Hey everyone,

I've been suffering with cluster headaches for about 10 years. I have been diagnosed for about 6 years. Im a 27 year old man who likes a drink and smokes, which really doesn't help my cause.

I have been medicated with just about every treatment under the sun. Remembering most of the names will be tough but I will give it a go. Verapamil, beta blockers, cortico steroid injections at the base of my skull around my occipital nerve, ergotamines, oxygen therapy, melatonin, anti depressants (cymbalta/lexapro), heaps of pain killers - anti inflammatories, opiates, paracetamol, OxyContin. Thats all I can remember now. As for other things I've tried, some include; accupuncture, physio, chiropractic, optical, massage, cold and hot treatments, stretching, aromatherapy, diet change, illicit drugs and energy drinks. Im sure there is plenty I've forgotten but you get the idea!

My headaches originally were in clusters that took place generally in seasonal shifts, more predominate in spring onset and autumn onset. They continued and have now become substantially more chronic and will only generally have 1-2 months pain free per year.

The pain is immense. I haven't experienced pain greater before. The pain is always on my right side behind my eye and temple area and can effect me up to 8 times a day. Generally most of my Attacks occur between 5pm and 6am every night. It is very rare I get a full nights sleep. Normally am woken 2/3 times per night. My sleep is effected greatly and generally spend most nights pacing around and trying certain things to get back to sleep.

I could go into a lot more detail about the headaches but they are the basics. Important notes - can't drink during incredibly debilitating periods (at all), work a very physically demanding job and am currently slightly overweight and have a reasonably poor diet.

With all my experience throughout the years I've gleamed some very helpful abortive techniques but still yet to find a really successful preventative solution.
The best of all is increasing that heart rate! If i feel a headache come on or one wakes me up, the first thing I try to do is some heavy exercise. (I know it's the last thing you want to do when your incredibly overtired and in a world of hurt). I start with about 50-100 star jumps, 20 push ups, 20 sit ups and then some squats. Once im starting to heat up and my breathing is very heavy, I'll go into a downward dog position for a few minutes. (8/10 my headache aborts and gives me 2-8 hours relief)
If this doesn't work or I am in a situation where I can't do this this is my next port of call. I either take 3 fast acting anti inflammatory meds (voltaren rapid or ibuprofen), skull a glass of water, boil kettle and make peppermint tea and breath heavily with my head between legs in a sitting position. If all else fails there is one more technique that works. I smoke a bong or two of marijuana if available. I don't much like being high but weed nearly instantaneously decreases my 8/10 pain headaches to a 2/10. This technique only works once or twice a night though I've found. This technique also makes it a lot more difficult to wake up to your alarm in the morning, so I use this as a last resort!

My neurologist has recently booked surgery for a occipital nerve stimulator and Id like some of your thoughts on this if you have had the procedure done.

I need some help to get more control over this existence that is so terribly painful and makes life so disheartening.

If there are any other techniques that you could share with me to abort or prevent my chronic clusters please help. I am willing to try anything.

I hope you can try some of my techniques or some of my story assisted you.

Cluster headaches need to be wiped out for once and for all!