Brain & Nervous System Headaches Symptoms Overview of Primary Stabbing Headache and a Link to Autoimmune Disease By Colleen Doherty, MD Colleen Doherty, MD, is a board-certified internist living with multiple sclerosis. Learn about our editorial process Colleen Doherty, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD on May 09, 2020 Claudia Chaves, MD, is board-certified in cerebrovascular disease and neurology with a subspecialty certification in vascular neurology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Claudia Chaves, MD on May 09, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Autoimmunity Primary stabbing headache is a chronic primary headache disorder, meaning the stabbing head pains are not caused by an underlying medical condition. In other words, this type of headache exists on its own without another health explanation. Pornpak Khunatorn / Getty Images Symptoms Symptoms of primary stabbing headache include: A single stab or series of stabbing pains in the head (like "ice-pick pains" or "jabs and jolts").Short-acting, typically lasting three seconds or less.Stabs appear in an irregular manner, occurring once to a few times a day (although it can occur up to 50 or even 100 times a day).Stabs may occur repetitively over days, but this is rare. Experts believe the incidence of primary stabbing headache is relatively rare, although studies have reported it as occurring in anywhere from 2% to 35% of the population. Causes Experts believe that the origin of this headache stems from irritation of trigeminal nerve endings. This is because the pain of this headache disorder is felt in the distribution of the first branch of the trigeminal nerve (around the eye, temple, and side of the head). However, primary stabbing headache is a distinct condition from another pain-related disorder called trigeminal neuralgia. Diagnosis A primary stabbing headache can be tricky to diagnose, as it can coexist, and even occur simultaneously, with other headache disorders like migraines or cluster headaches. In addition to a thorough history and neurological examination, doctors may perform brain scans like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to rule out worrisome conditions before confirming a diagnosis. Treatment Treatment of primary stabbing headache may entail taking Tivorbex (indomethacin), which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID). However, indomethacin may not work for some people, up to one-third, and may cause kidney or gastrointestinal side effects. Other potential medications a doctor may prescribe for primary stabbing headache include: Celebrex (celecoxib) (a COX-2 inhibitor)Neurontin (gabapentin)Melatonin The Autoimmune Connection Science suggests that, in some people, autoimmune disease and a primary stabbing headache are related. An autoimmune disease is a condition characterized by your immune system attacking normal, healthy organs. For example, in multiple sclerosis, immune cells attack nerve coverings in the brain and spinal cord. One Italian study in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery examined 26 people with a diagnosis of primary stabbing headache. The researchers found that of these 26 people, 14 had an autoimmune disease. In addition, seven of those 14 people had evidence of myelin loss (called demyelination) on an MRI. Those with evidence of demyelination included people with a diagnosis of MS, Sjögren's syndrome, or vasculitis. The other seven people with both primary stabbing headache and an autoimmune disease did not have evidence of demyelination on their MRI. These people had the following autoimmune conditions: Systemic lupus erythematosusBehcet's diseaseAntiphospholipid antibody syndromeVasculitisClinically isolated syndrome (the first episode of multiple sclerosis)Lyme disease (not classified as autoimmune but possibly related to autoimmunity) The precise mechanism behind how these conditions trigger stabbing headaches is unclear, but based on the demyelination findings in some participants, authors hypothesize that a demyelinating injury of an area in the brain may be responsible. What about the other seven who did not have demyelinating findings? It's hard to say, but the authors suggest it's possible the demyelination simply could not yet be detected on MRI. A 2013 case study (a report on an individual patient), also found an association between primary stabbing headache and MS. It involved a young woman who had episodes of stabbing headaches up to 100 times a day. During one episode, the stabbing head pains were associated with numbness and tingling of her right arm. Her headaches and neurological symptoms resolved with steroids, which are used to treat relapses in multiple sclerosis. Remember, an association does not imply causation. Just because you have stabbing headaches does not mean you also have an autoimmune condition and vice versa. This is simply an interesting link and warrants more research to better understand the "why" behind it. That being said, this connection may alter how your doctor treats your stabbing headaches. For instance, they may consider steroids to calm down your stabbing head pain if you also have an autoimmune condition. A Word From Verywell As always, speak with your doctor if you have any medical concerns so you can create a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. When it comes to primary stabbing headaches, the good news is that most people don't experience persistent symptoms. If you do, you have some effective treatment options to explore. Do You Have a Rare Primary Headache Disorder? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Pareja JA, Sjaastad O. Primary stabbing headache. Handb Clin Neurol. 2010;97:453-7. doi:10.1016/S0072-9752(10)97039-5 Chua AL, Nahas S. Ice pick headache. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(5):30. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0559-7 Kim DY, Lee MJ, Choi HA, Choi H, Chung CS. Clinical patterns of primary stabbing headache: a single clinic-based prospective study. J Headache Pain. 2017;18(1):44. doi:10.1186/s10194-017-0749-7 Rampello L, Malaguarnera M, Rampello L, Nicoletti G, Battaglia G. Stabbing headache in patients with autoimmune disorders. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2012;114(6):751-3. doi:10.1016/j.clineuro.2011.12.027 Klein M, Woehrl B, Zeller G, Straube A. Stabbing headache as a sign of relapses in multiple sclerosis. Headache. 2013;53(7):1159-61. doi:10.1111/head.12138 Additional Reading Applebee A. The clinical overlap of multiple sclerosis and headache. Headache, 2012 Oct;52 Suppl 2:111-6. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2012.02243.x Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. The international classification of headache disorders, 3rd edition (beta version). Cephalalgia. 2013;33(9):629-808. doi:10.1177/0333102413485658