The motor weakness, he says, is not always on the same side of the body as the head pain, but it can be. Severe hemiplegic migraine attacks may progress to more serious conditions, like seizures, decreased consciousness, or coma.
Seen mainly in children, abdominal migraine is a disorder of repeated attacks of belly pain with nausea and vomiting, but with or without a headache.
Dr. Godley says these attacks last 2 to 72 hours with complete relief from pain between episodes. About two percent of all children may get AM, according to Dr. Godley, and most adolescents with abdominal migraine will develop classic migraine later in life.
Migraine With Brainstem Aura (MBA)
Formerly known as “basilar migraine,” migraine with brainstem aura occurs when aura symptoms are of the type thought to originate from the brainstem, but there is no motor weakness associated with the aura.
According to Dr. Godley, diagnostic criteria for MBA is migraine with aura including at least two of the following symptoms: slurred or slow speech, vertigo, ringing in the ears, partial hearing loss, double vision (diplopia), impaired coordination, or decreased level of consciousness.
Typical Aura Without Headache Pain
Some people experience associated migraine symptoms without a headache, according to Dr. Feuerstein. Often called a “silent migraine,” a typical aura without headache features temporary visual, sensory, or speech symptoms, simply without the usual head pain.
SM occurs when someone has a migraine (any type) that lasts longer than three days, says Dr. Feuerstein. During status migrainosus, a person’s migraine — which could include head pain and other associated symptoms of migraine — may not respond to interventions or medications that normally work.
What to Do About Your Migraine Pain
As with any kind of pain, experiencing severe migraine or headache pain can be incredibly disruptive in your day-to-day life, so no matter what kind of migraine pain you experience, it’s important to seek medical help.
Dr. Brandes recommends keeping a headache diary to mark when you get your headaches and how severe they are. You can also note any other potentially relevant information, such as your menstrual cycle (if you are a person who has periods), seasonal allergies, alcohol consumption, or recent dietary or lifestyle changes. Make an appointment with a primary care provider, or OB-GYN, if that’s who you see for primary care.
If your headaches are debilitating and over-the-counter treatments (like ibuprofen) or prescriptions from your primary care provider haven’t worked for you (or have concerns about potential side effects), consider a specialist, like a neurologist or a doctor who focuses on the treatment of migraines. They can help you determine what your options are, any risk factors that may be exacerbating your symptoms, and any potential medical conditions that could be related to your type of migraines.