Pain Beyond Reason Photo Gallery by pjbgravely at pbase.com

Pain Beyond Reason

    I suffer from Cluster Headaches ( CH ), also known as the Suicide headache, The pain ( called the beast by sufferers ) is rated as "the worst pain known to man".It is called Cluster Headaches, because the attacks come in clusters, the same time everyday, like clockwork. Although men are the typical sufferers, women are also afflicted. There are different types of CH too. Episodics usually have a cycle of weeks to months of many attacks and then go through a remission of months to years until the cycle returns. Chronics suffer daily attacks year round with no remission. The pain typically lasts 1/2 to 3 hours, and sufferer must pace, rock, (known as the dance) and even bang their head to receive a slight reduction in symptoms. The abortives used the most are 100% oxygen at a high rate and Imitrex injections. Narcotics or other pain relievers are generally not effective. Many sufferers are refused proper treatment by Doctors and insurance companies.

   Please click on the thumbnails to read a description of how the photo relates to CH.

   Many thanks to Zaira for the drawings and Jill for the inspiration

Links-
   If you want to know more about Clusterheadaches, O.U.C.H. is a great resource.
   If you have Clusterheadaches or are a supporter then CH.com is a great resource.

   All photo editing was done using the GIMP

Red hot poker	Thorns
nascita (Birth)	urlo (I yell)
Face of pain	Suicide
Weeks pass by	Time
Little sign of life	Imitrex

comment |

June		15-Apr-2006 00:16
Thanx Paul, you have beautifully captured the very essence of living with CH. The pain, loneliness, isolation and depression. The low self - esteem, guilt and loss of what once was. Inspiring pics and thoughts

Guest		19-Oct-2005 17:51
Some really good pics, Paul. I especially like the one of the tree with almost no green leaves in the middle of a lush green landscape. That really hit home. PF wishes Brian

Rextangle		13-Oct-2005 01:08
Powerful pics... can really relate to all of them. Headbutting the Rhino day after day after day is no easy task on anyone's life

Frank_W		30-Mar-2005 14:39
The descent into Hell. Blessings of pain-free days and nights to you. Thank you for this gallery and for the thought-provoking captions. Nice work! -Frank

Gator		30-Mar-2005 06:42
Being Chronic myself, I can definitely relate to all the pics and what they mean to you. Thorns. I like that description of those who will dole out treatment advice while refusing to learn about the disease. Hang in there, bro. We'll all come out on the other side together.

Lizzie		05-Nov-2004 01:51
Thanks Paul for your compelling work depicting CH through your own eyes. I'm sure it speaks for many of us. The captions under each of the pictures deserve deep reading and reflection over the true thoughts and feelings of someone who battles with CH day in and day out. Someday we'll all beat this damn beast together...or else we really WILL form a CH commune with all the O2, trex, etc we can muster....on a porch of course! Luv ya, Lizzie :)

pjbgravely		25-Oct-2004 03:24
Thanks all for your great comments, I am glad this gallery was able to touch so many. Paul

Guest		24-Oct-2004 12:56
A touching and insightful glimpse into a debilitating and arresting chronic condition. I hope that you can have pain-free days and nights.

cootie		23-Oct-2004 21:27
Very nice job Paul !!!!! And all that helped you too I mite add. This affliction is a LIVEING HELL which I have gotten to know as a supporter looking into the eyes of death warmed over. Thanks Paul and will save this site to use to let 'IT' explain to others what you all go thru. No one really understands unless they have 'been there....seen it or done it' ! Very well done my friend !!! Pam

Melissa		22-Oct-2004 23:32
This touches on so much that I understand and know, that it saddens me others have to suffer so with clusters. Thank you for sharing it with us all!....mel

Ree		22-Oct-2004 23:19
To look at CH from your eyes is very compelling... Until it ends, Ree

John D		22-Oct-2004 22:00
very cool Paul

Jill		21-Oct-2004 00:23
Great job, Paul!! The pictures and the descriptions are so unbelievably real - the pictures, in great effect, depicting what the mind says. And so many of what you wrote as captions, if not all of them, is exactly what I say almost everyday in dealing with clusters. Hopefully this will help people to understand what we, as cluster sufferers, go through and then maybe people wont say those 'non-understanding' remarks, or as I also say - those thorns that stab you. So - all in all - great job! Jill

click on thumbnails for full image

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