If you look on the left side of the site, there's a bunch of links.  Go to the Kip Scale and read through the definitions of the various levels.  Everyone's pain is different.  In fact, my pain is different from one HA to another.  One time it can be a 5, next it's a full blown 10.  When I first started getting mine, they were usually really low and have gradually increased to where I get 10's a lot.

Have you seen a doctor or more importantly a neurologist.  Because the pain can get pretty severe and they can happen often, it's important to get on a preventative (topamax, lithium, verapamil) to help make the HA's less often and less severe and an abortive (oxygen, imitrex) to stop the pain when one does get through.

Here's a link to the common treatments.  Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Not sure about the differences in the UK and USA, but the treatments should be similar.  Everyone's different so what could work for me may not work for you.  There are many other preventive treatments, so if your doctor hasn't tried any more, get on him to.  Print out and take that page to him if needed.  Unfortunately most doctors don't know much about cluster headaches, so we're left with having to do most of the research.  I myself have had to tell my doctor about the different preventives, granted I see a GP and not a neurologist yet, but she's been pretty open with me educating her, especially after I was able to describe the pain better to her and she realized how bad it was.

You know how bad it can get, not your doctor, so make sure he stays on the ball about treating you.  If you don't have success with one, try another and another until you find something that works for you.  Some people have had to use higher doses to get relief, while others have had to combine different preventives.  Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Tells more about the different treatments and gives information on the doses.

Yes, not wishing to tempt fate, but from the horror stories I've been reading, it seemed I wasn't suffering enough.  The '6' i was referring to was on the KIP scale.
No, I'm not taking verapamil.
I see paroxysmal hemicrania has very similar symptoms, how do we tell the difference?

Thanks for your reply.
Neil

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
Read these links here.Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
the more you know
thebb

Thanks everyone for your replies.
It's not a club I would choose to be a member of, but it's nice to be among friends 

N

Hello and Welcome!

Beta blockers are usually most helpful with migraines, not cluster headaches.  

It's great that you do have a doctor who is willing to listen.

Good luck