People with primary stabbing headache describe single or multiple stabs of pain that occur out of the blue. The stabs last only seconds, with the majority lasting under 3 seconds, and occur only once to a few times per day. The stabs usually move from one area to another in either the same or the opposite side of the head. If the stabs occur only in one place, it is important to see your doctor to exclude structural changes or injury to a nerve at that site.

If you get watery or red eyes, runny or stuffy nose or swelling and flushing of your face with the stabbing pains, you may have a different headache disorder called short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) or short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA) and should see your doctor.

Primary stabbing headache is more common in people with migraine and often can occur in the same location where they get their migraine headache.