i'm a mom of a 36 yo son whose cluster headaches just started acting up again after 5 yrs of nothing

the 2nd doc he went to gave him a med that starts with "C" that seems to be helping...but we'll see

this time they are lasting hours instead of minutes

i have read a lot in the last 24 hrs...on here...from doc sites and other places

he also got chantix to help stop smoking.  he knows it is something that might cause the clusters.

i don't have too many questions right now..but wanted to check in.  yesterday i had soooo many questions but you have some good info here

one question is:  do ppl here find lyme disease has anything to do with cluster headaches?  my whole family has or had lyme except this one son.  on the lyme sites it seems some with lyme get them and some don't.  also sometimes lyme treatment makes them go away sometimes not.

i'm glad i'm connected here.  i have trigeminal neuralgia so i know what pain is.  thanks for this site.

Please tell us where you live. Follow the next line to a message which will guide you.

Cluster Headache Help and Support › Getting to Know Ya › Newbies, Help us...help you

You can add your location by editing your profile. CP Member --> profile
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As you have time, explore the buttons, left, starting with the OUCH site and its many internal links.

As you start to grasp what you are dealing with, don't hesitate to ask questions. Reading the messages regularly will give some helpful information/experience even it the issue is no exacting the same issuess that you son is dealing with a the moment.
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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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See the PDF file, below.
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Explore:
A new (for me) site which is worth your attention: medical literature, films, plus the expected information
about CH.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

I don't know of any connection between Lyme disease and CHs, unless having had Lyme disease is an effective preventative...I've never had Lyme but I have had CHs for more than two decades. Yes, they can progress. No, alcohol and smoking are not the causes...they just don't help, and can be effective triggers for an attack. And yes, trigeminal neuralgia is pain as exotic as CHs. There are times I am hit with both in one attack and boy is that interesting. Please do read here. There are lots of possible avenues for preventing/aborting CHs, although admittedly no cures. And encourage your son to come on aboard...we are very good at listening. Blessings. lance

ok-its me again.  he is still having a very hard time.  the medication didn't work.  he is having 15 min to 2 hr headaches now.  going on second week. found out he has a huge deductible...more stress.

we are near asbury park nj and need a good neurol who understands the headaches.  can anyone suggest one?

there is a headache clinic in freehold nj.  does any one know if they are good?  they are pretty close.

should i be asking these questions smewhere else?  thank you.