I love this post.  I think there are probably many examples throughout history where cluster headache sufferers were misdiagnosed.

I've always felt that the practice of Trepanation was the result of an attempt to help someone suffering from cluster headaches.

Trepanation was the practice of boring holes into the skull to cure headaches, treat mental illness, or bring enlightment.  I know that when I was in the middle of an intense attack, before you guys got me using oxygen, this treatment sounded like a great idea.  It always sounded crazy when I was in remission, but during those first few times I was cycling and I didn't know what it was, those thoughts would cross my mind.  I think it makes sense that someone witnessing the suffering or someone in the midst of an attack would come up with that as a solution.  Especially considering the practice dates back to prehistoric times.

Another reason we are lucky to be living in a more modern era.  I imagine demonic possession, devine madness, curses, affliction of the gods, all could have been applied to a CH before there were proper methods of diagnosis.  I often felt like I was crazy or that others would doubt how I could feel such intense pain for days at a time and then be perfectly normal, in my case, for the next year or two.  Again, all before diagnosis.

I have no proof of my theories, so it's nice to see some evidence of our historical plight.  Thank you for that, Bob!

AussieBrian wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 6:21pm:


They probably got tortured even more than most people due to the combination of CH itself plus an increased pain tolerance.