I have suffered from these headaches for 5 years. I am 44 years old and have had enough! Usually, I get them at night. My pet name for them is the "Midnight Express." Always the same: Shadow pain in left molar, then spreads behind left eye, left eye droops, left nostril runs...and the worst pain for 30-60 minutes, then BAM, it's done...mine occur more in the summer and winter...I have had some success with lavender and peppermint oil, as weird as it sounds. I haven't found a doctor that can treat these headaches. I had a doctor tell me "yeah, the trigeminal nerve can hurt sometimes!" and he gave me steroids, which did nothing. I heard that O2 works...any feedback?

It will help us to direct you to good sources of assistance if you will tell us where you live (city & state, if U.S. or country). At the Home page: Help button-->Edit & Profile --> Location. (This will add your location, just below your name, every time you post a message.
==================================
Cluster is a more complex disorder than most folks appreciate. And getting good treatment, which you will need for many years, is difficult because so few docs have education and experience treating it.

That being said, self-diagnosis and self-treatment is not wise because there are a number of disorders, some of which are serious, which mimic Cluster. So, at two levels, we need to find an sharp doc, first to diagnose and then to develop a treatment plan. Going just by what you read here is not a complete way to handle the problem.

===
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.
=====================================================================
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.
================
Learning about Cluster is essential both to get good treatment and as a major route to controlling your concern/anxiety.

These sites which are worth your attention: medical literature, films, plus the expected information
about CH.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
------

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Search under "cluster headache"
-------
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
  Full of articles, blogs, book: written by one of the best headache docs in the Chicago area.
  Worth exploring. The latest book is in e-book edition, $10; comprehensive and worth buying for
  a careful read.
====================
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
  A new site (ca. 2015) with extensive material. Explore the site map and then patiently
  the broad range of materials.
===========
Print out the PDF file, below. Serves two purposes: gives you an overview of some of the major treatments for Cluster and it will give you a tool to discuss options with any doc you see.