Learn to Live A Full Life with Migraine Headaches

February 18th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

migraine relief, migraine helpIn this addition to the “Living Well” series, patient advocate Robert provides current information on headaches and migraine disease, treatments, personal stories and coping techniques. The author, a longtime migraineur, stresses that although many migraine sufferers are unaware of treatment options, at least 95 percent of sufferers can benefit from preventive regimens once correctly diagnosed. Migraines, Robert explains, are not simply bad headaches, but a “genetic neurological disease that flares up when we encounter triggers” and can take many forms-tension, cluster, or rebound, which is brought on by medication overuse-each of which require different treatments. Robert notes new medication developed to treat stroke, seizures and depression are now used for migraine disease, welcome news for sufferers who have for years ridden out migraine attacks with over-the-counter pain medication. She details “trigger” identification and management by listing the many triggers of headaches and migraines, and reviews preventive, “abortive” (which adjust neurotransmittal levels) and complementary therapies. With case studies and examples of patient advocacy, Robert also urges her readers to learn coping skills and to seek support from others, providing a clear overview of her subject with the authority of personal experience and a researcher’s determination.

Author: Teri Robert

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Cluster Headaches

December 1st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

The Fierce World of the Famous Cluster Headache

There are headaches and then there is the famous cluster headache. A famous cluster headache is a very unique and painful type of headache that can occur periodically. The degree of pain involved is greater than any migraine headache. They are usually brought on by distinctive changes or some other external stimulus.

The famous cluster headache has been known to be so severe that it has actually driven people to suicide which has earned the cluster headache the awful nickname of the suicide headache. The cluster headache is one of the worst kinds of headaches you can get and just like any other headache, very little is known about what causes such a headache and what may be the most effective treatment for people suffering from a famous cluster headache. The pain is sometimes located behind the eye or in the temple and can radiate to the neck or shoulders.

A famous cluster headache comes on unexpectedly and can be categorized by a sharp pain. Some people compare the pain like that of a spike being driven through the eye or scorching hot water being poured directly into the eye socket. The pain can last anywhere from 15 minutes to a several hours.

In extreme cases it can last for days which when you consider that many respectable medical journalists have called the pain the most intense pain known to man, it explains why it has earned the reputation of being called the suicide headache. It is reported that a famous cluster headache makes a migraine look like a vacation at SeaWorld just to give you any idea of the kind of pain we are talking about.

Episodes caused by a Cluster Headache

Anyone suffering from the famous cluster headache is immediately weakened and unable to do anything but cope with the extreme pain. Muscle tightness, sweating in the face area, restlessness and nausea are some symptoms reported during an episode.

People with these types of chronic migraine headaches are known to experience them at the same time of day for many days in a row and for almost the same amount of time during each episode. These cluster headaches are known to be so intense that they can wake a person from a sound sleep which has earned them the reputation of potentially becoming a very painful internal alarm clock for the sufferer.

Doctors that are familiar with the famous cluster headache are able to diagnose and treat this rare condition but other doctors have been known to mistakenly diagnose it as a migraine and give improper treatment. Over the counter pain medications such aspirin and ibuprofen have no effect on these severe headaches and only certain types of strong steroid like medications have any effect on relieving the pain. The cluster headache is a serious condition and if you experience a sharp recurring pain to the eye you should seek medical attention immediately.