What Is an Ice Pick Headache?

Pain consistently located in one place requires a thorough evaluation

If a stabbing pain is the central symptom of your headache, you may have what's commonly referred to as an "ice pick headache," and it can be as jarring as the eerily descriptive name suggests.

Mature man with a pained expression holding his fingers to his temples
Cecilie_Arcurs / Getty Images 

Symptoms

If you've experienced an ice pick headache, you may have felt an intensely sharp jabbing sensation, often around your eye or temple area. The stabs or jabs do not appear in a pattern, but rather come about erratically, one to multiple times a day. The pain lasts a very short time, usually three seconds or less.

In about 30% of people, the pain occurs in one fixed spot, whereas with the rest, the pain moves around. When the headache stabs are fixed on one spot, a headache specialist first must rule out a cranial nerve problem or brain structural problem (e.g., a tumor) with imaging tests. Once a nerve or brain problem is ruled out, these ice pick headaches are referred to as primary stabbing headaches.

Linked to Migraines and Cluster Headaches

It's interesting to note that some people with ice pick headaches report that their headaches begin with or are worsened by exposure to bright light, stress, or movement during a migraine. This implies that you can experience both a migraine and an ice pick headache at the same time (a double whammy, so to speak).

Moreover, if you have a history of migraines, you are more likely to experience ice pick headaches. When they do occur simultaneously, most people experience the stabbing pain on the same side of the head as the migraine.

Ice pick headaches are also linked with cluster headaches—a type of primary headache that causes severe, disabling piercing or burning pain around a person's eye or near their temple.

Aside from the association with migraines and cluster headaches, little is known about the cause of ice pick headaches. Some research suggests a relationship to cranial trauma, benign cranial lesions, the herpes virus, a disease of the blood vessels in the brain, or nerve sensitization. At this time, though, there is no conclusive scientific data to support any one particular connection.

Treatment

Due to the short-lived nature of these headaches, treatment may not be needed, unless they are severe. In that case, preventive therapy is recommended.

To prevent ice pick headaches, healthcare providers traditionally prescribe Indocin (indomethacin), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) similar to ibuprofen. Indocin, however, is linked to some adverse effects like stomach and intestinal bleeding and kidney problems. This is why (as with any medication) it's essential to speak with your healthcare provider first before taking an NSAID—this way you can ensure the drug is safe and right for you.

Besides Indocin, researchers have looked into alternative medications without much success. COX-2 inhibitors (like Celebrex) may be beneficial, but they too carry adverse effects like Indocin, although they are believed to be gentler and safer on the stomach.

Melatonin—the same neurohormone used to aid jetlag insomnia—has also been used to prevent ice pick headaches. Available without a prescription, melatonin can still cause some adverse effects, like fatigue, dizziness, and mood changes, so a healthcare provider should be consulted before beginning a melatonin regimen. Also, even though it's considered "natural," the long-term effects of melatonin are unknown. Moreover, melatonin is not a regulated supplement and is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.

Self-Care Strategies

Since ice pick headaches often coincide with other types of headaches, self-care strategies may be helpful in soothing your pain.

Some simple home-based strategies include:

  • Reducing your stress level
  • Getting adequate sleep and maintaining a regular sleep pattern (for example, going to bed at the same time every night)
  • Exercising regularly
  • Taking time out of each day to engage in an enjoyable, relaxing activity

Another consideration is to keep a descriptive headache diary, which can provide your healthcare provider with an accurate account of your head pain. The diary can also help people with stabbing headaches notice what activities may be contributing to their headaches, and what medication seems to soothe them.

A Word From Verywell

Ice pick headaches are not common, but if you are afflicted by them, they are painful and can be burdensome. The good news is there are treatments available. Also, for many people, their ice pick headaches are so short-lived and not persistent that treatment may not even be necessary. 

Regardless, be sure to see a headache specialist for a proper diagnosis of your headaches. There are other very serious health conditions that may be mimicking your ice pick headaches, and those need to be ruled out first.

7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  7. Migraine Research Foundation. Non-drug treatments for migraine.