Cluster or Migraine: What’s the Difference?
Spending a bit of time on Twitter lately, I’ve noticed that there still seems to be quite a bit of confusion over what migraine is, as opposed to what cluster is.
Sometimes in the past the two have been used interchangeably. Or sometimes, just based on imprecise information. For example, sometimes people think of any bad headache as a "migraine headache", or think of certain types of pain as a "cluster headache".
In reality, these two are very different, and require different types of treatment. Let’s take a quick look at cluster and migraine, and see if we can clear up a few misconceptions.
Similar
Different
Very Different
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Similar
Different
Very Different
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You’ll see right away that I used terms like "usually" and "typically" a lot, and I probably could have used them more. There is a lot of variation from person to person, so we’re just hitting on some of the more common, typical traits of each. But just a reminder – either of these can include pain that’s not just on one side, sometimes there is no pain in migraine, sometimes it’s not throbbing pain, etc.
Key differences
You can see highlighted some of the key differences between migraine and cluster. Cluster headaches come on faster and leave quicker than migraine attacks. It’s unusual for a migraine attack to last less than 4 hours, and unusual for a cluster attack to last more than 3 hours.
Another key difference – migraine patients tend to avoid light and movement. They’ll often go lie down in a dark room.
That’s the last thing a cluster patient wants to do – good luck getting them to lie down! They become restless and may rock or pace.
But the last highlighted item is especially key. Clusters get their name not from where the pain is or what it feels like, but from the cycles of pain.
You’re not going to get just one cluster headache. You’ll get several in a series – maybe one a day, or several a day, regularly. This can go on for weeks and even months, but then completely disappear for months or years.
Sad to say, there are also chronic cluster headache sufferers who have no periods of remission (as this recent news story on cluster headache illustrates).
Hopefully that clears up some misconceptions, especially regarding cluster. Cluster is an incredibly painful condition. There is treatment for cluster, but the treatment has had limited success in many people. Much more research needs to be done to fight what has been rightly called the suicide headache.
The Taxman Knocketh
15 April 2009 @ 5:06 pm
[…] publishers that are certain to help out on a day like today? Headache and Migraine News posts about the differences between a cluster and a real migraine, The Happiness Project is an entire blog devoted to posting ways of being happier, and if all else […]
2 June 2011 @ 2:41 am
Im pretty new to cluster but have had migraines all my life. They are definitely different. Most of the info that is available on cluster headaches is just confusing. It took a lot of digging for me to finally see that yes I do have both. My clusters go for months and usually involve stabbing pain in my right eye and blurred vision. Its very little like a migraine, however I have had both at the same time and that really sucks. Migraine and can’t stand light or noise but can’t sit still either.
3 November 2013 @ 4:50 am
during my cycle(talking about the same cycle) sometimes I have an attack with the cluster characteristics and sometimes it’s with migrain characteristics. I mean dropping eye, nose runnig but the one nostril closed,watery eye..sometimes last 30 min. sometimes I have pain the whole day. sometimes I got nausea,sometimes I want to lie down and others I want to walk around. sometimes excersice fucks me up sometimes it makes me better..either I have a combination of both migrains and cluster or it’s the same thing and the symptoms depend from the person..
21 September 2016 @ 8:41 pm
I have had migrains since I can remember. I have had tests and neck surgery for ruptured discs and injections..etc…. the only relief I have ever gotten is from a prescription medication called Fiorinal. Not fioricett! (Which may help you though) I need Fiorinal. So, hope you can try this and it help you.
1 November 2014 @ 3:39 am
I have spondylitis in my neck and a neck injury years ago. I wake up with a headache every day. They are on one temple and mostly are associated with nausea, light and noise and I have to lay down in a dark place. My head throbs and sometimes last several days with little relief. I don’t take my migraine medicine every day since I don’t want rebound headaches. I’ve tried Topamax which make my headaches worse. I’ve had epidural injections in my neck which haven’t worked and an ablation which only lasted 6 weeks. The headaches are debilitating and greatly disrupt my life. They totally suck. I’m ready for surgery which may or may not make it much better. I’m at the point now where I’m willing to take the chance cuz conservative methods ARE NOT working!
18 May 2015 @ 8:33 pm
I have had cluster headache for three weeks straight on the left side of my head. I can’t stand noise or lights. I throw up. Motrin and Tylenol don’t help. I have to take tramadol everyday so all I do is sleep. But can’t take the pain. Makes me dizzy and headaches are marketing me feel confused an like my mind is in a fog. This sucks!
27 May 2015 @ 3:41 pm
Sunday I suddenly had what I call an explosion in the middle of my brain that hit the top of my scull and melted down all over on the inside excruciating pain my vision got all messed up my son said that my eyes did weird things what happened next was after 20 or 30 minutes my body started twitching involuntarily all over I couldn’t remember people’s names people I’ve known almost all my life including my son I just got their names confused with other people’s names then I started seeing things what is this aneurysm stroke can anybody help me? pain in my head eventually stopped about by the next day it was gone but the twitching continued it’s gone now I don’t knowit’s very hard to walk around because I lose my breath quickly I get agitated very quickly
5 September 2016 @ 6:42 am
Hi. Just saw your post, have you been diagnosed with both migraine and cluster headaches? I’ve suffered migraines from a young age and feel symptoms similar to yours.. Can you get cluster and migraine symptoms together? Advice greatly appreciated from one another perspective.
Hope your not suffering these anymore!
4 November 2016 @ 1:22 pm
I don’t know much about cluster headaches, but if they’re really worse than the worst migraines I’ve ever had, then God be with yall that have them.
I really think the pain threshold for migraines should be “moderate to very severe.” I’ve had them since I was in elementary school and I’m almost 30 now. They come in bouts of three to six back to back every month, lasting about a day each. Sometimes they’ll happen weekly. Rarely I’ll have one that’s not that bad, I’ll have the aura and then nothing happens (although I HATE the auras… they make me feel like my mind is literally splitting). But the majority of them are absolutely crushing. I’d be wrapped in a blanket on my bed with the lights off, cradling my head. They’re bad enough to make me whimper and moan in agony. And then there’s the vomiting that takes the pain to hellish depths. Imagine a pain that’s 15/10, and then multiply it several times because of all the sudden pressure in your head induced by vomiting. And then imagine that same otherworldly pain lasting for over 24 hours. No mercy.
I’m feeling dizzy just thinking about this. I really hope this doesn’t trigger one for me… Oh god, why did I come to this page?
7 April 2017 @ 6:32 pm
I got diagnosed after about 20 years with cluster headaches. It makes me angry to think how little some doctors know, and how I need to rely on them. Sad face!
22 April 2018 @ 12:01 pm
I have suffered headaches every day since Dec 2015, was eventually diagnosied with SUNCT syndrome, last October, drs and a&e originally thought I had cluster headaches. My pain is off the rictar scale, lasts up to ten minutes at a times, with short lighting type flashes randomly throughout the day, my triggers seem to be bright lights, flashing lights, sunshine, and wind, rain.
I am female in my 50s want to know if anyone else has same syndrome
16 December 2019 @ 10:13 pm
I have gotten cluster migraines for over 40 years. 2 to 3 a year. They come on gradual and move around my head until they settle in one place. It feels like someone is jabbing a cattle prod in my brain then turn off, on, off,on They come on like labor pains that gradually intensify in pain and duration until they will last 15 to 45 seconds of escrutiating pain then stop for 3 to five seconds and back to the horrible debilitating pain for 15 to 45 seconds. They usually last 3 to five days. First couple days I get random pains , maybe 6 or so a day and progressivivly increase like labor pains until my head is in full blown transition. Nothing helps them, nothing hurts them. They just have to run their course. They enrage me and when I first feel one coming on it frightens me terribly because I know what lies in store for me. I feel like one day I will get one and when it is over I will be completely insane. They are horrible!
21 December 2019 @ 12:43 pm
Hi Patti.
Unfortunately, I can identify with you. I have had cluster migraines for fifty plus years. My saving grace has been botox injections every 3 months, but for the past two times they have had limited success. This frightens me.
Patti have you tried any of the new agents advertised on TV? One is an injection that can be taken monthly. I can not recall the name but the neurologist I see suggests others have tried it.
My other question. Do you feel, clueless after the pain episodes are over? I teach at a College, and after a couple of down days, I was a real “space” acting person trying to teach Mathematics.
I wish you a happy Holiday free of pain.
Sincerely.
Bob Orser
rorser54@yahoo.com