Hello!  I am actually writing for my boyfriend.  He is a chronic sufferer.  Started Verapamil in Feb. 2014, has increased to 480 mg per day and is starting to suffer daily CH.  Currently using O2 to abort, thank heavens for O2!!!!!  However, he went to his neurologist last week and he is sending him to a pain clinic for the nerve blocker.  Dr. stated if this doesn't work, then the only other thing he can offer is Lithium, which my boyfriend will not do.  We have done the Vitamin D plan and had some success, but then he started the verapamil and had 100% success until Oct. of 2015. My concern is, is this really the only other treatment avenue we can go down?  O2 is great, but at times, is costing $80 or so a week.  He goes to the nerve doctor the end of February.  Just curious if anyone in Indiana can offer guidance on another neurologist, willing to travel. And, has anyone taken the Vit. D method along with Verapamil?  Thanks so much for any and all help!!!

Unfortunately, neurologists and pain clinics are the two worst medical sites to get treatment for Cluster.

If at all possible, locate a headache specialist and start all over again. The essential first step is a good diagnosis. There are numerous disorders which look like Cluster but which are not. A good doc has to sort thru what is going on before you can start a treatment plan.
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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.
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The last paragraph, above, reflects the problem: without an accurate diagnosis you can't get dependable relief. This is why self-diagnosis and self-treatment is not wise.

Batch wrote on Feb 4^th, 2015 at 12:54pm:


I took verapamil at the same time as I was taking D3, before easing off the verapamil and I've been using just D3 for a few years having gone just over 3 years CH pain free. If you're taking any supplement with calcium, just space it out from when you have the verapamil.