How to Cope With Cluster Headaches

Imagine a headache so excruciating that you slam your head against any hard surface just to distract yourself from the pain. From the time that you begin to feel the ice pick-like pain, you are plunged into a world of misery. It is impossible to sit still, because the pain would consume you. Cluster headaches cause this type of agony. The pain develops around or behind the eye which also causes the eye to tear up. Pain usually reaches its peak within 5 minutes and can continue for an hour. These headaches occur just like clockwork, appearing at a certain time each day. This cycle repeats itself for weeks or even months at a time. Here are some common methods that may help you cope with cluster headaches.

Things You'll Need

• Basket of material
• Prednisone
• Oxygen cylinders
• Over-the-counter migraine medication
• Preventive medication

Show More

Instructions

How to Cope With Cluster Headaches

• 1

  Escape. When the pain hits, go into a quiet room. If you are at work, go into a bathroom stall or a utility closet. Many people say that it helps if they are allowed to go into a dim room alone and perform certain rhythmic actions such as tapping, chanting, or rocking back and forth without feeling self-conscious. Its easier to ride the cycle of pain without others to watch as you appear to have gone insane.

• 2

  Fill a basket with material of different textures such as velvet, flannel, cotton, wool, and polyester. Go through this basket when the headache strikes. Touching each texture will give your mind something else to focus on other than the pain.

• 3

  Take prednisone. Doses tend to be high and then taper off as the days go by. This corticosteroid is controversial because it may have long term side effects such as thinning of the skin or osteoporosis. Talk to your physician to determine if the benefit of taking this medication outweighs the negative

• 4

  Breathe in 100% oxygen using a face mask at about 6-8 liters per minute. You may need a higher flow rate. Most patients feel less pain within 20 minutes. Try to always have an oxygen cylinder available to use when pain attacks.

• 5

  Jogging in place. As soon as an attack begins, you should try exercising vigorously. If a cylinder of oxygen is not available, exercise may help to abort the attack.

• 6

  Take a drug normally used for migraines such as Sumatriptan or Zolmitriptan. For some patients, these can help to ease the pain. Over-the-counter medications that are used to treat migraines may also help you cope with the pain.

• 7

  Keep a normal sleep schedule. This may help to prevent an attack. Avoid taking naps during a cluster cycle. Any interruption in sleep habits can cause a headache.

• 8

  Discuss with your doctor medications that can prevent an attack. These include beta-blockers, anti-convulsants, anti-depressants or calcium channel blockers.

• 9

  Avoid using alcohol and tobacco. These are triggers that can cause a headache almost instantaneously during a cluster cycle.