Cluster Headache

Cluster Headache is a condition that negatively affects quality of life. Prolonged pain periods and shorter pain-free periods can make life unbearable. With an effective cluster headache treatment, headache attacks can be made shorter and less severe. Therefore, people with cluster headache should consult a doctor and apply both acute and preventive treatments without interruption. In Migraine Doctor Clinic, special solution injections are made for the treatment of cluster headache. Specialist Dr. Ahmet Dalmızrak takes care of the patients before and during the treatment process. Dr. Ahmet Dalmızrak takes care of the patients.

What is Cluster Headache?

Although cluster headache is rare, it is one of the most painful types of headache. The pain can be so severe that it can sometimes be very difficult for the patient to endure this pain. Cluster-type headache is a pain that develops only unilaterally around the eyes and does not occur for months, although it recurs frequently in some periods. These clustertype pains, which can sometimes start 1-2 hours after falling asleep at night, are very severe pains that start on the forehead or eye and spread towards the cheek. During the pain, symptoms such as tearing and reddening of the eyes and droopy eyelids may be observed. Cluster-type headaches last between half an hour and 1 hour after they occur, but they recur in the following hours. Such periodic attacks continue at regular intervals during the day and in the following weeks. The intensity of the pain can sometimes become too much to bear. Cluster headaches can be confused with migraine headaches. Unlike migraine sufferers who want to lie down in dark and quiet environments during the pain, people with cluster headaches prefer to stay standing because cluster headaches are stronger when lying down. Cluster-type headaches are so called because the pain clusters over a certain period of time. Cluster headaches often occur in men. Periods of pain can last from one month to four months, or there may be gaps of months or even years between cluster periods. While migraine or tension headaches can be triggered by stress or hormonal changes, cluster headaches are not linked to any trigger.

Symptoms of Cluster Headache

Cluster headache starts suddenly. Unlike migraine, there are no warning symptoms such as nausea before the pain.

Symptoms of cluster headache can be listed as follows:

  • Pain around or behind the eyes (pain can also spread to the neck and face)
  • Unilateral pain
  • Restlessness, insomnia
  • Excessive lacrimation
  • Redness, swelling of the eye on the sore side
  • Runny or stuffy nose on the sore side
  • Sweating of the forehead and face on the sore side
  • Pallor or redness of the face
  • Drooping of the eyelid on the affected side.

People with cluster headache may sway backwards and forwards when sitting or walking. Some people with cluster headache may experience light sensitivity as in migraine. This sensitivity usually occurs in one eye.

Cluster Headache Treatment Solution Injections

Cluster headache treatment solution injections are a solution prepared with a mixture of medicines and is a treatment applied with small needle injections. The treatment does not contain any substances that may be harmful to the body. Although it does not have any side effects, only swelling develops at the injection sites and this completely disappears within a few days. There is no trace of the treatment on the body. Cluster headache treatment solution injections are made with thin and small needle injections into different parts of the body. Patients who are afraid of needles or do not want to feel pain during the procedure are given Sedation Anesthesia upon request and it is aimed to make the patient feel the least pain. We usually apply sedation anesthesia to all of our patients during the procedure. An average of 3-4 sessions of solution injection is recommended for Headache Treatment. After 3 sessions of treatment with 1 month intervals, we recommend 1 more session of treatment 4-6 months after the end of the treatment.