Effective & Personalized Cluster Headache Treatment at Our Clinic

If you're experiencing recurring headaches, you may want to visit a cluster headache treatment clinic. The symptoms of these headaches are similar to migraines, but they tend to be less severe and occur more often. Preventive treatments can shorten cluster cycles and improve quality of life. These include calcium channel blockers, verapamil (Calan), lithium carbonate, divalproex sodium, melatonin or topiramate.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the most effective types of cluster headache treatment clinic. It works by restoring the flow of energy throughout your body, known as your meridians.

Acupuncture uses needles that are inserted into different points that are near nerves. These points are thought to cause your body to release hormones that trigger a response from your immune and circulation system, which may help alleviate your symptoms.

Some people report that acupuncture can reduce pain and headaches, while others say it helps them relax and feel better overall. Your acupuncturist can also give you recommendations on how to improve your health through diet, exercise and other practices.

Acupuncture can be helpful for cluster headaches, as well as migraines and tension-type headaches. Studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce the frequency, severity and duration of these symptoms. It is also safe and does not have the side effects of medications. However, it is important to remember that acupuncture can’t take the place of prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

Medications

Medications are an essential part of cluster headache treatment clinic. They help relieve pain and can also prevent attacks from occurring.

Corticosteroids can provide short-term relief of pain, but they should not last longer than a few days because of their risk of serious side effects, including diabetes, high blood pressure and cataracts. Injections can provide rapid relief as well.

Early research has shown that electrical stimulation of nerve fibers in the sphenopalatine area (deep between the nose and the skull) can reduce cluster headache pain. This procedure, known as occipital nerve stimulation or PRFR, is not used at many medical centers.

Anti-seizure drugs, which are used to treat epilepsy, may also be effective for preventing cluster headaches. But more studies are needed.

Physical therapy

Headaches are a common complaint. They range in intensity and frequency, but the most common type is a tension headache.

Depending on the cause of your headaches, you might need physical therapy to treat the pain and improve mobility. If your headaches are stress-related, a physical therapist can teach you relaxation techniques and help you learn how to avoid triggers.

Cluster headaches can disrupt your life for weeks or months at a time. They appear in cycles, with periods of intense pain followed by periods without headaches.

Treatment for cluster headaches focuses on relieving pain when attacks occur and on preventive strategies to reduce attack duration and frequency. Your doctor may prescribe a drug such as sumatriptan (Imitrex), which constricts blood vessels in your brain to relieve the severe pain of cluster headaches.

In addition to medications, physical therapy is an effective cluster headache treatment clinic. A physical therapist can help you with muscle strength and flexibility, improving your posture and reducing neck tension.

Surgery

If your cluster headaches don't respond to medications, your doctor may recommend surgery. Your surgeon implants a device in the sphenopalatine ganglion area (the area of the brain deep between your nose and skull) to stimulate nerve fibers that transmit pain signals.

This surgery has shown some promise for pain relief, but more research is needed. Another approach is occipital nerve stimulation, which involves implanting a small device over your occipital nerve and sending impulses via electrodes.

You can also take corticosteroids to suppress inflammation and reduce swelling in your head. Other medicines to stop an attack include triptan drugs such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Zomig) and intranasal formulations of these drugs.

The most recent breakthrough is a drug called galcanezumab, which blocks the hormone CGRP, one of the key ingredients in cluster headache. This reduces attacks by about 70%.