It's been long recognized that we can have headaches which have elements of migraine and cluster.

The ligh sensitivity does occur in Cluster as does sound sensitivity.
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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. 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.

6. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.

Welcome back CK, we have several members of the board with multiple headache types, so sadly, it's not that unusual. Hopefully getting to a headache specialist will help you to seperate them out and get an effective treatment regimen for both.

joe

ck wrote on Dec 4^th, 2011 at 8:51pm:


Yes, I've two separate diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with CH about 15 months ago for which I use verapamil as a preventive, oxygen to abort, Red Bull for shadows plus Batch's vitamin D recipe. This combo works pretty well for me and I'm down to about 1 CH every 10 days or so, which compared to 2 or 3 a day is pretty good.

For migraines, I got them diagnosed a couple of months back although they seem to have started about four months ago. I'm using nortripylene as a preventive which has taken me from about 3 or 4 a week to about 1 every 10 days or so.

I may have had migraines for longer, however compared to a CH I find them in comparison pretty mild as although they tend to last a few hours there is nothing like the pain of a CH.

Mike, wow you got a lot of headaches I agree though...my migraines have kept me bedridden at times, but I'd pick them over a cluster any day.  Do you feel that they're related? Especially with the diagnoses so close?

Lance...that's an interesting thought. I'll have to get more information on the categorization. For me, I feel that they are--or at the very least manifest--quite differently!

mike...it's good to hear that you're controlling your CHs so well! it gives me confidence. and yes it's funny how when you're not in pain, it's so hard to really remember what that pain is like. i remember the pacing and clawing and whatnot, but to understand it without actually feeling it is incomprehensible!

lance...i asked about the categorization and was told that the term "migraine" is used as more general headache term, not the specific headaches with nausea/light-sound-smell sensitivity we normally think of. hmm...