You will find a real depth of support and knowledge here. We are old and strong enough that some headache docs are giving our address to their patients. Our members are around the world and so some interesting intercultural conversations go on!

The temptation is to throw a lot of material at you to read but it would be better if you gave us some idea of what you are seeking: specific types of information, what?

But two introductory reads to give some foundation information:

MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE AND HEADACHE MEDICATIONS, 2nd ed. Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D.; pub. by Springer. $50 at Amazon.Com.  It covers all types of headache and is primarily focused on medications. While the two chapters on CH total 42-pages, the actual relevant material is longer because of multiple references to material in chapters on migraine, reflecting the overlap in drugs used to treat. I'd suggest reading the chapters on migraine for three reasons: he makes references to CH & medications which are not in the index; there are "clinical pearls" about how to approach the treatment of headache; and, you gain better perspective on the nature of headache, in general, and the complexities of treatment (which need to be considered when we create expectations about what is possible). Finally, women will appreciate & benefit from his running information on hormones/menstrual cycles as they affect headache. Chapter on headache following head trauma, also. Obviously, I'm impressed with Robbins' work (even if the book needs the touch of a good editor!) (Somewhat longer review/content statement at 3/22/00, "Good book....")

HEADACHE HELP, Revised edition, 2000; Lawrence Robbins, M.D., Houghton Mifflin, $15. Written for a nonprofessional audience, it contains almost all the material in the preceding volume but it's much easier reading. Highly recommended.

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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--link, line above--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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As you have time, explore the buttons (left) starting with the OUCH site and the multiple internals links you will find there.

Welcome Dave!  I am new as well.  You will find relief in knowing there are people who do understand.  It is a great site.  You're right, it can be scary when you hurt that badly!  It is comforting to know that others do and live through it just fine.  Bob Johnson is a good source for information...Thanks, Bob. 

Joni   

Wecome home Dave.

Well first let me say that you guys have given me hope that I can be normal if you can call it that- the docs here didn't help too much. First I sat in the er for 3 hours beeting my head on the bed or any where I could find and wore a hole in the floor before someone would even talk to me but I did hear one Rn say he has a headache- I can't repeat what I said but I know you guys know! I am now on Gabapentin 300mg 7 a day and next week I start 8 a day. I have O2 at home, I have Zomig nasal for bad hits, Oxycodone,Hydrocodone and Melatonin- which by the way are great for wonderful dreams!! This for me is hard too because before this I would'nt take aspirin or any drugs without a fight. Now I just try to make sure I take the right pill at the right time. It took alot for me to take the Zomig nasal shot- just ask my wife who was begging and pleading for me to take it for about an hour! I guees one of the worst things once you get past the pain is letting my kids and family see me like this! For me I guess I just don't know whats next or where from here, but when I found you guys I felt alot better cause I started to think I was going crazy on my own. I have heard at least a thousand times that I have headaches SOMETIMES too- I tell them I have them everyday at 2:00 4:00 7:00 10:00 AM & PM some last from one to the next. At my lowest I got 1 hour of sleep at a time if I was having a good day- while going to work everyday and hiding it. The first day of work I missed was when I went to the hospital and I was on a 14 hour size 8-10 hit non stop! I would anything not to have let my kids see what they saw that day- but they have been with me and helping me everyday along with my wife who I don't know how she can deal with it! Anyway I truly THANK GOD for all of you being here and wish there where more groups and face to face meetings for all! I don't know what I'd do without all of you and the info THANKS!!!!!