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HeadWay, Issue #080 -- Migraine, but No Headache
June 21, 2010
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In this month's issue:

Migraine, but No Headache

Recently at Headache and Migraine News

Say what?!  Ocular Migraine or Occular Migraine


Migraine, but No Headache

Quite often the headache that comes along with migraine (typically called "migraine headache", but not to be confused with migraine itself) is so painful that you can think of nothing else.  But the truth is that migraine headache very rarely comes by itself - it's often accompanied by other symptoms that make migraine even more difficult to live with.

But it's surprisingly common to have a migraine attack with no headache at all.  Sometimes the pain will show up in other parts of the body.  Other times there will be no pain at all - but other symptoms that can be just as incapacitating.

Migraine without headache is frequently misdiagnosed.  So today we're going to take a quick look at some of the more common types of migraine without headache.

Keep in mind that you may get attacks with a headache and without.  Just because you have migraine headache doesn't mean you won't have attacks with no headache at all.
  • Migraine Aura without Headache:  This is the most common type of migraine with no headache pain.  You'll experience visual or sensory symptoms (ie seeing flickering lights, feeling pins and needles), and possibly a speech disturbance.  There's no headache, and the symptoms usually last less than an hour.  Sometimes different symptoms come in a sequence one after another.  In the past this has often been called silent migraine or eye migraine, but should not be confused with retinal migraine, which usually includes a headache.
  • Abdominal Migraine:  Abdominal migraine is most often found in children.  Instead of head pain, there may be abdominal pain, and other stomach issues such as vomiting.  Read more about abdominal migraine symptoms.  Also in this category is cyclic vomiting, which may be a type of migraine as well.
  • There are also more rare conditions, such as recurring vertigo (in children), and migraine aura that doesn't go away ("persistent aura")
  • Hemiplegic Migaine:  Hemiplegic migraine may or may not include a headache.  Unlike migraine aura without headache, hemiplegic migraine includes motor weakness (ie muscle weakness).  Read more about various types of hemiplegic migraine.
There may be even more migraine types without headache - researchers continue to debate what to include and how to categorize it.  For example, some have suggested a category for "cardiac migraine" - a migraine attack that includes chest pain.

Typically you'll hear that migraine aura without headache occurs in about 0.75% of the population, or 1-2 cases per 200 people.  However, it may be more common than we think.  Many people are not properly diagnosed, or don't even bother to talk to their doctor about their strange symptoms.

Here are a few important things to remember when it comes to migraine without headache:
  1. The importance of diagnosis:  It's very important to get a proper diagnosis from someone who knows migraine and who knows your medical history.  This is because the same symptoms can often be explained by different things.  For example, it's common for migraine to mimic stroke.  However, you don't want to assume it's migraine when you're actually having mini-strokes!  Or, you could have eye problems that need to be treated.
  2. Disabling:  Just because these types of migraine don't include head pain doesn't mean they're not disabling.  The symptoms at times can be just as disabling than a migraine headache.
  3. Serious:  Sometimes you feel a sense of relief when you get a migraine diagnosis - oh, it's "only migraine".  Yes, sometimes migraine can be minor.  But on the other hand, migraine can be serious.  It can increase risks of stroke and heart disease.  And it may have a cumulative impact on your health if it's not treated.  Don't ignore your migraine attacks - find good treatment.
  4. Treatment:  Treatment for these types of migraine is often the same as other types of migraine.  You'll be treated based on how debilitating your disease is, and based on your medical history and other risks.  Some people with certain types of migraine respond better to certain types of treatment, so do your research and if possible spend time with a migraine specialist.



Recently at Headache and Migraine News

Some articles you'll want to check out at the blog:... and there's much more!  For example, you can now scroll through all 1% Thursday entries through this link!

One more note:  Recently we were able to fill a few more orders of the Migraine Barometer.  It's sold out again, as of this morning.  However, we're hoping for a larger shipment soon.  If you want to be notified when it's available again, visit the Migraine Barometer page and scroll down to the bottom.  Just fill out the form and I'll let you know as soon as I have news.  :)

Say what?!  Ocular Migraine or Occular Migraine

An occular migraine (or ocular migraine) is... ... is ... well, no one's sure what it is!  The term is thrown around quite a bit, but there's no standard meaning.  Sometimes it's used to refer to retinal migraine (see above) or possibly migraine aura without headache ... or with headache!  Read more about the strange occular migraine diagnosis here.

Thanks for reading!  Remember, if you have feedback or ideas for future issues, visit the HeadWay MailRoom.  Your password is nomoache.
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