
migraine headachesĪlthough ice pick headaches and migraine can sometimes occur together, this is not always the case, and these conditions are not the same. Since ice pick headaches often occur in people who also get migraine episodes, migraine sometimes occurs with ice pick headaches. The headache may also move from one area to another on either the same or opposite side of the head. In some people, however, it may last for up to 1 minute. The pain associated with ice pick headaches tends to last for only a few seconds.

This is more common in people who also have a history of migraine.

In some cases, people may have a gene that makes them prone to developing headaches. The muscles in the head and neck may also play a role. Researchers theorize that these headaches develop because of chemical activity in the brain, nerves, or blood vessels surrounding the skull. For each person who gets these headaches, the cause may vary. Researchers do not always know the exact cause of an ice pick headache.
