What Type of Migraine Do I Have?

If you’ve dealt with migraines, you know just how painful and debilitating they can be. What you might not know is that not all migraines look the same. There are different types of migraines.

But it's important for you to know that no matter how severe your migraine or its symptoms, there is a solution.

Here are six different types of migraines and how you can begin your journey to becoming migraine-free.

Migraine without Aura (Common Migraine)

The most common type of migraine is migraine without aura. 

Nicknamed “the common migraine”, migraine without aura can be difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with several other types.

The key differentiator is that the common migraine lacks the warning phase exhibited by other types. Pain starts on one side of the head and is made worse by moving around. Sufferers often grow nauseous and become especially sensitive to light and sound.

Symptoms: Throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head, made worse by physical activity; sensitivity to light and sound; nausea; vomiting.

Duration: 4-72 hours

Migraine with Aura (Complicated Migraine)

In addition to the symptoms of the common migraine, about twenty-five percent of people with migraine also experience aura.

Aura is a series of sensory disturbances that usually come prior to other migraine symptoms. People experience black dots or zig zags in their vision, an inability to speak clearly or even numbness on one side of the body. 

Symptoms: sensory disturbances before a migraine begins, followed by common migraine symptoms. 

Duration: Aura ranges from a few minutes to an hour, while the migraine itself can last from 4-72 hours.

Migraine Without Head Pain

A migraine without head pain?

While it sounds strange, this type of migraine can be very alarming.

Those who suffer with “silent” migraine experience dizziness, nausea and the visual disturbance of aura without head pain.

People with this type of migraine are likely to experience other types of migraine as well.

Symptoms: those common to aura

Duration: about 20-30 minutes.

Hemiplegic Migraine

The word hemiplegic means “paralysis on one side of the body.”

Symptoms of this type of migraine might feel similar to a stroke, yet cause no lasting damage. (If you have these symptoms don’t risk self-diagnosis, seek medical help immediately.)

Hemiplegic migraines are often accompanied by visual aura symptoms and a “pins and needles” sensation.

These symptoms may or may not include severe head pain.

Symptoms: loss of sensation; visual aura

Duration: bodily weakness may last up to 72 hours

Retinal Migraine

Some headaches can cause you to temporarily lose vision.

Called a retinal migraine, this blindness is a specific type of aura. Those with it may see colors or lights before losing vision in one eye.

Symptoms: visual changes including loss of vision, followed by headache

Duration: vision loss can last up to an hour

Menstrual Migraine

Menstrual migraines are triggered by hormonal changes.

These headaches can happen with or without aura. Typically symptoms are experienced just before or at the beginning of your period.

If you face severe head pain during two out of three periods, you may have menstrual migraines.

However, many women who experience menstrual migraines also suffer with other types.

Symptoms: severe head pain with period

Duration: 4-72 hours

Vestibular Migraine

Vestibular migraines are marked by changes in balance.

With this type of migraine, you might feel dizzy and nauseous. These sudden bouts of vertigo might make it seem like the room is spinning and are often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound.

Symptoms: Vertigo, dizziness, nausea, trouble with balance

Duration: ranges from momentary to a couple of days

How to Get Help

As you read through the different types of migraines you might feel overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that pain is likely to worsen with the frequent use of symptomatic medication. Some people get so discouraged that they surrender to the head pain.

But the good news for anyone reading this is that it doesn't matter which type of migraine you are dealing with. If you restore your health, the migraines will go away, and the three principles to restoring health are the same no matter what type of migraine you have.

Want to see how it works?

If you want to learn more about treating your migraines, you can watch my free training on “5 Steps to Healing Migraines Naturally.”

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• What’s causing your headaches, body pain and nausea
• Why obsessing over your migraine triggers is a waste of time
• Why menstrual migraines are not REALLY about your hormones
• How to combat migraine headaches without drugs and supplements
• How you can start being part of every moment life brings

Or better yet, if you don’t want to wait give me a call today. I’d love to help you rediscover a healthy life, no matter what kind of migraine you face.