sudden, infrequent shooting pain in my head

Guest · Guest

They are called ice pick headaches. I get them too. Scared the crap out of me the first times I got them. But pain management doctor that I see for my migraines mentioned ice pick headache. So, I did what everybody does and looked it up online. Apparently they are not serious or even harmful. Just scary a little bit. But just do a search, it's amazing how much info is actually out there for something I had never even heard of until the past 2 years.

Guest · Guest

Firstly, it seems people are describing a variety of pain here, so be careful not to assume we're all talking about the same thing.

For almost as long as I can remember - since early teens at least I would say - I have experienced sudden sharp pain in my head. It occurs infrequently, maybe a couple of times a month, or maybe every few months or so. It happens suddenly and with no warning - no prior headaches - and only lasts a few seconds. However, the pain is usually excruciating. I describe it as a hot poker being twisted in my head. It usually causes me to grab my head as if to ease the pain, though nothing works. In fact the more I seem to react, the more painful it seems to be. I have been reduces to tears, crouching on the floor and grabbing my head in public places! I think it has only ever occured on the right side, usually above and around the ear back from the temples. I have a terrible memory, both short and long-term! Anybody have any insight to share? I realise I should see a doctor, but living in Ireland it seems almost impossible to get a scan of any kind, even if you're at death's door. I'm living in Korea now so I suppose I should take advantage of their efficient health system while I can!

Guest · Guest

I have the same problem with the shooting headaches that start right behind my ear and radiate upward and frontward. I can't remember when they started happening but it really freaked me out when they started. Mine only last for a couple of seconds too, thank goodness. I don't know what I would do if they lasted longer! I am only 28.

Guest · Guest

I am seeing my doctor at the moment as I experience debilitating stabbing pains through my head - just had EEG which was apparently normal but showed delta waves when awake. Anyhows.....I know when I get stabbing pains they are directly linked to other people's mobile phones - I don't know if the signals are cutting across my brain waves, or interrupting my peripheral nerves communicating but you might want to try switching off your mobile and see if that helps your head pains and noting down mobile exposure to when you get a head pain. I am so severe I cannot travel or be in a public place where there are mobiles. Please let me know if this makes a difference to you all - I really would like to know.

Guest · Guest

I have been having sharp pain on the left side of my head periodically for a little over 7 years. I am concerned because lately it seems to be much more frequent. It is a sudden stabbing pain that stops me in my tracks for a couple of seconds. I had a car accident in Dec. of 1999 where I rolled my car. Thankfully, I had my seatbelt on and didn't suffer any serious injuries. I did end up with bruises on the top and left side of my head from hitting the top of the car and the drivers side window. It was about 9 mos. after the accident that I started having the pain. My main concern is that it is happening more often.

Guest · Guest

I'm not sure if what i get is an icepick headache, mine only last for around half a second but man does it pack a punch. It feels like my brain has exploded and blood is going everywhere and feels extremely hot.

hailiesmama · Newbie Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

I am reading all of your posts, and i get the same EXACT thing!

im 28, and have been happening since i was a teen ager, and now more frequently~

Guest · Guest

We moved from florida to N.C. 2 years ago. My BF never had
Headaches in Florida. He works in a machine shop that has
no circulating air. He does work 12 hr shifts. But he also gets
10 hours of sleep. He is very stressed as I am not well and
am not working as of yet. He has also hurt his lower back
and gets knots in his shoulders that seem to rotate from left
to right they sometimes feel like cysts. But then they do disappear,
as would a knot. Which usually can be caused by stress. Sitting
at a computer with your head cocked to one side can also
cause a kink in your neck, as with stress. Over excercising
can cause stress on the vertebrae which in return can pinch
a nerve. These can all leed to headaches or migraines. He also
smashed his head in falling head first in to a drainage hole in
the road and almost died. So we are back to having an injury.
Today he wakes up with numbness in his righ arm, without laying
on it overnight. as that would cause numbness. So now I am
very concerned as someone has mentioned aneurysm, which
is also very likely. I thought stroke, but asked if he had
weakness in leg also, he didn't have any confusion,. or difficulty
speaking and his mouth did not droop to one side. He had an
MRI last year. But I think MRI shows deep bone and solid
mass, so if that were the case it would not show an aneurysm>
Some people do however have tiny plaques or clots I believe
that go undetected till it does become an aneurysm. Believe
me you will know. It would be a sudden extreme smashing
worst pain in your life hit to the head and I will tell you , you
best be in the hospital when it happens thats how fast it is.
So finally he is going to see a neurologist. Yes I can tell him
to do something till I am blue in the face. So hopefully we will
have an answer soon. I hate seeing him in so much pain. As the
rest of you are dealing with.

Guest · Guest

Hello
I have suffered shooting pains down both sides of my face. I have had this problem for over (17 years)!!! At first I thought I had wisdom teeth trouble and went to the dentist - I described my pain as just about bearable but never-the-less it was a constant shooting pain mainly down one side of of my face, like a toothache but deep inside my gums if that makes sense. Sometimes the pain just stops and then it comes back and stays for about 2 or 3 days. I have over the years been put on antibiotics when the pain got really bad, taken various over the counter sinus tablets and inhaled frequently also I take a nasal spray morning and night to help me breathe and it is for my associated allergies. To date although I have been to the hospital, seen various ear,nose and throat doctors, the only thing that makes sense is that my sinus's are trapped around the root of nerve endings in my face which triggers off an attack. Strange thing is over the last two years the pain is now located down the left hand side of my face and on a level of 1 - 5, I would say it is a 3 - I must be used to the constant dragging pain by now. At night if my gum is throbbing and keeping me awake, I take a sinus relief tablet but there has been no real answer or cure except for me to have invasive mouth surgery by cutting the roots/nerves around where the sinus is supposed to be twisted to deaden the pain and then it might be hit and miss. I was told to use a special tiny tooth flossing type brush which can now be bought over the counter. If I use the flossing brush in between the two teeth where the pain is I do find it subsides, I dip the little bristle brush in some mouth wash and just dig away. I'm sure I am going to wear the gum away where I am always digging at it because of the shooting pain in between - it's like a painful itch that you just can't scratch. I am the only person who has this annoying problem. Rolling Eyes

Guest · Guest

I get similar pains that shoots from back of ear to the back of head. But the pains I'm getting happens every 20 to 30 seconds. I cant even lay on my left side of head, make sudden movements, or handle loud noises. The pain happens anytime, when I'm relaxing, reading, working, or even asleep. I Cant even go to sleep some nights cus the pain would shoot me right out of my sleep. And when it happens whne im awake, it stops me dead in my track. A sudden shock,pain, so sharp, its piercing. Its been going on for 5 days now and the pain is still accuring while im typing this. One doc told me its my eyes, but my eye exam came out excellent.

I hope its nothing seriouse, im only 28. Sometimes even swallowing hurts. And the back of my head (left side) is swollen.

Help!!!

sudden, infrequent shooting pain in my head

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