I'm not sure if this is the reason my cycle abruptly appears to have stopped, but I want to share in the chance that it helps even one other person.

Quick background.  Episodic cluster headaches for 17 years.  6-8 week cycle every 1-2 years.  No real timing pattern on when the cycles start.   Hits almost exclusively at night, with daytime shadows.  Found out about oxygen due to this site in 2011 and it's a lifesaver (and job saver) to lead a normal life during cycles.

Every doc I have ever been to is clueless on these things.  Even neuros.  At least my current GP orders the oxygen just how I ask him, as found on this site.  

In 2011, started Batch's awesome regiment, along with a more Paleo/Whole food diet after March 2011 cycle.   Was cycle free until July 27, 2013 when red wine triggered a headache.  Night hits followed.   I don't take any prescription preventatives.  One neuro tried to put me on Verapamil once, but was concerned about my naturally lower heart rate.

Vit D test showed 131 mg/nl on 8/2, so that wasn't the issue.  Had been taking 10000 mg a day for probably 8 months (up from 5000), plus getting some sun most of the summer.  Vit D test in Aug 2012 was 56 mg/nl.

A week ago after a rough night I was fed up.  Searching the internet, I starting reading about trigger points.  Yes, I've had massage and chiro over the years and it didn't provide any real relief. 

I've always pressed on the base of skull and neck region on the same side as my headaches (right side) during hits as it tight during the hit and it helps a bit on the pain.  But reading on, I saw how pain could be referred from other regions, to the base of the skull and neck.  Specifically, the mid back/mid trap region refers to the base of the skull.   I don't have pain normally in the mid back. 

Saw some examples on You Tube and I got a tennis ball and began rolling on it between the spine and the shoulder blade.  HOLY CRAP it hurt!  I guess I had a few trigger points there.  But the pain under the ball faded after working on the spots.

And guess what?  I kept it up for that day, kept on working them out, hit a few other spots on the shoulder and neck...and noticed something.   The tightness that accompanies my cycles was gone.  I was headache free that night and the next day was the calmest, clearest, most painless day in years.  I could move my neck easily, range of motion had improved.  Headaches have been at bay since last Saturday.  None.  I've kept up rolling on the tennis ball at least once a day.  My oxygen is sitting idly by my bed.   

I couldn't wait any longer to share this, especially given all I've learned over the years because of this site.

There is a Pub Med article on the success of trigger point therapy (albeit with injections) on Cluster Headaches...I can't post links yet as I haven't posted enough.  Google "Cluster Headaches Trigger Points" and you will see it at the top.

Google "tennis ball trigger point therapy" to find some videos of how to do it.

Again, I'm not saying this will work for anyone, but if it can help even one other, it's worth this post.  I'm sure there will be massive skepticism here.  And there should be.  Believe me, I'm the same way.

This has worked for me when nothing else ever has to prevent these headaches. And it's super easy to test out. 

No one knows what causes these demons.  What's to say it isn't trigger points? 

Best of luck. 

Still headache free...cycle is definitely gone.

Attached is the PubMed trial that had 80%+ success with trigger point therapy for cluster headaches.  Not sure why this isn't getting more attention.

Sadly when it comes to research, we aren't a big enough group to get the big Pharma people all excited about making billions off of us. The majority of the research on CH is conducted by US! It starts with someone like you, coming up with an idea like this that works for them. You post it here, people try it, and we see if it takes off! It's how we discovered Oxygen, energy drinks, mushrooms, and a host of other useful treatments.  Glad you have something that works, it's nice when the beast stops having his way with you.

Joe

That "middle trapezius" spot is a familiar one...many, myself included, get the "cluster bump" there when in high cycle.

Joe

I always have a knot at the middle one, uppers have meant little to me, but that lower one (one I can't reach)... I have had one massage, got it for my birthday, and she found a knot that supprised her (she said it was bad) at the lower spot. She started working it and it sent me through the roof (painful).
Don't really know what it did CH wise, I was ending a 6 month cycle already, but that is certainly a spot I am going to try to keep under control.

Oh .. and maybe I just didn't see it in the previous posts, but did the side your knots were on have a relationship to the side your hits are on? Just curious because my hits are always on the right side of my head and the knots were on the right side of my back/shoulder/traps.

Red

Just to clarify, I never had any obvious pain in this mid back region, or even my neck/base of skull area during my cycles.  Maybe some tightness or soreness, but no ongoing pain.  But there is no doubt I had some serious trigger points there.  Wow did it hurt that first time rolling the ball.  I do it now and it feels good, like a massage. 

My cluster pain has always in the exact same spot, right behind and above my right eye.  Years ago, prior to ever finding this website, I remember unimaginable headbanging and crying pain.  Kip 8-9s.  All with no oxygen.  Like many of you, I had no idea WTF was happening or why it was happening.  This website has helped immensely over the years.

This time around was KIP 4-6s.  I attribute that to the Vit D and overall lower inflammation diet.  Like I said in my first post, I exclusively get night hits and am awakened from a sound sleep.  Oxygen knocks it out in less than 5 mins typically.  Worst this cycle was 5 or 6 hits in a night.  Daytime is just tightness and shadows.  And exhaustion.   Ya'll know the drill.