G'day JPO. There's some buttons on the left of your screen and the fourth one down is marked Cluster Quiz.

Give this a go and let us know how you get on.

The symptoms of Cluster are no written in rock; invidivual variation in timing, severity, location of pain, etc. are common. Especially when you are first starting to have symptoms, it may take months, even a year or more, before a stable picture develops.

Given the complexity of these disorders, combined with the limited training/experience of many docs in treating headache, we advise working, if all possible, with a specialist.

Note the last paragaph:

LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. 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.

2.  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.

3. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ; On-line screen to find a physician.

4. 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.

5. 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.
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WHY A HEADACHE SPECIALIST IS RECOMMENDED


Headache. 2012 Jan;52(1):99-113.
Cluster headache in the United States of America: demographics, clinical characteristics, triggers, suicidality, and personal burden.
Rozen TD, Fishman RS.

THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT DIAGNOSTIC DELAY FOR CLUSTER HEADACHE PATIENTS ON AVERAGE 5+ YEARS WITH ONLY 21% RECEIVING A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AT TIME OF INITIAL PRESENTATION.

For your peace of mind, stop fretting about the future, will Cluster fully develop, etc. We don't have any control over its start or ending; we learn how to control them.

Do your best to see a headache specialit, not a general neurologist (unles you can confirm training/experience with headache). Most neuros have meager education in headache.

Print the PDF file, below. These are the most commonly used meds for Cluster and you should see any doc working from this list. It's a good tool to  guide discussions with any doc you see, specialist or not.