A woman is lying in bed with her hands on her temple.

 

Cluster Headache treatment

Body Part:
Head

Equipment:
None

Level:
Beginner

Roland Liebscher-Bracht in a white shirt is kindly smiling.

Roland Liebscher-Bracht

Germany’s trusted pain specialist

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Roland & Petra

THE PAIN SPECIALISTS

Over 30 years of research and hands-on experience make the Liebscher & Bracht pain therapy what it is today: an outstanding approach to naturally treating pain conditions. Making use of the mechanics of the body, it offers people the chance to free themselves of their discomfort by using unique and incredibly useful techniques. All this happens without having to rely on medication or operations.

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Cluster Headaches: Treatment, Duration, Symptoms, and Triggers 

Of the more than 150 different types of headaches that have been defined, cluster headaches are the most painful. They are also the rarest, affecting one in 1,000 people. Cluster headaches occur on one side of the head1) causing excruciating pain around or behind the eye. 

How are cluster headaches treated? 

  • Sumatriptan injections
  • Zolmitriptan nasal spray
  • Galcanezumab injections2)
  • Steroid injections

In addition to drug treatments, high-flow oxygen inhalation has proven to be an effective cluster headache treatment. The treatment is administered at the beginning of a cluster headache attack. Patients wear a face mask that delivers 100% oxygen at a rate of 12 litres per minute for 15 minutes.3)

The cluster period & duration of cluster headaches.

Cluster headaches occur in cycles which can last from weeks to months. Cluster periods may be seasonal, beginning and ending around the same time.

There are two types of cluster headaches: episodic and chronic. Episodic cluster headaches, (most common) occurs over weeks or months or up to a year, followed by a period of remission. Pain-free periods can last from a few months to a year before the headaches begin again. Chronic cluster headaches lasts for longer than a year.

How long does it take for a cluster headache to go away?

A cluster headache can last from 15 to 180 minutes.4) Cluster headache attacks occur anywhere from once every other day up to eight times a day, usually striking at the same time each day. Some people get cluster headaches one or two hours after falling asleep, waking up from intense pain.

What are the symptoms of a cluster headache?

Cluster headaches strike quickly, reaching peak intensity within minutes. Symptoms include:

  • Excruciating pain around or behind one eye. Cluster headache pain has been described as stabbing or piercing.
  • A stuffy or runny nose.
  • Excessive tearing.
  • Sweating on the face or forehead.
  • The eye on the affected side of the head is red, swollen, or droops.
  • Restlessness: a sufferer may pace or sit in a chair and rock back and forth.

What are cluster headache triggers?

Avoiding triggers during a cycle can help prevent cluster headaches. Triggers include:

  • Alcohol.
  • Cigarette smoke.
  • Medications that contain nitroglycerine.
  • Foods that are high in nitrates (cold cuts, ham, sausages).
  • Travelling to a high altitude.

Are cluster headaches dangerous?

Cluster headaches are not life-threatening. However, in some cases, headaches can be a sign of a serious medical condition. If you’ve recently begun experiencing cluster headaches, scheduling a visit with your doctor is important. 

Mild migraine symptoms between attacks and muscle tension.

Almost half of cluster headache sufferers who participated in a recent study complained of persistent, mild migraine symptoms occurring between cluster headaches. 5)  The headache pain may be caused by the increased muscle tension in the neck and shoulders that occurs during a cluster headache attack. Muscle and fascial tension can be compounded (leaving you vulnerable to headaches) if you lead a sedentary lifestyle or if most of your daily movement is unilateral.

Stretching the muscles and fascia in the neck and shoulders can reduce the tension that has built up and may help relieve pain.

Fight Pain with Information.

Roland Liebscher-Bracht is performing a pain-free exercise.

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An icon with a scale, demonstrating the pain level of a person  Your Personal Pain Scale

While you are exercising, pay attention to your personal pain scale. This is your body's gauge that measures the intensity at which you exercise from 1 to 10. One would be like pushing your finger into your forehead. You'd feel a little pressure, but that's it. You've gone above a 10 if your breathing becomes irregular or you feel yourself tense up. For each exercise, aim for an intensity between 8 and 9. If you find that you are experiencing pain that's higher than 9, reduce the intensity so you can continue exercising without pain.
A woman is pulling her head to the left with her left hand while Roland Liebsher-Bracht looks on.

Exercise 1: Angled Neck Stretch

    • Sit up straight in a chair.
    • Make a fist with your left hand and bring it to your left shoulder.
    • Pull your fist down forcefully.
    • Turn your head 45° to the left.
    • Place your right hand on top of your head and pull down to the right at an angle. You should be pulling in the direction of your elbow. Pull your chin down.
    • You’ll feel a stretch along the left side of your neck.
    • Intensify the stretch by pulling your left shoulder down and your head further to the right.
    • Hold for 1 minute.
    • Slowly release your hands and come out of the position.
    • Repeat on the other side of your head.
    A woman is sitting in a chair pulling her head forward with both hands while Roland Liebscher-Bracht looks on.

    Exercise 2: Cervical Spine Stretch

    • Place both hands on the crown of your head.
    • Keeping your back straight, pull your head down. You’ll feel a stretch along your cervical spine (the back of your neck).
    • On each exhale, intensify the stretch by pulling your head further down.
    • Hold for 1 minute.
    • Release your hands, lift your head and finish.
    A woman is pushing her forehead back stretching the front of her neck.

    Exercise 3: Front of the Neck Stretch

    • Keeping your back straight, place one hand on your forehead.
    • Push your head back.
    • On each exhale, push your head further back. 
    • Hold for 1 minute.
    • Release your hand, slowly bring your head back up and finish.
    A woman is pulling her head to the right with her right hand while Roland Liebscher-Bracht looks on.

    Exercise 4: Side of the Neck Stretch

    • Make a fist with your right hand and bring it to your right shoulder. Pull your fist and shoulder down forcefully.
    • Place your left hand above your right ear and pull your head to the left.
    • You’ll feel a stretch along the right side of your neck.
    • Increase the intensity and hold for 1 minute.
    • Release your hand and repeat on the other side.

    Sources & Studies

    • ↑1 Hoffmann, J., & May, A. (2018). Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of cluster headache. The Lancet. Neurology, 17(1), 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30405-2.
    • ↑2 Suri, H., & Ailani, J. (2021). Cluster Headache: A Review and Update in Treatment. Current neurology and neuroscience reports, 21(7), 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-021-01114-1.
    • ↑3 Cohen, A. S., Burns, B., & Goadsby, P. J. (2009). High-flow oxygen for treatment of cluster headache: a randomized trial. JAMA, 302(22), 2451–2457. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1855.
    • ↑4 May, A., Schwedt, T. J., Magis, D., Pozo-Rosich, P., Evers, S., & Wang, S. J. (2018). Cluster headache. Nature reviews. Disease primers, 4, 18006. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2018.6.
    • ↑5 Marmura, M. J., Pello, S. J., & Young, W. B. (2010). Interictal pain in cluster headache. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache, 30(12), 1531–1534. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102410372423.

    The Best Exercises and Tips Against Headaches

    Download our FREE PDF guide featuring our 6 most effective exercises for preventing and getting rid of headaches & migraines. 

    A preview of the Liebscher & Bracht's guide against headachs and migraines with the front page on the left side.
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