It is Possible to Have a Migraine without Headache

Although the common migraine headache is well known, it is certainly possible to have a migraine without headache and these are often called silent migraines or ocular migraines. The headache symptoms are absent in these silent migraines but other symptoms such as visual disturbance, nausea, dizziness, and visual disturbances, such as spots, waves or blotches are usually present.

Though a migraine that occurs with no headache might seem a boon to some sufferers, the symptoms that occur with a migraine and no headache can be just as debilitating as the migraine headache pain. Only about 5% of the persons who experience chronic migraines regularly have a migraine without headache. However, some 20% of migraine sufferers experience a migraine with no headache occasionally.

A simple fact is that a migraine episode is not just a headache that is medicated or suffered through and it is over, the effects are multitudinous and most migraine sufferers spend hours or even days recovering after a severe migraine whether it is with a headache or without.

The various stages of a migraine are as follows:

The prodome stage (before the headache) where many migraine patients even those who do not experience an aura recognize this stage in muscle stiffness, food cravings, irritability, or increased urination.

The next stage is called the aura for those who experience auras. Only some 20% of patients with migraines experience auras and they can manifest in visual disturbances such as spots, flashing lights or zigzags. Other types of auras might be tastes, tingling, or buzzing in the ears. Patients who have migraine headaches and those who experience migraines but without a headache can go through the aura.

The migraine headache pain is absent in those few who have migraine without headache and its attendant dizziness nausea and other side effects however the visual disturbances, aura and prodome stages can be disruptive. Instead, the migraine manifests in visual disturbances most often with dots in front of the eyes or zigzags or flashes and sometimes tingling or numbness.

If a migraine without headache is infrequent and mild then not much need be done however, it is critical that medical advice be sought before dismissing the symptoms, a migraine without headache can be difficult to diagnose for even professionals.  The symptoms of a migraine without headache also can be significant of some other neurological or medical disorder and professional advice is important to distinguish a migraine from another condition.

If the migraine without headache is chronic and begins to interfere with daily life on a regular basis then sometimes the same  prophylactic medications that are used for the traditional migraine headaches work for the sufferer. There are a number of medications available to help alleviate the frequency and severity of migraines. Occasionally the migraine without headache episodes is so infrequent and mild that patients with that type do not need medication.

Because the migraine without headache does not include headache pain, the patient may delay seeking medical advice or even believe the symptoms are a sign of a mental disturbance if the migraines are of sudden onset. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth and headaches are only one manifestation of a migraine.