This is my first time in these forums and I would like to say Hi.  I was also hoping you guys could help me decide if I actually do have cluster headaches as I have researched online and think this may be the particular type of headache I've been suffering from the last several years.

I actually just had one about half an hour ago and am better (although there is still a slight faint pain - a shadow? -in my upper orbital, its nothing like the pain I had earlier.

Let me describe what happens.

Usually out of nowhere there will be a sharp, almost icepick like pain in my right upper orbital (right in between the inside corner of my eye and eyebrow.  It doesn't start at full force, but I do know what is about to come. At it's peak, there is also a pain in the back of the right side of my neck.  While this is happening I sometimes kinda lightly hit the area at my orbital with a knuckle and try to stretch my neck.  When this happens at home, I just go to my room and lie down and try to whether the storm til it passes, sometimes the pain causes me to roll around in my bed as it becomes almost unbearable (although probably not as bad as some of you guys, as I never thought about suicide)

I noticed sometimes when I drink a beer, such as Budweiser (mostly this one) I'll sometimes get this type of headache, although quite not as bad.

Also, the pain in the orbital sometimes becomes so intense that I pretty much have to keep my right eye shut.  This happens randomly (although I'm going to start keeping a log so I know whether or not it occurs at certain times.)

I used to think this was like a sinus infection or something along those lines but now I think it may be a cluster headache.

What do you guys think?

A common issue for new folks is that the initial symptoms of CH may change location, intensity, etc. for many months before settling down to a stable picture.

The quiz may help but....

If you have the option, might be a good time to start looking for a headache specialist. Locating one and getting an initial appointment often takes many weeks. But it's important to get a good diagnosis, excluding other problems which may be presenting as CH, before you can know, for sure, what's up.
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Cluster headache.
From: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. 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.

3.  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.

4. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Look for "Physician Finder" search box.  Call 1-800-643-5552; 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.