David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Acephalgic or Silent Migraine ? The Basics
by Teri Robert, MyMigraineConnection
One of the difficulties encountered at times when discussing Migraines occurs when a Migraineur is given a diagnosis that isn't actually accurate in diagnostic terms, but is really a descriptive term. Such terms may be used fairly frequently, but they fall short of a diagnosis and may also be used differently from one doctor to another. That's one reason why most doctors diagnose based in the International Headache Society's International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICHD-II). A "standard" diagnosis also makes communications and transitions easier when patients need to consult other doctors or change doctors.
This is the case with the terms "acephalgic Migraine" and "silent Migraine." In this case, the two terms are generally accepted to mean a Migraine attack without a headache. Any type of Migraine can be acephalgic. There are four potential phases of a Migraine attack (for a description of the four phases, see Anatomy of a Migraine):
Diagnosis:
A patient who is diagnosed with Migraine should be fully diagnosed as to what type of Migraine they have, acephalgic or with the headache phase:
Treatment:
For infrequent Migraine attacks, even without the headache phase, medications used for other forms of Migraine are often employed to relieve the other symptoms. These medications can include NSAIDs, anti-nausea medications, Midrin, ergotamines the triptans. The choice of medications is somewhat affected by the age of the patient. When Migraines are frequent, the same preventive therapies used for other Migraines can be explored.
For more information:
Anatomy of a Migraine
Types of Migraines and Headaches
Hemiplegic Migraines
Chronic Daily Headache
by Teri Robert, MyMigraineConnection
One of the difficulties encountered at times when discussing Migraines occurs when a Migraineur is given a diagnosis that isn't actually accurate in diagnostic terms, but is really a descriptive term. Such terms may be used fairly frequently, but they fall short of a diagnosis and may also be used differently from one doctor to another. That's one reason why most doctors diagnose based in the International Headache Society's International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICHD-II). A "standard" diagnosis also makes communications and transitions easier when patients need to consult other doctors or change doctors.
This is the case with the terms "acephalgic Migraine" and "silent Migraine." In this case, the two terms are generally accepted to mean a Migraine attack without a headache. Any type of Migraine can be acephalgic. There are four potential phases of a Migraine attack (for a description of the four phases, see Anatomy of a Migraine):
- Prodrome
- Aura
- Headache
- Postdrome
Diagnosis:
A patient who is diagnosed with Migraine should be fully diagnosed as to what type of Migraine they have, acephalgic or with the headache phase:
- Migraine without aura
- Migraine with aura
- Abdominal Migraine
- Basilar-type Migraine
- Familial hemiplegic Migraine
- Sporadic hemiplegic Migraine
- Retinal Migraine
Treatment:
For infrequent Migraine attacks, even without the headache phase, medications used for other forms of Migraine are often employed to relieve the other symptoms. These medications can include NSAIDs, anti-nausea medications, Midrin, ergotamines the triptans. The choice of medications is somewhat affected by the age of the patient. When Migraines are frequent, the same preventive therapies used for other Migraines can be explored.
For more information:
Anatomy of a Migraine
Types of Migraines and Headaches
Hemiplegic Migraines
Chronic Daily Headache
