Migraines are commonly thought of as severe, one-sided head pain often paired with light or sound sensitivity. But not every migraine looks like this. Some people experience what are called atypical migraines, which present with unusual and sometimes frightening symptoms.
In this post, we’ll explore what atypical migraines are, why they can be difficult to diagnose, and how a different perspective may offer hope for relief.
What Are Atypical Migraines?
According to Dr. Taves, “Atypical migraines are migraines that present in a non-typical fashion. They are often one-sided, have a pounding and throbbing sensation, and are often accompanied by light or sound sensitivity, perhaps with a visual disturbance or an aura.”
If symptoms don’t follow the classic pattern, patients may be given an atypical migraine diagnosis. These symptoms can include:
- Visual changes or aura
- Numbness, weakness, or tingling
- Stroke-like symptoms such as facial drooping
- Brain fog, dizziness, or fatigue
Dr. Taves notes that many people with atypical migraines “feel like those symptoms are just as debilitating” as traditional migraine pain.
Why Atypical Migraines Are Misunderstood
The healthcare system often treats atypical migraines as a diagnosis of exclusion. Dr. Taves explains: “They exclude the other diagnoses that we can objectively find something to correlate to and because we’re left with sort of nothing objective but these series of symptoms we categorize those…as just symptom management.”
This means that once life-threatening conditions are ruled out, patients are often left with little more than medications to control symptoms rather than answers about what’s truly causing them.
The Role of the Neck
One of the most important insights shared in the discussion is the connection between the upper neck and migraine symptoms. Because this area carries the weight of the head and communicates with many sensory pathways, dysfunction here can confuse the brain’s interpretation of signals.
Dr. Taves explains that problems in the neck can be “interpreted as numbness tingling in your face or in your arm…blurred vision…light or sound sensitivity.” In other words, what feels like a stroke or seizure may actually be a signal misinterpreted by the brain.
Moving Beyond Symptom Management
Traditional imaging like MRI or CT scans often fail to show the movement-based problems that trigger these symptoms. Dr. Taves stresses the importance of asking deeper questions: “We don’t stop there, we want to go further, we want to understand why.”
By focusing on restoring neck movement and addressing underlying dysfunction, many patients with atypical migraines can find meaningful relief—without relying solely on medication.
Takeaway
Atypical migraines can be confusing, intimidating, and often misdiagnosed. But understanding their link to neck function and the brain’s pain processing system provides hope for those who feel stuck in cycles of strange, unexplained symptoms.
As Dr. Taves concludes, “we want the opportunity to show you what your life can look like without headaches and migraines.”
