Migraine is a complex condition – and I’m not a doctor. But below is an outline of some of the sub-sections of migraine, with attached links to the Migraine Trust for more info.

Migraine without aura

The most common type with 70-90% of sufferers experiencing this type of migraine.

• Attacks of ‘migraine without aura’ last between 4 and 72 hours when untreated or unsuccessfully treated.
• The headache is usually on one side of the head with a throbbing or pulsating pain which affects normal daily life and will worsen when you take everyday exercise as simple as walking
• The headache will likely cause the individual to feel sick and they may vomit or have diarrhoea.
• Sufferers may also become sensitive to light (photophobia) and/or sound (phonophobia).

Migraine with aura

Firstly, it’s important to define an aura. An aura generally precedes a headache attack (I usually experience it as a warning signal of a particularly bad headache to come) and it generally lasts from 5 – 20 minutes to an hour. The Migraine Trust lists the following symptoms as ‘aura’:

• blind spots in the field of eyesight
• coloured spots
• sparkles or stars
• flashing lights before the eyes
• tunnel vision
• zig zag lines
• temporary blindness.
• numbness or tingling
• pins and needles in the arms and legs
• weakness on one side of the body
• dizziness
• a feeling of spinning (vertigo)

10-30% of sufferers experience this kind of migraine, and the aura is generally followed by the same symptoms of that as migraine without aura – however in some instances no headache may follow.

Hemiplegic migraine

Hemiplegic migraines are more rare, and can be particularly horrible.  Hemiplegic migraine will involve a temporary weakness on one side of the body as part of the migraine attack. This can involve the face, arm or leg and be accompanied by numbness, or pins and needles. The person may experience speech difficulties, vision problems or confusion. This can be a frightening experience for the individual as these symptoms are similar to those of a stroke. This weakness may last from one hour to several days, but usually it goes within 24 hours. The head pain associated with migraine typically follows the weakness/numbness, but the headache may precede it or be absent.

Menstrual migraine

Many women report migraine attacks around the beginning and days leading up to their period, with around 50% of women with migraine stating their menstrual cycle directly affects their migraine attacks. However, there is also a subtype of migraine known specifically as menstrual migraine. Oestregen supplements, the progesterone only pill, and prescribed doses of anti-inflammatories such as mefenamic acid are all reported to help stabilise menstrual migraine.

Migraine with brain stem aura (also known as basilar migraine)

According to the Migraine Trust, ‘Migraine with brainstem aura is a rare subtype of migraine with aura and studies investigating it limited.  The symptoms will include two or more of the following:

• visual disturbances in both eyes
• speaking difficulties
• hearing problems
• tingling in the hands and feet
• dizziness
• vertigo
• ringing in the ears.’