John I would like to add that after months of Melatonin use, Indomethacin use was not necessary anymore. Just Melatonin, about 3 mg daily as immediate release formulation, suffices to manage my HC.
John For me Indomethacin worked great for some years, but then it lost effectiveness. Using Melatonin for a few months now, together with Indometacin. This resulted in a huge improvement (on average 90% pain reduction). Time will tell, but I think this combination is worth trying. In case of severe outburst at night Tramadol helped me out several times. Use this drug as last escape. Fortunately I can tolerate all these drugs, though using low dose Omeprazol to prevent side effects of Indomethacin on stomach and intestines.
Annearchist Re: Melatonin — I find melatonin really helpful too. I started taking it only at night to help me sleep but now I take it during the day as well. Anne
Annearchist Re: Ice on forehead / neck — Ice makes the pain WORSE.
Annearchist Re: Indomethacin — I used to take 50mg 3xof indomethacin daily but now my stomach bleeds. I am getting injections of sensorcaine and steroids and they work really well. I take topiramate and verapamil and they tone down the pain between injections.
Re: T1 Trapezius Nerve — Pain starts in the left Trapezious Nerve up the back side of neck along with sudden preassure behind left eye. Pain then hits sharply across the left front of the head across to the left temple. Sometimes I have numbness on the left side of my face and slight sorness in the left trigeminal nerve in my cheek.
Re: Swelling of eye on affected side — i hace been diagonsed with ht ,but it only affects my eye,as in the pain ,but i have swelling when the pain is bad,i would like to no what could help
cbeale Re: Toxic working conditions — I started having this problem shortly after I started working in an old building. It's a manufacturing facility and very dirty. I work in a very nice office but am out on the floor frequently.
cbeale Re: Acupuncture — Accupuncture helped with the pain but didn't help with my sound sensitivity. It was also expensive and not covered with insurance.
cbeale Re: Indomethacin — I'm taking Indomethacin and have had some relief with the sound sensitivity in my ear. I've been also taking Gabapanten (2700mg per day). That helps the pain.
nick Re: Indomethacin — complete relief at 225 mg/day but doc says I won't be able to maintain this dosage
bybyemmy Re: Toxic working conditions — you know i'd love to know!! i've never been sick in my life!! i work now in what used to be an old factoy-very old-converted into medical offices-the lady in the office next to me as had very stange illnesses, i have had lung nodules, liver cysts, a breast lump, all since i came here 2 years ago. girl in the office across from just started with these headaches 6 months ago. i am now being seen at John Hopkins.
bybyemmy Re: Triptans — No help at all-worse tast in my mouth ever from a med-tastes like you drank a fish bowl-as i would imagine it to taste...lol!
bybyemmy Re: Topamax — keeps my typical migranes at bay-which the docs say is important so they can tell the difference between these one sided headaches vs. the migranes that i have on occasion 9which are quite different)
bybyemmy Re: Indomethacin — just started 4 days agao and (knock on wood) first time and many drug and 18 doctors and 16 months later i feel hope and a bit of change in my pain level...
Skip46 Re: Melatonin — I have been using melatonin for two months with significant improvement. Presently I use 3mg-CR every four hours. At night I take 6mg-CR before sleep. I often must take another fast acting dose after about five hours to get a full nights sleep. Other than feeling sleepy and yawning I find my cognitive and executive functions largely in tact.
Skip46 Re: Indomethacin — Moderate relief realized with 75mg-SR two time per day (150mg/ day). Significant relief with 75mg-SR three times per day (225mg / day). Watch for gastric distress including GI bleeds.
winnyninnypoopoo Re: Indomethacin — Helped a great deal, but gave me pancreatitis. Unable to continue, no other meds helped a great deal, now have an occipital stimulator.
jes Re: Occipital Nerve Stimulation — I've only had the trial occipital nerve stimulator implanted thus far... but now am waiting on the pernament implant... it worked!!! Very well too!! I can't wait for the pernament implant.
sgtmajorpain Re: T1 Trapezius Nerve — According to research, the nerve trigger point 3/4 up the right-hand (or left-hand) side of the neck is responsible for the EXACT pattern of pain that I experience... Right cheek muscle, behind eye, above right ear, in a ring from the front to upper back right of head, and down the right muscle of the neck.
sgtmajorpain Re: Temporal Lesion — In my research I found that perhaps rarely, a lesion of a vascular (blood vessel?) in sort of the temporal area, resulted in some HC symptoms, but I've had MRI's and everything and they didn't say what causes HC for me.
sgtmajorpain Re: Ibuprofen — Best results of all OTC medicines. Any NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory) drug appears to be fine. But Ibuprofen was better for me than any Naproxen Sodium (which I have swelling of the eyes with), or Aspirin. Non-NSAIDs like Acetominaphen don't do hardly anything at all.
sgtmajorpain Re: Diclofenac — All anti-inflammator meds have proven effective (for me). Diclofenac was fairly effective. Indomethacin is said to be the most effective (although also one of the most dangerous). I'm actually taking that now, but it hasn't taken effect yet (and I've been taking it for over a week at gradually increasing doses). So, diclofenac so far was the best (better than Ibuprofen).
sgtmajorpain Re: Neck or head trauma — At the time the HC originated, I was sleeping in an under-sized couch for several months and had my neck at an awkward angle, or compressed in the length of couch, or pressed in a position that cut off flow on the right-hand side.
sgtmajorpain Re: Toxic working conditions — At the time the HC suddenly originated, I was working in an old building that had a sort of asbestos-like atmosphere. Not sure if that was the cause.
sgtmajorpain Re: Headache on one side all day long — This pain occurred suddenly on the right cheek muscle area 6 1/2 years ago and felt midly uncomfortable, but has broadened to the whole right head area, still in the original location, but now in the upper right head, front, behind eye, above teeth, back of right, around outer ear, and in cheek muscle. Constant 24/7... Felt in outside of head, not in brain. Responds well to anti-inflamatory medicin like ibuprofen or diclofenac. Just starting indomethacin currently.
jes Re: Occipital Nerve Block (Steroid) — Indomethacin is a amazing if you can tolerate it.
jes Re: Headache on one side all day long — The bad thing with this type of headache is that it never goes away... it's 24/7. Also the only treatment that really, really works is indomethacin and some people (like me) are unable to tolerate the indo. I'm currently looking into having an Occipital Nerve Stimulator put in.
John
I would like to add that after months of Melatonin use, Indomethacin use was not necessary anymore. Just Melatonin, about 3 mg daily as immediate release formulation, suffices to manage my HC.
John
For me Indomethacin worked great for some years, but then it lost effectiveness. Using Melatonin for a few months now, together with Indometacin. This resulted in a huge improvement (on average 90% pain reduction). Time will tell, but I think this combination is worth trying.
In case of severe outburst at night Tramadol helped me out several times. Use this drug as last escape. Fortunately I can tolerate all these drugs, though using low dose Omeprazol to prevent side effects of Indomethacin on stomach and intestines.
Annearchist
Re: Melatonin — I find melatonin really helpful too. I started taking it only at night to help me sleep but now I take it during the day as well. Anne
Annearchist
Re: Ice on forehead / neck — Ice makes the pain WORSE.
Annearchist
Re: Indomethacin — I used to take 50mg 3xof indomethacin daily but now my stomach bleeds. I am getting injections of sensorcaine and steroids and they work really well. I take topiramate and verapamil and they tone down the pain between injections.
Re: T1 Trapezius Nerve — Pain starts in the left Trapezious Nerve up the back side of neck along with sudden preassure behind left eye. Pain then hits sharply across the left front of the head across to the left temple. Sometimes I have numbness on the left side of my face and slight sorness in the left trigeminal nerve in my cheek.
Re: Swelling of eye on affected side — i hace been diagonsed with ht ,but it only affects my eye,as in the pain ,but i have swelling when the pain is bad,i would like to no what could help
cbeale
Re: Toxic working conditions — I started having this problem shortly after I started working in an old building. It's a manufacturing facility and very dirty. I work in a very nice office but am out on the floor frequently.
cbeale
Re: Acupuncture — Accupuncture helped with the pain but didn't help with my sound sensitivity. It was also expensive and not covered with insurance.
cbeale
Re: Indomethacin — I'm taking Indomethacin and have had some relief with the sound sensitivity in my ear. I've been also taking Gabapanten (2700mg per day). That helps the pain.
nick
Re: Indomethacin — complete relief at 225 mg/day but doc says I won't be able to maintain this dosage
bybyemmy
Re: Toxic working conditions — you know i'd love to know!! i've never been sick in my life!! i work now in what used to be an old factoy-very old-converted into medical offices-the lady in the office next to me as had very stange illnesses, i have had lung nodules, liver cysts, a breast lump, all since i came here 2 years ago. girl in the office across from just started with these headaches 6 months ago. i am now being seen at John Hopkins.
bybyemmy
Re: Triptans — No help at all-worse tast in my mouth ever from a med-tastes like you drank a fish bowl-as i would imagine it to taste...lol!
bybyemmy
Re: Topamax — keeps my typical migranes at bay-which the docs say is important so they can tell the difference between these one sided headaches vs. the migranes that i have on occasion 9which are quite different)
bybyemmy
Re: Indomethacin — just started 4 days agao and (knock on wood) first time and many drug and 18 doctors and 16 months later i feel hope and a bit of change in my pain level...
Skip46
Re: Melatonin — I have been using melatonin for two months with significant improvement. Presently I use 3mg-CR every four hours. At night I take 6mg-CR before sleep. I often must take another fast acting dose after about five hours to get a full nights sleep. Other than feeling sleepy and yawning I find my cognitive and executive functions largely in tact.
Skip46
Re: Indomethacin — Moderate relief realized with 75mg-SR two time per day (150mg/ day). Significant relief with 75mg-SR three times per day (225mg / day). Watch for gastric distress including GI bleeds.
winnyninnypoopoo
Re: Indomethacin — Helped a great deal, but gave me pancreatitis. Unable to continue, no other meds helped a great deal, now have an occipital stimulator.
winnyninnypoopoo
Re: Occipital Nerve Stimulation — Permanent Implant - very effective.
jes
Re: Occipital Nerve Stimulation — I've only had the trial occipital nerve stimulator implanted thus far... but now am waiting on the pernament implant... it worked!!! Very well too!! I can't wait for the pernament implant.
sgtmajorpain
Re: T1 Trapezius Nerve — According to research, the nerve trigger point 3/4 up the right-hand (or left-hand) side of the neck is responsible for the EXACT pattern of pain that I experience... Right cheek muscle, behind eye, above right ear, in a ring from the front to upper back right of head, and down the right muscle of the neck.
sgtmajorpain
Re: Temporal Lesion — In my research I found that perhaps rarely, a lesion of a vascular (blood vessel?) in sort of the temporal area, resulted in some HC symptoms, but I've had MRI's and everything and they didn't say what causes HC for me.
sgtmajorpain
Re: Ibuprofen — Best results of all OTC medicines. Any NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory) drug appears to be fine. But Ibuprofen was better for me than any Naproxen Sodium (which I have swelling of the eyes with), or Aspirin. Non-NSAIDs like Acetominaphen don't do hardly anything at all.
sgtmajorpain
Re: Diclofenac — All anti-inflammator meds have proven effective (for me). Diclofenac was fairly effective. Indomethacin is said to be the most effective (although also one of the most dangerous). I'm actually taking that now, but it hasn't taken effect yet (and I've been taking it for over a week at gradually increasing doses). So, diclofenac so far was the best (better than Ibuprofen).
sgtmajorpain
Re: Neck or head trauma — At the time the HC originated, I was sleeping in an under-sized couch for several months and had my neck at an awkward angle, or compressed in the length of couch, or pressed in a position that cut off flow on the right-hand side.
sgtmajorpain
Re: Toxic working conditions — At the time the HC suddenly originated, I was working in an old building that had a sort of asbestos-like atmosphere. Not sure if that was the cause.
sgtmajorpain
Re: Headache on one side all day long — This pain occurred suddenly on the right cheek muscle area 6 1/2 years ago and felt midly uncomfortable, but has broadened to the whole right head area, still in the original location, but now in the upper right head, front, behind eye, above teeth, back of right, around outer ear, and in cheek muscle. Constant 24/7... Felt in outside of head, not in brain. Responds well to anti-inflamatory medicin like ibuprofen or diclofenac. Just starting indomethacin currently.
jes
Re: Occipital Nerve Block (Steroid) — Indomethacin is a amazing if you can tolerate it.
jes
Re: Headache on one side all day long — The bad thing with this type of headache is that it never goes away... it's 24/7. Also the only treatment that really, really works is indomethacin and some people (like me) are unable to tolerate the indo. I'm currently looking into having an Occipital Nerve Stimulator put in.