I get those allllll the time. Ive had all kinds of tests done and they came back fine, doc said theyre from stress, ive read about alot of people on this site who get the same head pains, but im not a doc so ya should get it checked like anyone else would.

Hey dkbeers, how are you doing?

Unilateral head pain, nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia are hallmarks, but even without typical features, severe recurrent headache is most likely to be migrainous. Migraine is clearly the most common headache type encountered by physicians.

Tension-type headache is unfortunately named because, like migraine, it arises from centrally mediated neural dysfunction and is not a result of either emotional or muscular tension. Nausea is generally not a factor, and auras are not noted. Pain is usually more diffuse and milder than in migraine. However, both photophobia and phonosensitivity are common.

Diagnosis of cluster headache is not difficult; it consists of severe, brief periorbital headaches accompanied by lacrimation and nasal congestion that occur frequently over several weeks. However, cluster headaches in some patients do not fit the mold, and there are several interesting, albeit unusual, variant types with similar features.

Best wishes,

I just found this site and was extremely releaved that I wasn't the only one having these sharp pains. I'm 25 years old and I'm really thinking the worst right now. I've had these pains for the past 2 1/2 years and feeling unbalanced when I walk has also played a part in this. I've gone to my doctor and had blood work/CT scans done and they really don't have anything to say...and here I'm thinking I'm going to have a brain anurysm at any moment. Is there anyone out there that has had these same symptoms with the pain (i.e., feeling an unbalanced feeling when walking)?

Finally I have read exatly what I am feeling! I feel unbalanced all day every bloddy day! Sometimes it will go away for a few days then hit you again and make you feel depressed. I have been suffering a lot of health anxiety with a lot of attacks thinking i'm going to die as soon as I feel a sharp pain in my head! It has gotten really bad to the point i'm convinced I have something wrong in my body or brain. I am thinking the unbalanced feeling is because of this anxiety attacks. If i go and run everyday and try to think the pain in my head is nothing but anxiety and stress the symptoms of unbalance fade a bit but it can never last for me!! When will I feel normal again! I am going to have a scan on monday! I'm really scared!! Hope you will feel better soon! I know how hard this is and people just don't understand what your feeling! Does this sound familar to you? Anyways I will pray for you always!

All of you have described exactly what I go through 20-30 times a day. This sharp pain in my head is in the exact spot every time some times I can not even move during its little episode. They happen while I sleep they are so bad they wake me up. I have been dealing alot with stess and anxiety attacks lately also dr doesnt know if they are related. I am also only 26 and my poor husband feels I am going to die at any time he calls constantly to make sure I am okay he is worried about my children and am I just going to fall over at any time. After I experience they episodes I have a major headache after and the more I have in a day the worse my headache is. Has anyone found anything that has given them any relief ??? I just want to live life and help my husband not worry so much.. Can anyone help???

Hi all

Slightly releaved to see that I am not the only person suffering from this terrible head pain, I have been getting a very severe sharp pain directly above my left ear for almost a month now, the pain only lasts for a few seconds and completely dissappears, this happens every 3 - 4 hours during the day but never when i am asleep, i have researched "ice pick headaches" and the symtoms seem to be what i am suffering but nonetheless it doesnt take away the worry of what it might be, if anybody has any pain relief suggestions or especially some advice i would be most gratefull.

Many thanks

I am extremely grateful to those of you who have taken the time to describe your experiences. I have been having identical symptoms for the last 2 - 3 weeks. I get a sharp pain in my head (feels like I've been stabbed) about 3 - 4 inches above my left ear. It only lasts a few seconds, but it is disableing at times. I've noticed it's been occurring more frequently this week... about 3 - 8 times daily...not while I'm asleep. Sudden movements seem to prompt an episode.

In addition to having a pituitary adenoma, I get frequent migraine headaches; hence, I thought this was an associated symptom. Most importantly I've been under a significant amount of stress and these stabbing pains started shortly after the stress factors became present in my life.

The term 'ice-pick headaches' seems most appropriate based on my symptoms....Thanks a bunch to all of you!!

none of you seem to be having what i have, but there are slightly similar experiences. Well, anyways, my sharp pains just started today. i think it might be stress related but i'm not sure, they started in the morning and have been with me all day long. i'm starting to get worried. i've never had anything like this before.

the sharp pain comes on and off. i'll receive the pain for about two to three seconds and then it will go away only to come back maybe 2, 3, or maybe five minutes later. and this has been happening ALL DAY!! i don't know what to do. i guess i'll try not to worry too much. it's probably nothing, but still, it's annoying.
now my pain isn't debilitating, and i can work around it. i was just wondering what on earth could be causing it!!

Some of what you're describing sounds like "ice pick headaches" (i.e. painful, stabbing headaches that only last for a few seconds at a time that are NOT accompanied by any other neurological symptoms). They're associated with migraines and aren't considered dangerous.

My boyfriend just started getting these the other day. Once we figured out what it was, we gave him one 24-hour Claritin-D and the headaches stopped immediately. He'd had them on and off for two days... it's now been a week since he took the allergy pill and he hasn't had one since.

We started using decongestant allergy meds on his migraines after a friend of mine told me they worked for him. Now whenever he starts to get a migraine, he takes an allergy pill and it stops the headache.

If you decide to try it, remember to get an allergy pill WITH a decongestant... the regular allergy pill isn't enough. So get Claritin-D from the pharmacist, not regular Claritin from the shelf. Target also offers a Target brand generic, but you need to ask the Target pharmacist for the decongestant allergy pill... don't just pick up the box on the shelf.

(I'm posting this on multiple forums at my boyfriend's request... the headaches freaked him out and he wants to share what helped him in case it helps other people.)

I have been having sharp pains in my head. I went to the ER first was told I had a sinus infection, then migraines. Was given antibiotics and pain meds. This is going on the 5th week. I can't stand these pains, I am waiting on an appt to the Neurologist. Can anyone help me. It doesn't matter what I do when the pain hits me. I suffer from migraines but even taken Midrin doesn't help. Need input please, I have a family to take care of.

Do they sound like the ice pick headaches? If so, try the allergy meds with pseudoephedrine that I mentioned in my earlier post. They totally cleared up my boyfriend's ice pick headaches.

By the way, ice pick headaches are associated with migraines. I haven't seen any research associating migraines with allergies, but the doctor of a good friend of mine cured his migraines by treating his allergies, and we've gone on to do the same for my sister and boyfriend.

May as well try it... if it works, it's $11 well spent. If it doesn't, at least you can rule out allergies.

How interesting that I stumbled across this webstie tonight! I have TMJ/TMD and recently learned from a specialist that swelling of tissues can in fact trap a nerve/nerves above the left ear, causing intermittent stabbing pains. Last week I experienced this rude awakening of pain. Approximately every two minutes it would pierce my head above the left ear as if it were an ice pick. Inasmuch, I would literally flench from the pain. For two days I thought I would loose my mind! I put an ice pack on it, took an over the counter pain reliever, and it didn't phase it. I was so grateful when I finally got in to see my regular doctor who gave me a shot in the rump of Toradol, which within 15 minutes I had relief, but within an hour - painless! She referred me to two specialists ... one which I mentioned above, and next week to an Neurologist. The next day the pain returned, but after a night's sleep I was in a better frame of mind. I went back for another shot and haven't had the pain since. I would urge anyone to go to their physician and ask for a shot for quick pain relief. Although I don't know what the next specialist will say, I am forever grateful for the miracle shot .... and for a physician who cares enough for me to refer me to specialists to pin point the issue. Good luck to each of you who suffer.... I've walked in your shoes - and it's a nightmare!

I come across this site because I too have migranes. I have had them since a young child and can remember them since the young age of 5. They have moved in all types of transitions througout my life.

I am now 45 and all my various experiences with them as taken me to the emergency room numerous times. With brain scans galore, spinal taps, etc., I get the blind spells, numbing in my hand and arm, dizzyness, disoriented, naseau and vomiting...you name it.

My most recent has been the sharp stabbing pains. It seems I am experiencing the sharp stabbing pain after the continual pain migrane is over. Which can be a couple of days now. They are coming out with med's now that help, some that you can take quickly on the onset that dissolve in your mouth. But you got to catch it "before" and if you are not one that gets any warning signals that doesn't help much....but don't give up on looking for something that works for you.

I just wanted to in brief put my input in the hopes that it can help others not be too scared and there are really a lot of people that suffer from this.

Wow, it is nice to know I am not dying of a brain tumour or something, what a relief to see all these posts about this pain, I don't know if the side its on has something to do with it, but mine is on the right side all the time with the exact same symptoms.

I have just had a child and have just started experiencing this type of pain, I have however been suffering with migranes for the last 2 years or so, and I am also dealing with alot of stress factors in my life right now, which sounds like the two triggers for this type of pain.

I am going to make an appt. for a CT scan, just to be on the safe side, but at least I feel better going into it now, Thank you everyone

i often have headache,i feel like something is pricking me in my head.when i walk or move my head ifeel it.i cant bear that pain and i always take crocin for it and i feel the pain on exactly back of my head.

to Vicoop: I just started having this pain last night...It scared the heck out of me. I also just had a baby about 8 months ago. She is pretty much sleeping throuh the night, so it doesn't seem like it is from lack of sleep, but I also read it could be from changes in hormones and probably carrying your baby around because it throws the back out of whack. My daughter is almost 20 lbs and I have constant back and neck pain. I am going for MRI on friday. Will keep you posted.

Hi all,

I have finally shifted this terrable pain which was really starting to depress me terribly.

I first posted back in December 07 after going through these excrutiating experiences.

I had 5 tests at my local hospital over the space of 14 months, all eventually being negative.

Only by chance of me going for a routine check up at my dentist was the problem found.

Never had any tooth aches at all and it was the last thing I expected.

Basically I had a chipped tooth at the back of the mouth, didnt notice it and you probably wouldnt to be fair, the dentist suggested that she would like to take an x-ray to see if any root damage.

after seeing the results it turned out i needed 3 root canals in my lower left jaw, an infection was causing the nerves in my head to spazum uncontrolably, it got to the stage where it could have been fatal causing blood poisioning to the brain.

I dont mean to scare anybody with this but if you are experiencing these pains and haven't been to your dentist in a while, seriously consider it.

Thankfully now I have no more headaches at all and have been free for 4 months now.

Hey To All...

Im 21 years of age...and i also have been going threw the same thing with the sharp pains in my head...i mean they hurt so badly that i get to the point i take about 3 tylenols to calm it down. It will go away for bout an hour or so but right back again..im concerned...i really think its stress...

You should all try chiropractic. I had similar problems that were remedied with an adjustment.