Different Types Of Migraines? Why Should You Care?

Written and verified by Holly Hazen

What you need to know right up front is that different types of migraines require different treatment. It is essential to get the right diagnosis so you can treat your type of migraine effectively. 

More attention is normally drawn to the pain and the symptoms... but you must know what you are treating so you can stop it from escalating. The faster... the better!

More than half of us women and even more men (70% in fact) who get migraines do not get diagnosed properly. How is this happening? Doctors have very little time allocated to migraine in their education... that's how.

It's important to note that this neurological disease is not just a bad headache that can be resolved by taking aspirin or over the counter painkillers alone. AND just so you know… if you have migraine with aura, some medications are actually dangerous for you to take. [3]

What are the different types of migraine headaches? Here's a list of the types I've already written about:

Different Types Of Migraines Have Different Treatment Options

Many people think that migraines are simply a severe form of headache, they're not.

They are actually a completely different type of medical affliction.

The reality is that a migraine is a genetic and complex neurological disease with a very broad range of manifestations.

There are many different types of migraines that affect individuals, each one having their own trigger, symptoms, and preferable treatment options. Click on this post what are migraines to learn more.

The classification system has changed recently. The International Headache Society’s ICHD-3 classification system, has been simplified imo. It's been classified based on how doctors diagnose and treat migraines, not on how you describe them based on when or where you get one or how it feels.

For example... these are not official migraine types anymore, according to the IHS:

• Hormonal Migraine

• Menstrual Migraine
  

• Morning Migraine

• Abdominal Migraine

• Complex Migraine 

• Weather Related Migraine

But I will still use these terms. So let's get to the official types...

The Two Primary Types of Migraine

The two primary classifications of types of migraines seen in medical practices are migraine without aura (MWOA) and migraine with aura (MWA) (2).

Migraine without aura (MWOA - formerly called common migraine) is the most common type of migraine experienced.

Without aura means there are no early warning symptoms prior to the attack. The experience begins with a dull ache, throbbing or pulsating pain sensation on one side of the head and then develops into a full blown attack.

The pain is typically accompanied by a combination of sensitivity to: light and sound; nausea and vomiting.

Migraine with aura (MWA - formerly called classic or complicated migraine) is the second most common type experienced by approximately ¼ of us sufferers.

The aura has the same symptoms as migraine without aura but is always accompanied by early warning symptoms including: visual impairment, sensory illusion (olfactory, smell, taste) or motor skills impairment lasting hours to days (in my case) before the migraine pain phase begins.

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Migraine Without Aura

Migraine without aura (MWOA) gives you very little warning and occurs in 80%-85% of migraineurs.

Only hours before the attack begins, you can experience the more commonly associated symptoms listed above along with these subtle symptoms not generally well known: anxiety, depression, fatigue or unusual tiredness.

I have to remind myself that these are symptoms of an impending attack and not just me being overly emotional, which I can be from time to time.

Here are a few examples of migraines without aura:

Abdominal Migraine (MWOA)

This is no longer a type, but it's classified under 1.6  Episodic syndromes that may be associated with migraine.

Abdominal Migraines generally affect children. The symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and normally pass quickly.

Typically, there will be a family history of migraines and they commonly develop other types of migraines as they get older. As they pass quickly, fast acting triptans may be the best strategy.

It might be worth considering a combination of daily preventive medication and anti-nausea medications for your child to take to effectively deal with their attacks.

Status Migrainosus (MWOA)

This is no longer a type, it's classified under Complications of Migraine as 1.4.1 Status migrainosus.

Status Migrainosus is "a rare and severe type of migraine that can last 72-hours or longer"(1). Hospitalization is often required to assist with the intense pain and nausea that come with this attack.

Dilated blood vessels in the brain caused here, increase the risk of stroke substantially making treatment more focused on stopping or aborting the entire attack as opposed to just pain reduction strategies.

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The Types Of Migraine With Aura

From the IHS classification ICHD-3:

• 1.2.1 Migraine with typical aura
• 1.2.1.1 Typical aura with headache
• 1.2.1.2 Typical aura without headache

• 1.2.2 Migraine with brainstem aura

• 1.2.3 Hemiplegic migraine
• 1.2.3.1 Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM)
• 1.2.3.1.1 Familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1)
• 1.2.3.1.2 Familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2)
• 1.2.3.1.3 Familial hemiplegic migraine type 3 (FHM3)
• 1.2.3.1.4 Familial hemiplegic migraine, other loci
• 1.2.3.2 Sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM)

• 1.2.4 Retinal migraine

Hemiplegic Migraine is rare and it is one of the more severe types of migraines.

You may develop some temporary motor paralysis (hemiplegia) and one-sided sensory or nerve disturbances in your body, like muscle weakness, immediately followed by the pain phase.

You might also experience some numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation. It can often resemble a stroke. The neurological symptoms disappear when the pain phase begins.

There is often family history with hemiplegic migraine and “in about 50% of these families, a chromosome defect may be found on chromosome 19 or on chromosome 1 and involves abnormal calcium channels.

A physician should be consulted for this type of headache. You should not take triptans if you have this type of headache.” (2)

Ocular, Optical and Ophthalmic Migraine (MWA)

Ocular migraine has symptoms related to hearing problems;

Optical migraine has symptoms related to vision problems;

Ophthalmic migraine has symptoms related to extreme light sensitivity.

Other common symptoms include: localized pain around the ears or eyes, confusion, tingling of the skin, slurred speech, and for some, a headache.

Even though these are more rare types of migraines, the common triggers apply including stress and food reactions.

Recommended treatments for this type of migraine (at time of writing) include: NSAIDs, triptans, and when needed, anti-nausea treatments are advised.

Click here for more information on Ophthalmic migraine.

The Types Of Migraine Are

So now, to summarize, you know all about migraine with aura and migraine without aura... the other types are: 

• Migraine without Headache

• Migraine with Brainstem Aura (formerly called Basilar-Type Migraine)

• Hemiplegic Migraine (a sub-type of Migraine with Aura)

• Retinal Migraine 

• Chronic Migraine [3]
  
  

What You Can Do Right Now

• Know which migraine type you have so you can treat it effectively. Peruse the IHS Classifications to get more familiar with headache types. 

• If migraines are destroying your life, I suggest finding some extra migraine support with a professional counselor to help deal with all the impacts, or...

• Get my book Migraine Management to help you reduce stress and anxiety, manage pain and prevent attacks.

For more help, stay in touch... join the mailing list and download 5 things you can use every day.

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Page Sources:
1. Migraine Headaches: https://women.webmd.com/guide/migraines-headaches-migraines.
2. Types of Migraines: https://www.headaches.org.
3. Dumas, P. (2015) 7 Types of Migraine: Which Do You Have? Available [online] at: https://migraineagain.com/10-types-of-migraine-which-do-you-have/

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