A migraine is a throbbing or pulsating headache that is often one sided (unilateral) and associated with nausea; vomiting; sensitivity to light, sound, smells; sleep disruption, and depression. Attacks are often recurrent and tend to become less severe as the migraine sufferer ages. Migraines are classified according to the symptoms they produce. The two most common types are migraine with aura and migraine without aura. Less common types include the following: Basilar artery migraine, Carotidynia, Headache-free migraine, Ophthalmoplegic migraine, Status migraine.

Basilar Migraine

Basilar migraine or basilar artery migraine as it is sometimes called, is one of those atypical headaches that can have frightening symptoms. This pain is unlike usual migraines. The pain is usually severe, throbbing at localized at the back of the head. It may be accompanied by severe vertigo (the sense that the room is spinning), difficulty walking and most commonly, visual disturbances. Other common migraine headache symptoms may also occur such as nausea, vomiting and having the light and sounds bother you. Rarer symptoms are jerking movements of the eyes, ringing in the ears and loss of consciousness. Severe vertigo is quite common and can be disabling.

Testing For Basilar Migraine If you present to a doctor with the symptoms of basilar migraine, unfortunately since it mimics a stroke so closely, be prepared for a bit of a full work up to rule out stroke. This most probably will include an MRI or CT of the brain right away and possibly an MRA to look at the arteries of the brain.

Different Types of Migraine

Migraines have been around for a long time and there is still much to learn about their causes, triggers and treatment. They are no longer regarded as just "bad headaches" but are recognized as something much more - a bit like the common cold and influenza (which is much more than a very heavy cold).

Common Migraines

Migraines are very painful and to call one group a "common" migraine may seem to be a bit of a misnomer but we have to start somewhere. This type has most of the basic symptoms like throbbing pain in the head and is often accompanied by a feeling of nausea. It is also accompanied by a loss of balance, sometimes with the room seeming to spin and at such moments it is best to sit down, preferably with your back against a firm support that you know will not move.

Basal Migraine Symptoms

Regardless of the name used to describe the headache, it is both rare and generally very severe. Because of the rarity of the basal migraine researchers are still learning more about the condition with limited funding. In addition, it is unlikely that most medical practitioners have experience with the basal migraine symptoms which makes the chances of a misdiagnosis higher.