People with hemicrania continua describe a dull ache or throb that’s interrupted by pain that is: Jolting Sharp Stabbing These attacks usually happen three to five times a day. Some people will have these headaches steadily for months or years. For others, the pain will last for at least 3 months and then will go away for weeks or months, then come back. The headaches often have some of the same symptoms as other kinds of headaches. This overlap can make them tricky for doctors to diagnose. Like migraines, they can cause: Nausea or vomiting Sensitivity to noise or light Throbbing pain