CH Cluster Headaches or CPH Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania??

[blackwida]

Hi
I've been on this site a while now, starting with posting my Qs in Eye Pain and so on.

Roll a few weeks on, and after seeing a Neurologist now, I am not sure if I've got Cluster Headaches or CPH Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania.  

My neuro gave me Indometacin to take - after googling it, it is the usual choice of drug for CPH.
Ironically my appointment was only 5 days ago with the neuro and all my pain had been in my right eye, and nowhere else, but after I got home that afternoon, my pain shifted to the left side, working its way to my cheek, jaw and neck.

Today 5 days in with Indometacin and my usual pain drugs (Gabapentin, Nortriptyline - told to keep on these as well), it doesn't appear to be working.  It is bad in my left side, unable to ignore it but when the pain is in my right eye, it is to the point of hell!

I also suffer with chronic iritis to boot, which doesn't help - the right eye being the worst affected also.

Does anyone on here have any advice or treatment that could work?

I also think I should contact my neuro again to let her know that it isn't working, but how long should I give the Indometacin a trial period before ringing her.  My next usual appointment is not due for another 6 months and I cannot wait that long.

This pain has so far rendered me unable to work and interferred so much with my everyday life I just want it to stop.

Look forward so much to any replies and help.
Best wishes
Maria
PS all other related eye pain disease has been ruled out with an MRI, Ultrasound Scans, Blood Tests and even more eye tests, so I know it's some form of CH (lesions also present on my MRI)

[ohiram]

paroxysmal hemicrania differs from migraine and can be easily treated proactively with a calcium channel blacker.  If indomethicin works, that is the test that you have CPH or EPH and not classic migraine.  A bout of attacks can be aborted with a short term of prednisone.

Hiram

[blackwida]

PS, forgot to mention, this pain has been in my right eye for nearly 9 months!!

So as you can imagine it's been a long ride to even figure out it's not eye related at all but something to do with Headaches.

Cheers Maria