"ideopathic ice pick head pains"???

[Sue__0__0]

  For quite some time now on and off I've experienced these strange pains in my head.  I've searched the internet over for something I could relate to and only came up with one that labelled it "ideopathic" ice pick head pains.  I could totally relate. The pains that I get, last only about a second and then they're gone, although I get several of them through the course of the day.  They are a real sharp, pinching pain. ("ice pick" is the perfect terminology)  I usually get them at both sides at the back of my head, but some times I'll get them on the top, all the way to the front.  They were classed as a miscellanious type headache of no known origin.  Does anyone else out there suffer these on an annoying basis???  Could the possibly be some form of neuralgia???  I have neuralgias and other neurological problems due to diabetes......and I'd like to know if it's possible that these could fall into the same category.
  Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
  Sue
______________
______________
Dear Sue,
It is doubtful you have a neuralgia, but it is difficult to say over the
internet.  There is such a thing as occipital neuralgia, but typically it
does not give bilateral pain such as you describe.  The most likely explanation
is tension headaches.  If the pains persist, you may first get an opinion from
your primary care physician, then consider a neurologist specializing in headache
if no answers can be found.
Good luck.