Is Acephalic Migraine Curable?

Acephalic migraine refers to a type of migraine, which comes without headache, but with aura.

If you have aura without the headache, you are likely to be diagnosed with this kind of migraine.

The diagnosis of this type of migraine is often a tricky one, owing to the fact that other neurological conditions, like simple partial epilepsy, demyelinating disease, transient ischaemic attacks, and even glaucoma can reveal symptoms similar to that of the acephalic kind of migraine.

To differentiate between the acephalic migraine and other neurological conditions, visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were examined, by making use of the flash and pattern stimulation.

The Disturbing Auras
Migraine auras or visual disturbances usually start small and fade away after marching across the field of vision. Usually after the auras, a headache can develop. The symptoms are generally the same with the migraine auras.

The auras or visual changes can be blind spots, flashing lights or zigzag lines, which have a “fortress” like appearance, and even poor reception on television. The migraine auras may last for several minutes, but they usually do not exceed an hour.

What Causes The Migraine Auras?
In the case of this type of migraine, you get auras without a head pain. However, there are chances of a headache following this kind of migraine.

The factors that bring about the onset of this type of migraine include a detached retina, partial seizures, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), transient ischemic attacks or ministrokes.

So, next time when you get visual hallucinations that are not accompanied by a headache, do not ignore it, but go and see a doctor. It is normal for the patients to mistake acephalic migraine for some eye problem.

Therefore, proper diagnosis is necessary for proper treatment. The treatment for this kind of migraine is quite similar to that of the classic migraine.

It is a misconception that migraine is only associated with excruciating head pain. It can also come without the head pain and just with the auras, as it is with the acephalic kind of migraine.

Posted by Jan Heering
Headache – Migraine Treatment Expert and Author
Founder and President of the Morpheus Institute and
www.headache-migraine-release.com

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