OUCH (UK) - Cluster Headaches

20/05/2026

You are not alone in the fight against the "Beast". 💙

Living with Cluster Headache can feel incredibly isolating. It’s a condition that’s hard to explain to those who haven’t lived it. But on Sunday 14th June, you don't have to carry that burden by yourself.

Registration is OPEN for the OUCH (UK) Summer Conference 2026 at The Exchange in Birmingham.

This isn’t just an event; it’s a day designed entirely around support, validation, and progress for our community.

Why does this day matter:

The Latest Breakthroughs: Get first-hand updates on the latest Cluster Headache research and clinical trials from top specialists.

Expert Q&A Sessions: Pose your questions directly to medical professionals who truly understand the severity of the condition.

Instant Community: Connect with fellow "cluster heads" in a safe, judgment-free space where nobody needs an explanation.

The Details:
🗓️ Date: Sunday, 14th June 2026
📍 Location: The Exchange, 3 Centenary Square, Birmingham
🎟️ Tickets: Available Now

⚠️ Space is strictly limited: Because of the venue's capacity, we strongly advise booking your place now to ensure you secure a seat.

Whether you have been a member of OUCH for a decade or you have only just discovered us this week, you are incredibly welcome. Let’s stand together, share our experiences, and look towards better management and treatments.

Secure Your Spot Here:

https://ouchuk.org/civicrm/event/register?id=41&reset=1

02/05/2026

01/05/2026

We are aware of a national UK shortage of sumatriptan 3mg injectors and do not know how long this will last. At the present time, the shortage from the single pharmacy company that manufactures the 3mg injector (Sun Pharma UK) is that this shortage is expected to last until mid May 2026

The advantage of sumatriptan 3mg injectors is that they can be used up to 4 times within a 24 hour period.

We advise patients to consider asking their primary care team / GP to consider issuing sumatriptan 6mg injectors where appropriate, which can be used up to twice daily (i.e. up to 12mg in a 24 hour period).

Alternatives may include use of nasal triptan sprays (which if used should also be used as early as possible in an attack of cluster headache, with head tipped forward and kept forward for approximately 2 minutes, avoiding sniffing during this time to allow it to absorb): e.g.

Zolmitriptan (e.g. zomig) nasal spray 5-10mg per attack, used up to 10mg per day.
Sumatriptan (e.g. imigran) nasal spray 10-20mg per attack, used up to 40mg per day.

If you have a supply of oxygen and this is helpful, then it is worth using this where possible, particularly at times this usually works well for you (for example, some patients note this works better for attacks arising in the day than at night). Oxygen works most effectively if used as early as possible in an attack.

If your consultant has given advice regarding further potential preventative treatments for cluster headache then it may be worth looking to see if better control can be established with these treatments

30/04/2026

OUCH (UK) SUMMER CONFERENCE AT THE EXCHANGE, BIRMINGHAM. SUNDAY, 14TH JUNE, 2026.

At OUCH (UK) we completely understand how devastating CH can be for a family.

Thanks to generous sponsors and fundraisers, we always make a number of seats available to sufferers who cannot afford the ticket price but who would benefit greatly from attending the conference.

If you and a loved one would like to attend the meeting, but are unable to afford the tickets please email dale@ouchuk.org in complete confidence.

We hope to see you there.

30/04/2026

OUCH (UK) is offering you the chance to win big prizes and help raise much needed funds.

25/04/2026

Don't miss the opportunity to meet the experts and mingle with your CH community!

Some kind comments from attendees at previous events:

"Was a member, going to renew subscription"

"Great day, very positive and great to hear from sufferers"

"Thank you for such a wonderful event! It was lovely getting to know OUCH UK trustees and officers"

"Fantastic, clinical information not withheld from patients"

"Thank you! Good level of humour and sympathy; more for supporters too"

"Brilliant!"

"Great info received from very knowledgeable staff and patients. Very good day and look forward to visiting again"

"I’d be interested in helping to set up localised meetings; a lot of other people I spoke to would be interested too"

"Willing to travel any distance to attend again"

"Would travel as far as needed to attend again, THANK YOU"

"Travel anywhere! INCREDIBLE!"

"Found it really nice to be there, very welcome and supportive. Thanks for organising and having us!"

Book your place here:

https://ouchuk.org/civicrm/event/register?id=41&reset=1

Members please note: When you book your ticket online you MUST be logged into the OUCH (UK) website as a current member to be able to book your discounted ticket. Member pricing will show on the booking page when you are logged in.

OUCH Member £6.00

Non-Member £12.00

Child under 12 £1.50 - £3.00

Raising general awareness of cluster headache and offering support and guidance through our helpline and user forum

23/04/2026

22/04/2026

A song about cluster headache. The perfect soundtrack... Kind permission of the talented Dave Pask.

1 like. "Behind My Eye – EPC (Official Lyric Video)"

17/04/2026

Summer Cluster Headache Conference 2026 - 50% Discount for Members
Sunday 14 June 2026 at The Exchange, Birmingham.

OUCH (UK) will be presenting a packed event specifically for Cluster Headache sufferers and supporters. Several new speakers have been announced recently.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS FOR THE EVENT:

Professor Peter Goadsby, Professor of Neurology, King's College Hospital, London, patron and chair of OUCH (UK)

Dr Nick Silver, Consultant Neurologist, The Walton Centre

Dr Anish Bahra, Consultant Neurologist, Whipps Cross/NHNN

Dr Katy Munro, National Migraine Centre, Cluster Headache Services

Dr Mark Thaller, Consultant Neurologist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

Chris Addison, CH sufferer and National Migraine Centre podcast guest with Katy Munro

Dale Nolan, Trustee - OUCH Objectives & Initiatives

Darshan Ramanagoudra – MyClusters App

OUCH (UK) Trustees and Officers

Breakout sessions:

OUCH Advice Line Breakout Session - including resources for sufferers and supporters, diagnosis, preventative and abortive treatments

Medics Session.

Oxygen Workshop – practical guidance on using O₂ therapy

Supporters and Supporters of Children - dedicated session for carers and loved ones

HR/Employment advice and guidance

Thank you to all who have already booked their places, we are really looking forward to welcoming you.

If you have not yet booked, click here:

https://ouchuk.org/civicrm/event/info?id=41

If you are maybe a little hesitant, you may like to know that many conference attendees are sufferers or supporters of sufferers who are attending for the first time or attending alone. We will be making sure that OUCH trustees and officers will be there and available to welcome each of you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thanks to generous sponsors and fundraisers, we always make a number of seats available to sufferers who cannot afford the ticket price but who would benefit greatly from attending the conference. If you and a loved one would like to attend the meeting, but are unable to afford the tickets please email dale@ouchuk.org in complete confidence. We hope to see you there.

Our medical speakers will take you on a journey through Cluster Headache and other primary headache disorders, telling you about the current treatments available as well as what studies and trials are ongoing and what the future holds for Cluster Headache treatment and management.

There will be a dedicated space with 02 available.

Book now!

https://ouchuk.org/civicrm/event/info?id=41

Members can book with a 50% discount. You must be logged in as a current member to receive the discounted ticket offer which will be applied automatically. Join or renew here:

https://ouchuk.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1

This is a full day event: tickets include refreshments and a light sandwich lunch. There will be opportunities to ask questions of the experts, talk to sufferers, talk to Trustees and pick up OUCH merchandise.

We look forward to seeing you in June!