Posted by Terrie on November 08, 1998 at 05:39:48:
Saw this in a letter to the doctor in the Riverside Press Enterprise newspaper. A 'clusterhead' wrote in that when the cluster strikes he eats large amounts of ice cream very rapidly - causing a "brain freeze" type headache. He told that he continues to eat through the 'cold headache' and relief comes shortly thereafter. His theory was that the ice cream in the throat chilled the blood going throught the caradiod artery {sp?}- the idea being that cold dialates the blood vessels much as an ice bag does on the outside. The doctor said he had never heard of this but 'whatever works for you is worth a try'.
My husband is unable to eat because of nausia [pain induced?] during his most severe attacks but would like to know if others have had this type of thing work for them. Additionally, what about applying the ice bags to the outside arteries in the neck rather than to the "cluster" pain site on the forehead? What do you think everyone?