Posted by gary g (208.133.217.160) on August 20, 1999 at 13:01:54:
In Reply to: strange pains... posted by Boris on August 20, 1999 at 03:39:45:
it is usual for me to develop general lowgrade pain (compared to cluster attacks) in my neck, shoulder & back during a prolonged cluster
this is from all the muscle-tension created by trying to "favor" the attack side, rolling head, etc
FOR ME - anything real hot or extremely strenuous during a cluster is predictable trouble - don't know if it actually triggers attacks, or makes existing attacks worse , but I DO know it is best for me to avoid both
EXCEPT the occasional ability to stop an attack with a blistering hot shower at the earliest sign
but DON'T allow the hot water anywhere near the attack zone
I think this works both by diverting circulation pressure (blood rushes to my back, butt & legs to try to cool them - thus reducing prerssure topside) AND by creating a nervous system pain "decoy"
it only works if it is hot enough to hurt - which means it IS a negative thing to do: thus is really swapping the as-yet unkown CH attack agony for the known relatively minor pain of lobster-scalding myself
could probably consider it a variant of headbanging
now, I try to get straight to the 02 IMMEDIATELY, with about 90% success in stopping attacks at a low level
hey - just telling it like it is !