The relationship of stabbing headaches with migraine attacks

Temporal and spatial relationships between idiopathic stabbing headache and migraine headache have so far been reported. We aimed to obtain some clues about the stabbing headache pathophysiology by comparing the two types of headache in regard to temporal and spatial relationships as well as precipitating and relieving factors of stabbing headache during migraine attacks. 43 patients who reported temporal relationship between migraine headache and stabs were studied. Localizations of migraine and stabbing headaches overlapped in 38 (88%) of the patients. 34 (79%) had stabs during migraine attacks, while 9 (21%) had stabs with a very close temporal relationship to migraine attacks. During the attacks, while head movements caused stabs in 10 patients (23%); applying pressure to the temples (n=3) and sleeping (n=2) alleviated or abolished stabs. We thought that stabs probably occur during a period in which central pain control mechanisms are weakened.