Silent Migraine

The main symptom of a migraine is head pain, right? Not always! A silent migraine is a type of migraine that has many other migraine symptoms without the head pain. With silent migraines, dizziness may be the primary symptom. For other silent migraines, vertigo may be accompanied by nausea, fatigue, chills, confusion, irritability, and other symptoms. Aura will often precede a silent migraine, though it is an uncommon symptom of regular migraine headaches.

With a silent migraine, aura is generally caused by brain activity quickly speeding up and then, just as quickly, slowing way down. Since the condition spreads from the visual part of the brain to other parts, visual symptoms generally begin first. This results in the flashing lights, hallucinations, and partial temporary blindness that can accompany aura that precedes a silent migraine.

Treatment of silent migraines often requires a daily diary to keep track of symptoms and to identify triggers. Triggers could include anything from physical and emotional stress to caffeine, and environmental conditions (extreme temperatures or loud noises) to not getting enough sleep. Your doctor may prescribe any of more than 100 medications that doctors use for migraine headaches. Much of this is trial and error.

While avoiding triggers may limit silent migraines, it doesn't treat the root problem which may be something as simple as an upper neck injury. That is why you should get a consult from an upper cervical chiropractic practitioner. Specialized upper cervical procedures that only a few thousand chiropractors worldwide have mastered may help provide relief on a more permanent basis.

What to Do Next

To find an upper cervical specialist in your area go to www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City, California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click here.

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Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/