Neurology, Addiction and Psychiatry Conference

Acephalic Migraine: Is There Such a Thing as a ""Silent"" Migraine?

An acephalic migraine, or silent migraine, is a rare and accidental form of migraine which does not include one of its most distinguishable characteristics: pain in the head in the spot which it typically occurs. Although the sufferers from an acephalic migraine do not have the bursting headaches as seen in a regular migraine, all other classifying features may exist: loss of vision or any visual irregularities, change in sensory perceptions and neurological malfunction. Since this is somewhat of an undefined condition, it will also help serve the proper diagnosis and management.

Symptoms of Migraine Without Headache

Major symptoms of an acephalic migraine are the aura or other neurological manifestations that occur either before or simultaneously with a migraine but without an accompanying headache. The manifestation of the aura may include:

Visual disturbances typified by flashing lights, zigzag lines, or blind spots.

Sensory changes of numbness or tingly sensations in the face, arms, and legs.

Dysarthric speech in the form of transient difficulty in getting words together or slurred speech.

Dizziness and dizziness

Some people may become very sensitive to light (photophobia), sound (phonophobia), or nausea, as in a typical migraine. The period of symptoms can be as short as minutes to an hour, but the absence of headache usually causes acephalic migraines to be overlooked or misdiagnosed.

Acephalic Migraine Diagnosis

Acephalic migraines are usually difficult to diagnose due to the resulting absence of headache. Most types of migraines involve head pain as the most common complaint. Generally, neurologists approach the case from a backward perspective: history of patient and descriptions of aura or other neurological symptoms. Many common precipitants of migraines are also taken into account: stress, hormonal changes, specific foods, or lack of sleep. Sometimes, imaging must include such procedures as MRI or CT scans to rule out other causes of similar symptoms, including TIAs, seizures, etc .

Treatment and Management

Even though acephalic migraines are not associated with pain in the head, symptoms that come on with these migraines may severely impact a person's quality of life. Preventive measures, such as medication often used to treat ordinary migraines, are the primary treatments for acephalic migraines. Medications may include:

Triptans or other migrainespecific medications for treating aura-related symptoms

Nausea medications to treat nausea or dizziness

Anti-nausea medications that are preventive in nature and may be beta-blockers, anticonvulsants, or antidepressants.

Lifestyle changes, including reducing stress, establishing a regular sleep schedule, and preventing known triggers of migraine attacks

Some people find help in alternative therapies such as biofeedback or acupuncture or dietary variation to avoid substances that may trigger the symptoms in them.

Conclusion

One of the characteristic difficulties is that there is no headache; rather, it falls in the category of an acephalic migraine or a silent migraine. But with proper diagnosis and treatment, it can be quite effectively managed. By identifying triggers, preventive therapies also prevent episodes from coming more frequently or being too severe. This way, they lead towards better quality of life. Understanding this rare form of migraine ensures that affected persons get their due share of proper care and attention.