Migraine

Hi all

Bim and I were busy Skyping last night and, in the course of conversation, it came up that some people have headache and weakness/numbness/vision problems etc on the same side of the body, whilsts others have the headache on the opposite side to the motor weakness etc.

We did a quick google and it seems that most of the literature, if it mentions this at all, records HM headache with motor, vision, numbness problems on the same side.

If you're an HMer, what's your usual pattern?

And does anyone know what the 'usual' presentation is?
(I.e. headache and weakness etc on same side - or headache on opposite side to vision/weakness etc).

Thanks
sammyxx

Sammy & Bim,

Chuckie's hemiplegic side is his right side of his body. 99% of the time he always experiences all of his symptoms on the right side. He has had his left arm or left eye hurt but usually it is his right side.

Hello Ladies,

At the 49th Annual Amercian Headache Society Scientific Meeting, Hemiplegic Migraine was one of the sessions Teri and I attended. Dr. Anne Ducros, Paris, France said that sensory-motor symptoms can be unilateral or bilateral. Also, attacks can be right sided or left-sided OR involve the same side.

No two Hemiplegic attacks will be experienced the same by every person. So comparing notes, while may be interesting is not always a good thing when trying to get to the bottom line. IMHO!

thanks very much nancy, It set me at ease. I was really confused about that conversation. LOL. I dont really know how we even got talking about it, but It was on both our minds since that time.I get the paralysis on same side as pain, she gets it the opposite side of pain. very interesting
thanks so much once again....

much love hugs and appreciation
bim

sorry about "comparing notes" it wasnt intentional, just happened. Scolding accepted , if the apology is :-)

Thanks for that info Nancy - that's one of the things that makes this forum so excellent: up-to-date, accurate medical knowledge.

It's fascinating how migraine presents so differently in different people - we all have our own particular manifestations. But actually Bim and I weren't so much comparing symptoms as talking generally about these differences - and in doing so we each learnt a lot more!!

Thanks again for this info - I'll do a search to see if Dr DuCros has published anything on this interesting aspect of HM.

Cheers
sammyxx

Hi All

Just for info my hemiplegic episodes are often but not always bi lateral.

My latest attack 3 days ago resulted in numbness and weakness to the left side of my face and numbness and paralysis on the right side of my body. However it can not only be only one sided in my case but it can also change sides too.

Regards

Marc

My 2 cents.. My hemiplegic episodes are always on the left side. My pain starts on the left side, though it sometimes spreads to the whole head, My paralisis is left sided, though at times i feel weak all over.

On another note, ANY info and input from those hemiplegics out there is gratly apreciated. I am in a hemi mode right now, and have been since day b4 thanksgiving. Nothing is working to break it, and docs seem to be out of ideas. Ct scan showed no stroke. started having seizures sunday night, though those seem to have tapered off a little. weakness and paralis seems to get better a bit then wham back at it again. same with head pain.and all the rest that goes with it.

I have gotten VERY little info from my neuro about these types of migraines, except i cant take triptans or most of the normal rescue meds. Very hard to find any info about these type of migraines online. Most drs dont know what they are either im finding... or know much about em. Also, WHY does my neuro keep me on midrin? Is this a concerning med? right now they are having me use it more as a rescue than an abortive as it is not working as an abortive, but is one of the few things that actually dull the head pain enough for me to function. Is midrin not ok for me to have? Im wondering if its working against the Varapamil that my neuro tripled my dose of this last week. (and THAT is causing very low BP)

I am seeing a headache dr next week hope i get more answeres than the dumb nuro who is at a loss at what to do with me. Any answers and info yall have would be nice. I have already read the link about hemiplegic migraines on this website. very informative, but still raises even more questions. Just wanna talk to someone who deals with these! Thanks!

Can U have A Migraine Without ur head hearting?? Because I have numbness in my left Leg+arm And blkury vision. My Doctor said u can???

Hi, X1. welcome to the forum. We're glad you found us.

It's definitely possible to have a migraine attack without head pain. See this article:

Acephalgic or Silent Migraine - The Basics

Has your doctor given you a diagnosis as to what type of migraine you have? If you have other questions, ask away. Welcome again.

Hi X1

Welcome to the forum!

Nutcracker already gave you some links - let us know if we can help you with anything else.

Welcome again!

X1-Welcome to the forum family!

If you have any questions, just ask away.

I look forward to seeing you around the forum.

My wife usually gets her pain on the left side of her head but the numbness, weakness and sometimes paralysis on her right side.

Peace,

Dave