A pain-free migraine may be a difficult concept for some to understand. Usually, the telltale sign of a migraine is a severe throbbing headache. However, for some migraine sufferers, any of the typical migraine symptoms can creep in without ever developing into the characteristic full-blown headache. Although ‘silent migraine’ is not an official migraine designation, the term is frequently used to describe a migraine episode that has all the relevant signs and symptoms without the accompanying head pain.
Though it brings terrible headache pain, the term migraine describes a cascade of symptoms that unfold in phases. While there’s no such thing as a “textbook” migraine episode, the usual stages of a migraine attack include:
When thinking about the phases that make up a migraine attack, it is important to understand that not everyone will move through these phases in the same way. The same person may not even experience the same progression through these stages as they did during their prior episode. When it comes to silent migraines, a person can have any combination of migraine symptoms and not enter the headache phase.
Now that you know that some people can have a migraine episode without the 3rd phase – the headache phase – here are some facts to help you understand silent migraine better:
Simply because a migraine episode comes along without a headache doesn’t mean it’s pleasant to experience. If a person is having a migraine, but without the headache, then what are the possible symptoms?
Silent migraines can be triggered by the same things that might bring on an attack with a headache. The common triggers that migraine sufferers might want to either identify or steer clear of entirely including alcohol, caffeine, aged wines, cheeses, and meats (all contain tyramine, an amino acid), flickering lights, loud noises, stress, sleep deprivation, and changes in the weather.
Migraines can be related to abnormal electrical activity in the brain and central nervous system. This explains the symptoms that characterize a silent migraine – different areas of the brain that are responsible for vision, hearing, smell, and sensation are being triggered during a migraine episode and producing symptoms.
Upper cervical chiropractic care recognizes the intimate connection between migraines, the central nervous system (CNS), and the vertebrae that are responsible for protecting the delicate tissues of the CNS. The brain, brainstem, and spinal cord are so critical to our lives and a bone protect them. The vertebrae that form a junction between the skull and neck are tasked with a challenging blend of jobs: to keep the head balanced and upright while accommodating a wide range of movements. This area is particularly vulnerable to misaligning because of its unique function and increased mobility. When a misalignment happens in the upper neck, it can disturb normal neurological function as well as hinder the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid between the head and neck. These factors can easily contribute to the formation of silent migraines or migraines with headache.
The benefits of upper cervical chiropractic care are many. We take great care to deliver the most precise, gentle corrections in order to yield long-lasting results. Upper cervical chiropractic care performs extremely thorough analysis and each adjustment is specific to every patient's needs. If the upper cervical spine is in correct alignment, your body has the opportunity to experience the return of healthy communication of signals traveling between the brain and body over the nerves. This can result in the reduction or even complete resolution of migraine symptoms as the body heals naturally. If you’re interested in learning more about upper cervical chiropractic care, browse the other blogs on our website and schedule an in-person consultation.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/what-are-silent-migraines#1
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.