Prof. Göbel, Ms. Müller and Dr. Müller, President of the CSG

Dr. Harald Müller was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by Federal President Christian Wulff. Dr. Müller has been the Chairman of the Federal Association of Self-Help Groups for People Suffering from Cluster Headaches and their Relatives (CSG e.V.) since its founding and is a dedicated partner in the German Headache Network. The German Headache Network and the staff of the Kiel Pain Clinic extend their warmest congratulations on this high honor for his unparalleled commitment to the care of citizens suffering from cluster headaches.

Dr. Harald Müller has made outstanding contributions to the well-being of citizens suffering from severe chronic pain. He has been particularly instrumental in advocating for those affected by cluster headaches. Cluster headaches are among the most severe pain people can endure. Attacks are characterized by excruciating, shooting, and agonizing pain around the eyes. The pain is crushing. Symptoms include watery eyes, red eyes, a runny nose, and severe restlessness. Attacks can last up to three hours, and up to eight such severe attacks can occur per day. The German language currently lacks a word for this condition, resulting in a lack of public awareness and understanding of cluster headaches. The English term "cluster headache" describes the clustered nature of the headache attacks, which occur in active periods. These periods can last from a few months to years or even decades. For many sufferers, it can take ten years or more to receive a correct diagnosis. According to scientific studies, the average time until diagnosis in Germany is 8 years.

Cluster headache syndrome is not just a pain disorder; it has many facets. The complex interplay encompasses the disorder itself and the individual sufferer. It also includes the socioeconomic impact, particularly on employment. The social environment is especially involved, encompassing relationships, children, and friends. Furthermore, the state of medical care, the lack of a comprehensive healthcare system for this disorder, and insufficient information about current treatment options are all contributing factors. In Germany, as recently as the 1990s, research into cluster headache syndrome stagnated, and there was a near-total lack of modern, up-to-date care for this severe pain disorder. The consequences were extraordinary suffering for those affected. In many cases, this led to suicide as the only perceived way out. This headache disorder was therefore also referred to as "suicidal headache." Scientific research groups and publications from Germany were nonexistent. Information on cluster headache syndrome was virtually nonexistent in both continuing education and scientific research.

Dr. Harald Müller is himself affected by cluster headaches. A chemist by profession, he researched the possibilities of modern treatment for this condition both nationally and internationally, despite not being a physician. He quickly realized that the healthcare system in Germany needed a complete overhaul. He began by gathering information from other affected individuals and, in his free time, independently and at his own expense, conducted extensive field studies to analyze the current state of care. This revealed the immense despair and resignation of those affected. Due to the size of the organization, the initial self-help group meetings led to the formation of the Federal Association of Cluster Headache Sufferers and their Relatives – Cluster Headache Self-Help Groups (CSG e.V. ) – in 2003. Dr. Harald Müller dedicated all his free time, vacation time, and personal funds to the voluntary work of establishing and organizing this association. Currently, there are over 40 self-help groups in Germany. Cluster headaches particularly affect young men. Dr. Müller has also established a network for active-duty soldiers in the German Armed Forces to ensure modern care for those affected. Harald Müller established the world's largest self-help organization for cluster headache patients and their families. In doing so, he also set an exemplary precedent for a process that actively and responsibly drives the improvement and further development of our healthcare system through informed citizens. Dr. Müller shared the enormous wealth of experience gained through his work in self-help groups with those responsible in health policy, health insurance companies, and especially in academia. Through unparalleled, inexhaustible dedication, he developed networks and helped establish centers of excellence in hospitals to improve care. Through studies and socio-demographic analyses, he created planning foundations and reliable data that enable him to make a significant contribution to the further development of our healthcare system.

He transformed the previous stagnation in healthcare provision into an exemplary project demonstrating that even serious illnesses can be better managed through the efforts of dedicated citizens, and that their burden can be reduced and even eliminated in the future. This directly benefits those affected, first and foremost themselves and their families, but also the entire community, as well as policymakers and scientists. Dr. Müller has tirelessly ensured that those affected now receive faster diagnoses and earlier, more effective treatment. He brought those affected together and played a key role in facilitating communication among them, enabling faster and more efficient treatment through the exchange of information. This leads not only to a reduction in individual suffering but also to a reduction in complications and ultimately to a significant financial relief for the healthcare system.

Nationwide, he tirelessly conducted training and educational work. He established nationwide contact persons for self-help groups for those affected in need, as well as a medical emergency service, to ensure rapid and efficient assistance during acute episodes. This enables support across the entire country for the first time. It is particularly noteworthy that research institutions and specialized clinics collaborate closely with those affected, allowing scientific questions to be investigated much more efficiently and effectively. Dr. Harald Müller's extraordinarily extensive work has demonstrated that a self-help movement can give rise to a remarkable and entirely new development. Small, unconnected groups can evolve into a highly structured, nationwide organization with extensive experience and expertise. Passive, resigned individuals can thus become empowered patients and citizens who contribute and actively participate in improving the healthcare system and society. Dr. Müller's work focused not only on improving the care of chronic illnesses and addressing medical issues, but also, and perhaps more importantly, on the difficulties faced by those living with a severe disability and a chronic illness. These include very concrete everyday problems, worries and anxieties, as well as problems in relationships, at work, and within the family. He has shown everyone involved that commitment fosters strength, courage, and confidence, and that an improvement in care that was previously thought impossible can result.