Ice Pick Headaches Are Warning Signs
Ice pick headaches are terrifying, short, stabbing, extremely intense headaches that come from out of nowhere. They usually last anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds, and they literally feel as if an ice pick is being jabbed into your head, in or behind the ear. Ice pick headaches are considered a primary headache because there is no deeper or underlying cause for it. The headache itself is the only problem. A secondary headache has another cause such as a stroke, tumor, or even low blood sugar from not eating. These headaches can be located anywhere on your head, but they usually occur near the orbit, temple or parietal bone (one of two bones that form the posterior roof and the sides of the skull). The major problem with ice pick headaches is that the pain comes and goes so quickly that by the time you have sought help, the pain is gone. Most often these headaches will occur a few times a day at the most. They can occur at any time of day and even wake you from sleep. Those who experience them more frequently or with additional headache symptoms such as migraines should seek help from a healthcare professional right away. Ice pick headaches can be a symptom of an upcoming migraine and they occur in almost 50% of those who suffer from migraines, and the pain usually occurs in the same location as their migraines do. Treatment of recurring ice pick headaches is indomethacin for prevention. Indomethacin is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). The potential side effects from an NSAID include heartburn, nausea, eye problems, gastroesophageal reflux and bleeding problems, and gastric ulcers. Over the counter anti-inflammatory products such as Benadryl, or Sudafed may be helpful, but only use these after you have consulted with your doctor about treatment options. Keep a daily headache journal so that you can track your progress, what over the counter products works for you and what doesn’t work for you, as there are a wide variety of medicines available. Journaling your experiences, especially your headache triggers, so that your chance of recurring headaches goes down is important. You need to figure out what triggers your own personal headaches. Is it allergies, a lack of sleep, noise, foods, stress related, tension, hormone related, low blood sugar, or dehydration? There are many other factors that may trigger a headache, and pinpointing your trigger and then gaining information on how to prevent it is going to be the best course of action you can take. There are millions of people who suffer from a variety of different types of headaches. Finding a good support network where you can share experiences, thoughts and symptoms may also help you in understanding and coping with the pain. |