Hi,
I am from Ontario Canada and have been stalking this group for years. I have been having headaches for years. I was in a car accident 10 years ago, bad whip lash and also hit my head on right side by eye. Had some head scans after the accident but was told nothing regarding my neck or head. I noticed headaches about three or four years after the accident.  I was told by a walk in doc maybe they were from whip lash/arthritis. I have been having them every July ever since.  Right temple, wakes me from sleep.  Around same time every night. Last about 6 weeks. This is the third year I have gotten an oxygen script. Works amazing and I am very thankful for this site for the references and encouragement to be my own advocate. I am looking for opinions as to weather this is cluster or cervicogenic headache or a combo. This year they started in May, they have ALWAYS been July and predictable.  Started with a slight sinus issues and progressed the following week with a shadow during the night and in ten day it was full blown, where i was in emerg begging for and o2 script. I didn't want to believe that it could be cluster started sooner then July.
I have been waiting for a neurologist for a year and have an appointment 6 months from now.  Last week the er doc referred me to another neurologist just to see if i could get in faster with s different one. I have been getting massage and after each massage I don't have a headache that night.  Is it possible that I have two types of headaches? It feels the exact same as the headaches I get in July.  Why would massage help? What am I missing? I have tried Maxalt last year and It didn't work and gave me a tension type headache after. Before i got o2 i would stand in the shower and lets the water hit my head to distract me and just wish to die. I have a high threshold for pain.  I have broken my arm right off and given birth and would rather do those again then have these headaches when they are at their peak.
For 3 years they started on July 1st. Last year it was the end of July. Now may.  If it is cervicogenic headache then why the same time every year? In years past I can remember the smell of cigarettes and also heat triggering them in the day time.  Then they moved to night. What do I have?? I am taking the steps to help myself by seeing a neurologist, and getting o2 but I would love some feed back.  I am deep down hoping that it is cervicogenic headaches since there is more hope for a normal life. Please don't bash my post as I have seen this done many time on this site. i am merely looking for people with similar experiences. Please believe me when I say I have been afraid to sleep, and have spent many nights for years researching.  I am very thankful for this group.

Hi and welcome

Trying to answer the questions I can...

What you describe does sound like it could be CH, but as always, we can not give you a diagnosis as this needs an experienced medical professional to do the diagnosis based on medical tests to rule out other causes.

It is perfectly possible that you have more than one headache type with quite a few people here collecting them. The CH / migraine combination is the most common (including me) but others are possible. Factors like this can make it hard to get a diagnosis as the multiple different symptoms can confuse doctors not experienced in this area (which is why we suggest people see a headache specialist).

You've been waiting forever to see a neurologist. What I would do is to call them often to see if you can get a cancellation instead of the endless waiting for your scheduled appointment. You might just get lucky and get one sooner.

It also amazes me that neurologists who know how painful CH can be can let CH / probable CH patients wait so long.

The help from a massage confuses things as it isn't something which normally helps a CH. But if you have multiple headache types or another headache type other than CH it might explain things (see how it can get confusing).

CH triggers tend to be things like alcohol (for most), seasonal (spring / fall are popular times for cycles to start), solvents, with some also finding things like being tired, hungry, changes in stress, nitrates also triggering CHs.

Cigarettes are interesting in relation to CH. The majority of people with CH smoke (I've heard figures of around 70%) but it is unknown if smoking causes CH or people with CH are more likely to smoke or something else.

I can't really answer anything on cervicogenic headaches as I've no experience of them.

Hope this helps...