# What was this fantastic pain in my forehead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299 "2006-01-31T02:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/1 "2006-01-31T02:38:26Z")
So, here I am on a plane in the middle of my second descent of the day. My sinuses have never been particularly kind to me. Particularly with flying. I’ve been known to get insane pains in my sinuses and ears when I fly. Typically I spend most of the flight near-deaf as well. But yesterday’s was new. I get this jagged, linear pain from the bridge of my nose through the inner corner of my left eyebrow and in a line up there to my hairline. This pain was incredibly intense and lasted for about five minutes. I’m talking the second worst pain I’ve had - coming in only behind an infected tooth. What was this? When I fly home tomorrow morning will I spend five minutes trying to not scream in pain? -Joe, one pain, no waiting ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/2 "2006-01-31T02:45:15Z")
Sounds like an “ice pick headache.” Google it (first on the very long list is [http://headaches.about.com/od/otherheadpain/a/ice\_picks.htm](http://headaches.about.com/od/otherheadpain/a/ice_picks.htm)) Horrid things, but at least they’re brief. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/3 "2006-01-31T03:52:52Z")
Thanks for the link, **MadPansy64**. I’ve been getting these horrible things for years, and considered them to be little migraines that didn’t develop. Believe me, “ice pick” is a very appropriate name. ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/4 "2006-01-31T04:04:27Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Believe me, “ice pick” is a very appropriate name. Yeah, I figure the guy who named them had actually experienced the nasty horrid evil little bastiches. I don’t get them very often, luckily, but even once is more than enough. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/5 "2006-01-31T04:43:15Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > But yesterday’s was new. > > I get this jagged, linear pain from the bridge of my nose through the inner corner of my left eyebrow and in a line up there to my hairline. > > This pain was incredibly intense and lasted for about five minutes. I’m talking the second worst pain I’ve had - coming in only behind an infected tooth. I would get this checked by a doctor if I were you. 4 years ago my uncle literally dropped dead while washing his car. He had been complaining of terrible headaches for the past few months but for some reason never went to the doctor. It turned out that he had a berry anuerism in his brain which finally burst and killed him instantly. I’m not trying to scare you, it may be nothing more serious than sinus problems or migraines. But you should get it checked just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/6 "2006-01-31T05:13:39Z")
Since the thread is already somewhat IMHO, I’ll volunteer that it’s probably a toomah. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/7 "2006-01-31T06:37:12Z")
Holy crap. I’ve been using the term ice-pick headache for ages. I didn’t know that’s what the bloody things are actually _called_! Apparently I’m not the only person who’s thought “Aaaaugh! That feels like an ice-pick to the skull!” ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/8 "2006-01-31T09:00:40Z")
> [@Nanoda](#): > > Since the thread is already somewhat IMHO, I’ll volunteer that it’s probably a toomah. 😉 IT’S NOT A TOOMAH! ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-fantastic-pain-in-my-forehead/342299/9 "2006-01-31T09:01:47Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > IT’S NOT A TOOMAH! /Ahnold p.s. this is not medical advice and I am not a doctor. Go see one.