Applying Pressure to Ease an Attack

Paco writes: When the pain starts, my first reaction is to press on the center of the pain. In my case, the blood vessel just in front of my ear is where the pain centers. This is where the vessels become like tributaries of a river, but for a CH sufferer, they serve as conduits of pain. The vessels swell, stretching the nerves, causing the pain to radiate from the carotid artery up the neck to the temple junction area, then to the eye and down along the nose, up and fanning over the right side of the head to the top of the scalp.

With my left arm over the top of my head, my fingers and thumbs try to cover each vessel and shut off the pressure with back pressure. It doesn't work, as another hot spot will soon develop, and I don't have enough fingers or thumbs. When I do manage to find the magic spot, however, the pressure does seem to help. It's like trying to contain the pain. Eventually, I try rapping the side of my head with my knuckles, or massage the whole area roughly as a distraction.

If I don't have an abortive, like Imitrex or oxygen, and the pain level gets above a 7 or 8, I surrender to pacing, doing the dance, begging and crying. Not even God can help. At level ten, I'm on the floor, ready and wanting to die. Only the unexpected and quick cessation of pain saves me from certain self-destruction. I grin; my right eye still droops; my skull is bruised, but I am now one tired, but happy, dude.

Cessation of pain is life's greatest pleasure.

Last modified: 2001