Would a doctor ever prescribe pain killers for a headache?

Sure some would. It may not be the right thing, but they'd prescribe it. Pain killer is a lousy description, as they call tylenol a pain killer, and none of them completely get rid of the pain. But you are probably referring to are narcotic pain medications. Sometimes they are indicated, sometimes not, but doctors are often reluctant to use them, not just because of the Rx pain drug flap (mostly ignorance and misinformation) but they can also cause some pretty wicked headaches from their use. the call them rebound headaches. I don't know if you have tried the drug Fiornal? Pretty decent relief for headaches. Feel better