maalstroom wrote on Jul 27^th, 2008 at 9:20am:


I would assume the paper cut is #1.  Bruised ego also is up there.

I have had kidney stones, gall stones, and slipped disks... all pretty painful but nothing close to CH.

Raising children (not birthing them, raising them).

Try this link.  There is another Dr. also who said pretty much the same thing but I cannot find it right now.  I'll keep trying though.


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Linda

Pascal,

I recall many tears ago on this site that there was a link to BBC documentary about CH and some promenant DR saying that it indeed was THE worst pain any one can suffer.  In fact it was quoted as similar to having arms amputated without aneasthetic.  I will try to find the file but it was over 6-7 years ago I saw it.

Remember though, the level of pain is yours, it's not for you to explain to anyone because they will NEVER understand.  Each of us deal with it in many ways, personally I prefer not to even bother trying to explain to anyone other than my wife because like everything in life mate, they have had bigger better or worse than you...... only we know the painfull truth.

In closing though, I would say that my CH is the worst physical pain I have ever felt, but the mental pain of losing a loved one is worse and never stops, we have all lost someone.  Put things into perspective and hold on to the strength knowing that whatever suffering you or your partner is going through there are always the moments when the pain dissepates, the sweating stops and the breathing slows to a semi-human rate.  Then you can try to back to normal living again.

I am gueassing that your not the sufferer as you would know the severity of pain without having to compare..... it's not the second worst a MAN could experience but THE worst ANYONE can experience.

I remember also one of the postings on this site (again about 8 years ago) from one of the brave female sufferers in the US who said after having four kids, she would gladly have a child every day, without medication for the rest of her life if she could go one day without a CH.....Bless her cotton socks because that has been my yard stick for years now when I am asked why I dissapear for a few hours of bathroom wall headbanging every othere hour or so.

Either way, just hang in there, sufferer or carer.

Kind Regards

Pete

Why was that odd?

And oh yeah Peter, I didn't mean men (man plural) but mankind haha.

Pascal,

93.. wow, mine started in 95 after a car accident.....respect!!

Your right about the constrictors though and any cardio vascular constrictor basically does it, even smoking can bring a quicker end to a bad night crawling around the bathroom floor screaming for whoever you deem to be your saviour.

As far as the medical refference to other head related (nonCH) problems, my wife was diagnosed last year with a huge sphenoidal menigioma (brain tumour the size of an orange) and we spent all of last year in oncology departments watching sufferers of many dissorders, she had her operation which wasn't successful in May last year, only to start the whole thing again in October.  She had another cranioptomy in November, again unsuccessful, and we spend every waking moment together.  The point being, and I know it sounds wierd, but she can see strength in how we deal with the terrible pain, she dealt with it because she saw me dealing with the horrible pain.  My wife is alive and well but takes more drugs than the rolling stones to keep her going.   

There are people out there who suffer pain, horrible pain.  Your not alone mate, and CH is not the only really bad one.....  What makes our CH scarey is the predictability of pain, knowing it's gonna happen, when, and how bad it will be. 

It's not about the severity of pain, but the fear of it coming, not being able to happily go to sleep for fear of the devil arriving after 20 mins or so.  Remember there are peacefull times though..... the flowing of it leaving, the day when you can go all day without a visit to you own little private pharmacy, or when you can walk past a pharmacy without having to stop.

Sorry for rambling mate, but to be honest, I've had 7 bouts today, the last one for nearly 2hrs and am not wanting to go to sleep.....havent been to bed in 3 days.

Take care buddy, and hang in there.

I am really sorry to hear about your wife's tumor, must be hard on you guys.

Yes, Peter, the fear of sleep.... but I always DO fall asleep. Only to be woken by the Beast maybe two hours orso later. God I hate those night time hits. For me, they are the worst. While in high cycle I get an average of six hits a day, of which can be generally said: 3 hits on 8 or above, 3 below.
I am not experiencing CHs right now, probably due to the Verap, but have persistent shadows. Especially since it's hot here right now, the vein in my temple does overtime. But, without crossing the threshold into real pain.

Wishing you painfree days soon, and that your wife may get better.
Regards, Pascal.

Peter in Dubai wrote on Jul 27^th, 2008 at 6:42pm:

Stuff it, pal.

And yes, I have been to Dubai - if that's where you are indeed located.

I have seen something like "CH is THE WORST pain" many times, on different sites (both English and Polish). I can't find its source tho (any official statement or sth). It's a bit like urban legend (we don't know where did it come from). Though urban legends are usually wrong and this thing about CH can be true.

I think that this kind of "rankings" are kinda stupid. First of all, it's hard to compare pain if you are not a sufferer and second of all it's hard to find someone who has been suffering from CH and another huge pain. Nonetheless it's a good way of explaining how horrible CH are to someone who says "lol it's just a headache".

Another thing is that not every cluster head suffer from the worst CH. I had at least one attack every day but I had the worst ones like 5 times so far and of course I am aware that many of you have been suffering for years, with much worse attacks.

For me, and I guess many of you, CH are as painful physically as mentally. I would actually prefer to break my legs, have a three-month-long recovery or something like that. If you suffer from CH for months, most of the things doesn't work for you (+ you are suffering from another health problems) and you know that you might not find any relief and you can suffer for months and years. You can't do things you used to do and you know you won't be able to achieve in some fields you wanted to. Ah, and if you add that many people don't understand you, then it can really destroy you mentally.

Anyway I think I can imagine worse (or even much worse pain) but it would be some kind of "not natural" pain (something like tortures). For example - 3rd level burn of 90% of body (some people say there is even 4th level). I had something around 20% of 2nd level and it was really horrible (but I would prefer it over months of CH).

Best regards.

maalstroom wrote on Jul 27^th, 2008 at 7:19pm:

Hehe, I didn't take your post as a bad/stupid thing (if it seemed so, then apologize). I just think it's impossible to decide (objectively) what is the worst And yeah, I'm kinda like you.

Btw. (that's total offtopic) I can imagine what would be the worst possible thing that can happen to the human. Something like in Johnny Got His Gun movie...

Quote:

Thanks, same 2 you

Well--if there's something worse, I don't want any of it.

Best,

George