ice pick migraines

11/24/09 6:46pm

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Ice Pick Headaches - The Basics is a article that may be of interest to you.

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Sarah Leverett

11/25/09 2:05pm

I agree with the previous comment....any change in your headache experience definitely warrants thoroughly checking it out with your own neurologist/doctor. None of us who responds knows your personal medical history. That is the most important thing.

That being said, I want to tell you that my 12 yo daughter has been getting ice pick migraines for as long as she can remember (probably her whole life) 10-15x/day; they are excrutiating and each last between 30 sec-5 minutes, and of course come & go so quickly that there's no opportunity to treat the pain. Her neurologist calls it an "atypical migraine." There's no nausea, but she experiences vertigo from trying to keep her balance while her vision is temporarily lost, and her hearing gets very muffled/sounds like she's underwater during each attack. She just has to stand/sit still & "wait it out." New information that she's just recently shared with me is that she also "loses time", says that she's completely unaware of her surroundings for a while after each attack, so now I'm really wondering if her ice pick headaches are actually part of an "absence seizure" experience?!

About 2-1/2 weeks ago she had a horrible ice pick that lasted over an hour, and it ushered in a concurrent "background" migraine that she's never experienced before; this is ongoing/hasn't abated during this whole past 2-1/2 weeks. During the hour-long ice pick and for quite a while afterwards, she was fairly disoriented, and felt a bilateral numbness, loss of voluntary body control and muscle weakness across her entire head, neck and torso. Absolutely NO pain meds have worked that she's tried, including the ER administered Toradol, Reglan, Benadryl IV combo on 11/12/09! She's missed 2 full weeks of school, and we're just praying that she'll be well enough to go back after Thanksgiving break.

She's off all standard pain meds right now, since none do anything but tax her liver, and her "background" migraine is still at a 6/10 on the pain scale. She's having the most success with chiropractic adjustments, and taking both a natural muscle relaxant and natural anti-inflammatory. Her recent spinal X-ray ordered by the new chiropractor shows she has one leg shorter than the other, with resulting uneven hip height, scoliosis and her skull sitting incorrectly on her spine. He's quite sure that this is causing all of at least her ice pick headaches, and with the increasingly easy adjustments he is readying her body for a wedge to be worn in all her shoes to correct for the missing height in the shorter leg.

Also, almost 2 months ago she suffered a bout of increased neck/head pain and vertigo after a day trip to the amusement park and multiple intense rollercoaster rides. That was the likely irritant/precursor that pushed her to what she's experiencing now.

Three years ago, she had a brain MRI done and it was abnormal, showing diffuse bilateral white matter spots that the neurologist said was scarring from her frequent ice pick migraines. With her most recent migraine activity, I'm anxious to have her rescanned for comparison purposes.

I don't feel that her "mystery is solved" yet, but we're at least getting her SOMEWHERE with the more natural approach. I'm sorry if my post doesn't provide better answers. Sometimes it helps a lot just to know that there's a name for what you're experiencing, & that you're not alone.

hemiswat

11/25/09 2:32pm

Your daughter's history makes me want to cry, and I get 20-30 "regular" migraines (usually rating from 3-8 on pain scale) as well occasional icepick headaches per month. A friend's daughter was getting migraines daily for a year or two, missing a lot of school and not getting help from any medical or therapy they tried. Finally, they located a neurofeedback specialist and that, along with some daily prophylactics, worked for her. When I was younger I would go through periods of I guess what you're describing as "background headaches" that would last about six weeks with occasional flareups. I still get those cycles sometimes but since I've started on prophylactics most of my migraines have beginnings and endings. When they start requiring rescue meds every few hours for a few days to lessen the symptoms, I know I need to call my neurologist for help.

The icepick ones are excruciatingly painful but too brief for medication. I have to sit down until they pass. Longest any of mine last is a couple of minutes, though sometimes I get them back to back. I have had them off and on for about 33 years, and the regular migraines for about 40 years.

I sincerely hope the person who posted the original message on this sees the neurologist as Ms. Bonk and the other message poster recommended.

Sarah Leverett

11/25/09 4:16pm

Thanks for your response! I feel so sorry for my daughter too! Apparently she has genes for migraines coming from both her father's and my sides, as my grandmother and I have had trouble with "typical" migraines (for me, they started when I was 10 yo, though nothing like hers, and with predictable hormonal and food-related triggers -- aspartame is one of my triggers, too). She has a first cousin on her father's side who also gets the ice pick headaches, as well as her older brother; it was amazing to hear them all comparing stories.

dexter

11/25/09 4:51pm

I am so very sorry to hear about your daughters severe severe migraines. My migraines

seem nothing compared to hers. I unfortunately inherited mine from my mom, her mom,and her mom.

I wish you and your daughter the very best and I hope one day she will never

have migraines again.

Many thanks for making a comment to me.

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

11/29/09 8:48pm

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing with us. I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter and her pain. I did want to let you know that if her doctor isn't able to help you, it may well be time to consult a Migraine and headache specialist. It's important to note that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine and headache specialists. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.

The thing is, many Migraine specialists we work with feel that if adolescent epsoidic Migraines are not treated aggressively, they can easily and quickly turn to chronic Migraine - and no one wants that for our children.

If you and your daughter would like some additional support, come join our discussion forum. You'll need to register again once there because it's a separate membership database, but you can use the same member name, email address, and password that you used here. You can find our forum at http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/migraine/forums.

Teri Robert, Health Guide

12/ 3/09 9:23pm

Sarah,

In your place, I'd be taking your daughter for a second opinion. There's no such thing as ice pick Migraines. There are ice pick headaches, but they aren't Migraines, and there's a huge difference. "Atypical Migraines doesn't tell you much either. It's definitely not a diagnosis.

Also, ice pick headaches don't last an hour.

Overall, I'm concerned that you've not been given an actual diagnosis for your daughter, and how can they really be treating her when they haven't accurately diagnosed her.

Have you had a chance to take her to an actual Migraine and headache specialist?

I really feel for you. Three of our grandchildren have Migraine disease, and it's horrid to see them have a Migraine. It would be so much easier to have it myself.

Teri

LiSaG

1/11/10 6:58pm

I sometimes have ice pick headaches that last a few hours...you're not alone!

LiSaG

1/11/10 7:04pm

Teri--

Are you sure Ice Pick headaches can't last longer than an hour? Mine sound just like your article on that type of headache...can we make up a new name, like "Extended Ice Pick Headaches?" if our experiences don't fit within the parameters outlined by whatever headache societies propose?!

Sometimes I feel so lost not being able to fit inside any of the "boxes" of headache categories. Aren't there exceptions to the parameters sometimes, like duration of pain?

~LiSaV

Teri Robert, Health Guide

1/11/10 11:01pm

LiSaV,

Yes, I'm sure. This has cone up before, so I checked with a couple of specialists to be sure. By the very definition of ice pick headaches, they last only seconds.

What has your doctor said about your headaches? I can't imagine that type of pain lasting for hours. How horrid.

You can take a look at information about various forms of Migraines and headaches on our page, Types of Migraines and Headaches.

Teri

LiSaG

1/12/10 2:10am

Hi Teri,

I haven't had one of those long ice pick headaches in a while (but I have had quite a few of them in the past, and reread your article/book section on ice pick headaches while having it to make sure that's what it was...throbbing pinprick-like pain in the trigeminal), so I haven't specifically mentioned them to my more recent doctor. I saw a neurologist last year who seemed pretty knowledgeable on migraines, and she told me to exercise more, and try different preventative medications through my referring doc. Nothing so far has worked that I can tell, but I'm still crossing off different options. Crossing my fingers for something good soon! Thank God for triptans in the meantime!

~LiSaV

Anonymous

11/25/09 11:18pm

For the past several years I have suffered from "ice pick" migraines which always occur during the Fall to Winter months and at the same time of the day --almost every day. I had taken several assorted migraine medications which never seemed to fully abort the headaches. Then, last year I had a severe attack and was taken by my husband to the doctor who felt that given my symtoms, I was actually having cluster headaches, not migraines. He quickly put me in a dark room and had me inhale 100% oxygen for about 20 minutes---it was a miracle--after having suffered for 4 straight days the pain was gone!! He was able to turn the lights on and I had no severe pain. I now keep a full tank of oxygen at home when I get these specific cluster headaches (they feel like a ice pick in the eye). Right when one starts I start the oxygen and 85% of the time it aborts the attack. The key is to start the oxygen right when the pain starts. Unfortunately, insurance does not cover the oxygen therapy, but it is worth the expense for me. Do a search for cluster headache treatments --hope this helps. There is no migraine as severe in pain as a cluster headache, I wish you well.

dexter

11/27/09 5:32pm

I highly believe that my ice pick migraines were not Cluster headaches because when

i did get the pain it felt like 20 or more sharp knives were going into the right side

of my head. I didn't feel any pain with my eyes at all. The pain lasted for about 5

minutes but it seemed like it was for hours. I have had many many migraines that

were definately very painful but nothing like the ice pick migraines. I liked what you wrote

about them happening to you during the Fall to Winter months I found that extremely

interesting. This is the very first year that I have ever had ice pick migraines. I am quite

dumbfounded by that because i have had migraines my whole life even since I was

very tiny. Thanks for sharing with me and I hope that your terrible migraines get

better for you.

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

11/29/09 8:54pm

Hi dex,

The only way to find out for sure what is going on and what type of Migraine/headache disorder you really have, is to see the expert - a Migraine specialist. These doctors devote their entire practice treating patients with Migraines and headache all day. That's it. Neurologists are fine doctors, but treat so many other conditions like MS, stroke and epilepsy, it is difficult for them to be experts in one area. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.

No more guessing, let a pro help you!

dexter

11/30/09 5:37pm

Hi Nancy Harris Bonk,

Over the past many years I have been to several Migraine specialists. I have had a

few MRI, I also had a Spinal Tap done as well. I practically have been on every

Migraine medicine that there is available to me and also have taken everything from

anti-seizure medication to anti-depressants. For awhile I tried Bio Feedback Therapy.

I will be seeing a doctor asap. Through your fantastic site I was able to look up

something that hopefully my doctor will let me try and it is called Cataflam. Also

a comment was made by anonymous which said that they have tried Oxygen for the

Migraines and they said it worked. So I will also tell my doctor about that.Thanks for

making a comment to me.

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

12/ 1/09 7:19pm

Let us know how you make out, ok?

dexter

12/ 3/09 5:05pm

To Nancy Harris Bonk,

I just saw my doctor on Dec 1,2009 and he gave me prescriptions for Cataflam and

Frova. He told me that I do not have Cluster headaches which was very good news to hear. Unfortunately yesterday I had a very bad migraine. So I decided to take the Frova

which supposedly helps women when they are on there period. That is good to hear

that it helps some women but very unfortunately for me it didn't at all. So I had to

take 2 very serious pain pills plus a lot of Aleve as well. Finally several hours later

I felt somewhat better. My migraines seem to come before, during and after my

periods. For me this month will be somewhat bad because I will be getting another

period at the end of this month which will mean more lovely migraines coming my

way. I am hoping against all hope that the Cataflam will help me the next time.

migraineure

12/ 3/09 11:53am

hey out there,
i have cluster headaches... i know the agony well. and the intense burning throb (where i want to poke my eyeballs out - or beat my head through a wall) of the cluster headache that i experience has always been very different from the sharp explosion of pain caused by the ice pick headache. (where i feel like i need to squeeze me head to keep everything from exploding)

That is my opinion. Both very painful, although id choose my ice pick over my clusters anyday, because my clusters last longer, make me depressed and make me want to kill myself! ha ha

My ice pick headaches have been 1 every few months, lasting up to 10 seconds. Where as my cluster headaches - as the name indicates, come in clusters and have a tendancy to ruin my life.

At the moment im on Topamax, my neurologist is happy that its doing all it can for me. but im not satisfied, because i have very little quality of life. i feel like the neurologist just wants to get me in, write a script and shove me off...

anyway hope that helps a little...

seaoats

2/ 3/10 4:05pm

do you mean the ones where someone takes a red hot ice pick and sticks in a blood vesel in your head - yes leftr side

migrains do ten to change the way they cause pain and what side of hed they appear on

i take imtrex and that helps most of the time

my migrains have cut back some A.R.T.has cut them in half

rather than have 3-4 a week i only get them one or twie a month

Anonymous

2/13/10 12:40pm

My mother took me to the doctor the first time when I was four with headaches. I am now in my sixties. I still suffer from migraines. Yes, ice pick migraines are real and feel exactly like their name. Until I was in my fifties, most of my headaches started in mid to late morning and by afternoon became so severe that I had to go to bed every day to be able to function by dinner time with my family. The Imitrex and Topamax have given me a life; even though I still have almost daily headaches, the use of these medication does allow me to function without spending so much time in bed. I feel like a real person. To answer you question about age, it has not aleviated my headaches, but the frequency of the kinds have changed. I now have more in the front of my head and less starting in the back and moving to the sides. I wish you the best with your migraine journey.

G M W

3/10/10 10:57am

I just learn about ice pick head ache i been having them for about a year and a half and my doctor told me yeasterday this is what it is the pain is so bad.I'm reading all the comments and my question is does this ice pick head ache occur when either one of you laugh or get mad even when you strain sneeze and just make your head feel like it just want to pop open,yes it last about 3 to 10 seconds and once i was driving and i sneezing i head felt like it was going to explode i took my hand off the steering wheel to press on my head and veered to the other side of the road lucky no other cars was coming.when my doctor press on my temple it made a sharp pain run from the top of my head all behind the ear straight to the back of my neck.But when it happen it feels like a band it start from the from of the head and the pain rushes all the way around on each side to the back.Plus i have seizures could it be because of the faalls i had in the past

Barbara

3/26/10 11:49am

Maxalts 10's tablets, did help me with the migranes you describe.

The pain I suffer is servere very sharp , just like you have a knife driving through you skull. No other pain relief worked, these may help you, talk to your Dr. about these.

Hugs Barbara

Sandra

4/ 6/10 11:49pm

I have had the stabbing ice pick headaches a few times but normally the migraines I have are above my eye in the brow area. Imitrex worked for me for awhile but after a couple of years I wasn't getting the relief I needed so my doctor prescribed Zomig which seems to be much better. For awhile I was having cervical headaches while having the migraines and this double whammy would leave me incapacitated. My doctor reccommended I see a pain management specialist. It was the best thing I ever did. I was given two injections in the back of the head in the cervical area and I went from having the headaches almost daily to not having one at all for three months. That was about a year ago and I still have the migraines but not as often or as severe.

ice pick migraines

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