Posted by Elizabeth (63.46.54.36) on July 14, 2001 at 16:03:58:
This will sound weird, but this worked like a charm! My husband has severe CHRONIC (like every day) clusters with intense pain, eye involvement, side of face, etc. I read a casual reference from this site to a "cold spot" in the temporal region that showed up on a "thermal scan". I figured, why not, he can't be in any more pain. The next day he had his usual intense pain and this is what I did. I rested his head against a pillow and placed my palm and the heel of my hand against his forehead, above the affected eye. I then did a friction rub, which was rubbing as hard as I could back and forth vertically, staying in the same spot. This produced warmth in my palm and he felt the heat on the spot. I kept this up for a few minutes until he felt a great reduction in pain. It was like the sun coming out! He sat up, was able to open his eyes and the pain was GONE, leaving a residual ache which was tolerable. I wanted to post this for everyone because any relief from the pain I watch him go through is better. I don't know if it would be as successful if the sufferer tried to do it himself, I don't think the pressure is the same. I was able to apply pressure and friction because I was leaning into him. I hope this helps anyone suffering, please let me know. My husband has been on meds like Imitrex, Naprosyn, Predisone, Lithium, etc, tried oxygyn, which worked for a while, and nothing has been as immediate as this. I don't know the long term ramifications of this but it is definitely worth a a try. Don't rub the eye, just on the forehead. He still took the pain meds but the savagery was diminished to an ache! Hope this helps, good luck, wishing us all PF days.