Understanding Rare Types of Migraine

Most people know about regular migraines with head pain, but some rare types cause unusual symptoms. These uncommon migraines can be harder to recognize and diagnose because they don't match the symptoms most people associate with migraine.

This rare migraine causes temporary weakness on one side of your body, similar to a stroke. You might have trouble moving your arm or leg, experience slurred speech, or feel confused, along with the usual migraine symptoms.

Vestibular migraines cause severe dizziness, balance problems, and a feeling that the room is spinning. You may or may not have a headache.

This type affects vision in just one eye, causing temporary blindness or seeing flashing lights. Unlike regular migraine auras that affect both eyes, retinal migraines impact only one eye and can be quite frightening. The light from electronic screens can be a trigger for these.

Basilar migraines, also known as migraine with brainstem aura, affect the brainstem and cause symptoms like slurred speech, ringing in the ears, and severe dizziness. These symptoms happen before the headache starts and can be mistaken for other serious conditions.

Although anyone can get abdominal migraines, they mostly affect children ages 5-9. You usually feel the pain from these right behind the belly button. It might feel like mild soreness, or it could be severe. Along with abdominal pain, you typically feel nauseous and throw up.