Hi Mullie

We are not medical doctors, so we can not give you a diagnosis. For this you need to see a doctor, with a headache specialist being advised.

Many of your symptoms do not match the common symptoms seen for CHs but you must see a doctor to get the correct diagnosis.

My wife starting get those last year, often called "Ice Pick Headaches.":

Under the International Headache Society's (IHS) criteria, the official name for them is "primary stabbing headache. Other terms that have been used are idiopathic stabbing headache jabs and jolts, ophthalmodynia, and periodica. Ice pick headaches is probably the most commonly used term because it's the most descriptive. The IHS description reads:

"Transient and localised stabs of pain in the head that occur spontaneously in the absence of organic disease of underlying structures or of the cranial nerves."

She had good results using Indomethacin. As mentioned above, if there is any way you can get to a headache specialist neurologist, you'll get the best chance at an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment regimen. GP's get about 4 hours of headache training in med school, garden variety neuros don't get much more then that. The head is a complicated place, you just can't beat a specialist. 

Wishing you speed on your diagnostic journey and some pain free time soon.

Joe

At your age (and older) it's increasingly uncommon see newly developing Cluster headache. This makes it the more important to see a specialist for a comprehensive diagnostic work-up.


LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or On-line screen to find a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

6. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.