Migraine Variants: Understanding Different Types & Symptoms

Migraine variance is another name for migraine variants. These are types of migraines that have symptoms that vary from common migraine symptoms of pain on one side of the head and extreme sensitivity to light or sound.

Symptoms

• Migraine variance symptoms include severe cramps and vomiting but no head pain; numbness; paralysis on one side of the body and vision problems, according to neurologist Rima M. Daffner, MD.

Types

• Types of migraines that include migraine variants include hemiplegic migraine (where the patient looses control of one side of the body); abdominal migraine (vomiting but hardly any head pain) and silent migraine (also called prolonged migraine aura).

Aura

• Migraine auras sometimes occur before other symptoms begin and may act as a warning. According the Migraine Aura Association, auras are strange and disorienting disturbances of vision, sound or smell.

Time Frame

• Migraine variance symptoms come and go periodically. According to Aetna Health, symptoms last from 1 to 72 hours.

Warning

• Since migraine variances are similar to strokes, severe glaucoma or a brain aneurysm, "Migraines For Dummies" recommends hospitalization when someone suffers from an attack.