodilation are a part of ch. in all actuality it is a syptom of a larger problem with the hypothalmus. i am not equipped to handle a scientific debate  :D, the real issue is I don't think standing on ice is going to stop the horrible  pain we all share. sorry i am so skeptical of the original post. I will bow out with apologies to the original and Thomas its all good 8-)

Karl, It is all good.  I have read many of your post and know you have nothing but good intentions.  My crossing the line/Geewilly statement was directed at someone else.  It is one thing to poke fun at some one or even make a smart comment, but I felt someone was insulting the man's intelligence just to be mean.  That is just uncalled for...

Thomas

cynjeep89 wrote on Sep 8^th, 2008 at 9:20pm:

Karl, We have all been where you are now so don't sweat it and believe me, I and many others totally understand....been there, done that... so quit being so hard on yourself (even though the apology was very cool).

I know that I've been there more than twice.  It happens.

Sometimes I feel the CH site is turning into the UFC. Should we all get cool nicknames too?

...as for the ice, both heat and ice make the stabbing pains worse for me.

Kim "The Trexinator"  [smiley=sgrin.gif]

Hi Karl,

You are all class in my book...glad you are in the family.

Best,

Jon

Matt,

thank you for sharing your experience. :)

I use re-usable ice cubes as a part of my "ch kit", because cold does help me getting rid of the hit. I have not used just ice ever, but as an addition to the energy drinks I've used. I keep your suggestion in mind and might give it a go. :)

I hope it will keep on helping you. :)

PF days to all,
Sanna