Well, the subject says it all!!

My best friend is studying to be a nurse, and they talked about clusters in one of her classes. The teacher giving the class is certified in hypnosis, and she said she helped (not cure) a patient with clusters before. So my friend stayed after the class to ask a few more questions...

She said that although she doesn't know and can't explain what causes them, she can help make the hits shorter through hypnosis. It would take a few sessions, but she would do this by trying condition the brain to go through the cluster "process" much faster, so instead of being in pain for 45 minutes, the headache would last only 5 minutes.

I don't know about this. It kind of sounds too good to be true. I'm willing to try anything, but still.... I'm wondering if anyone has tried it before? The teacher in question knows a lot more about clusters than any of the docs I've met with, and she has an amazing reputation in her field. What do you guys think?

Jess

Hypnosis treatment for cluster headaches implies that we have the power within ourselves to heal this dreaded condition. Sounds like just so much bullshit to me.

Of course the instructor is going to say that. She's a hypnotist.

Modified for gender specificity.

Whether it be hypnosis, cognitive based therapies, relaxation therapy, etc.--one essential which is often overlooked is the self-discipline and time required to learn how to effectively use the techniques/process.

We have created a cultural expectation that any treatment we try should deliver quickly (even with one dose??). All the ads on built on this theme: the smiling, happy "victim" who has been delivered.

(No criticism of you here, just an observation of how we all need to be aware of our expectations and how they can lead to self-sabotage. After 30-years as a therapist I've seen just how diffictult it is to help folks understand that "cures" rarely come from an Rx.)

A quick search of PubMed, the major library of medical literature, turned up zero hits on this topic.

Regarding Bob's post, that was my problem the first few years. Doc would give me a pill to try, whether it was fiorinal, midrin, cafergot, I'd take one, two,,,or three or four!!! when my headache started, if it didn't STOP the headache, I'd go back to the doc and say that didn't work either! It wasn't until I understood the whole treatment "regimen" that I started getting relief. Tough lesson to learn.

Guiseppi

I have, and still use what tools I was “given” by the Dr. Med. Anaesthesiologist / hypnosis
specialist, She is part of the pain clinic, and very instrumental in helping and providing
“tools” and advice in regards to Pain control, but even she does not think its likely to abort
an attack with hypnosis, and that it is most likely a charlatan that would claim
one can cure CH with Hypnosis….

Excellent point, a potentially valuable tool!

Guiseppi

I posted a year or two about self-hypnosis, but I'll recap briefly here:

Misdiagnosed CH as trigeminial neuralgia for years.

Liked my job so refused all medication (it wouldn't have worked anyway as it was for TN and I would have been zombified for nothing).

Have used self-hypnosis successfully since I was about 10 years old (now 49) for reasons other than dealing with pain (eg feats of memory).

I used my experience of self-hypnosis as THE ONLY "treatment" for what turned out to be CH for YEARS. As far as I can remember now (I've started clusterbusting instead), I needed to be able to hypnotise myself very quickly (ie in the 1st 15 minutes prior to the pain escalating), and, if I achieved the suggestible state in time, I was able to redirect the what started out as pain into something completely different (eg a not unpleasant tingly feeling on my scalp).

This, along with the fact that relaxation is part of the hypnosis, seemed to shorten the length of the hits - but this can never be proven.

If you can't get hypnotised before the real pain hits, then I'm afraid you're in for a very bad time unless you've got some other medication you can use - I didn't even know about O2 at the time!

I know lots of folk think of this as hocus-pocus, but who amongst you have ever survived years of CH WITHOUT ANY MEDICATION - Self-hypnosis must work, otherwise I wouldn't be here typing about it!

In my opinion it isn't a waste of time to become proficient at the technique, but I still prefer clusterbusting because you don't need to be on your guard all of the time.

Best regards,
RT

[font=Georgia][/font] I guess I'm screwed on this one- I've had 2 different hypnotists' try me, and I couldn't be hypnotized. Maybe my mind wouldn't? Or I just didn't believe it enough, anyhoo- hope someone has luck with it.

Kim

I've tried hypnosis for other things, pain management in particular, so I can say it does work for pain. I haven't been able to successfully use it for CH yet, because I haven't been able to focus during an attack enough to relax. So far I haven't been able to get myself into a suggestible state in time.

Another thing -- If you're having trouble with someone else hypnotising you, you may want to try self hypnosis. When you're in hypnotherapy you have to trust the person who is working on you. Another thing to remember is no one can make you do anything with hypnosis that you wouldn't do already. (for anyone who fears that sort of thing.)

One of the things that have helped me the most is learning to try to stay calm and relaxed when getting hit.  I can't do it for every hit, but I'm convinced that it can help immensely in keeping a low-leveler from ramping up.  It took me many years to learn to relax and stay calm, but I know it's helped me quite a lot.  The last 5 or so years have been the easiest for me, if you can ever use the word easy with this condition.

I also  have an easier time of it if I am able to stay calm during a hit.  Crying certainly ramps things up for me.  During my last hit I tried hyperventilating. (still don't have 02)  It really seemed to work!  I don't know if it was that I was concentrating on my breathing or if maybe I increased my 02 level.  I guess it could have been just a mild hit.  Either way, I was thankful!

Jeannie

This claim from the hypnotist does not sound totally outlandish.  I have seen a regular person hypnotized to sing and dance like Axle Rose.  Somehow tricking the brain to shorten the length of a cluster attack?  Sounds like a possibility...not a probability...but a possibility.  Also different people are more easily hypnotized.  It is worth a try.

CHvsTN,

I find your experiences interesting and somewhat similar. I never attained "not unpleasant tingly feeling" except with Prednisone, but I was able to move the pain and focus it to a pinpoint. This while off of meds in peak of cycle and trying to cope as the meds just weren't working. By concentrating I was able to move the pain from jaw, eye, temple, back of head and neck to the top side of my head. This was an extreme burning pain still, but at a pin point and drawing the pain from the other areas. It would tend to slide back to full cluster pain in other areas, but I could again focus it and get some relief. I'm sure most of us with frequent KIP10 type attacks have experienced similar odd intimacy with the beast and trying to get through or cope with the attacks.

Self hypnosis kind of freaked me out though. The one time I actually went under, I didn't care for the feeling of not knowing where I'd been. I've been told that's what true meditative states are like also. I was trying it not during a hit, but more as a preventative thing. Now I'm all about prayer, and going up to 7 years between cycles - it seems to be working quite well. Prayers for all here - Rich

Hypnosis and Biofeedback have been an important factor in helping me deal with my chronic CHs. I haven't been able to abort an attack with Hypnosis and I only find it helpful after the worst of the pain is gone, I can however get back to work or some activity quicker by using it.
  I learned biofeedback at Diamond Headache Clinic. However if it was near the time for a cluster to occur I would usually get an attack just after I got very relaxed. They would rush me back to my room and give me IV meds and after a couple times of this they weren't sure if they wanted me continue biofeedback. I wanted to get better at using biofeedback so I would go back an hour after my attecks would end. I also get migraines and Self Hypnosis and biofeedback are a great help for my migraines. With practice you get better at controlling higher levels of pain. After years of practice I can quickly get into the state needed to control pain and continue to try using it to control higher levels of pain. For me it has been worth the effort. It just takes time and patience.  I have been hypnotized by two Dr.s That ws not at all helpful for me. Self hypnosis also helps greatly to keep a good attitude. Good luck.  MikeL