Posted by gary (208.133.220.192) on February 12, 2000 at 14:27:03:
In Reply to: Does this sound like a cluster headache or is it just muscle tension headache? posted by Daniel on February 12, 2000 at 08:01:49:
read the medical info link , accessed by button on left thoroughly
the neck & back symptoms first would be unusual for CH
also - VERY rare for perceived symptoms on both sides of face at once
there are forms of muscle tension headaches that produce some degree of onesidedness - but not entirely-in their symptoms - - follow the "links" provided - a couple sites have good profiles of several headache maladies
you MAY have cluster headache (which is a VERY specific malady, with very distinct symptoms and don't let anyone tell you differently !)
AND at the same time have a second problem which creates confusing symptoms -
carefullt kept diary records of your attack symptoms, timing & patterns, linked to preceding activity can help in deciphering that
but MOST of all-
YES
see a doctor
a young to middle-aged neurologist who knows their stuff re: headaches
even if it is some relatively benign thing like cluster headache,
you need to rule out anything serious first
benign means it won't get worse & kill you - - it can still often hurt worse than most any other kind of pain there is
do ytour homework - it's the best medicine there is !
good luck