Sharp Headache

For about 3 weeks i have been getting these sharp pains in my head, they last less the 60 seconds, they are intense and on a scale of 1-10  they are about 9, my ear also hurts this is all on the left side. I dont know what is wrong and im very active i figure skate 4 times a week and dance, rock climb. Could they be a cluster headache?  or something more? please help?

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

What you describe seem to be 'ice pick headaches'.

These are - '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."

Criteria for diagnosisng these are -

- Head pain occurring as a single stab or a series of stabs

- Exclusively or predominantly felt in the orbit, temple and parietal area.

- Stabs last for up to a few seconds and recur with irregular frequency ranging from one to many per day

- No other symptoms.

You should try some pain releif medications and see if it helps with your symptoms.

In those rare cases where it does need treatment, preventive treatment with indomethacin (Indocin) usually works.

You could read more about this at -
http://headaches.about.com/od/otherheadpain/a/ice_picks.htm

Let us know if you need any further information.

Regards.