Signs Of A Hemiplegic Migraine

Weakness On One Side Of The Body

This classic symptom of hemiplegic migraines is used by doctors to distinguish them from other types of migraines. The weakness felt on one side of the body can affect either side of the body, and often happens before the person starts to experience pain in their head from the migraine itself. Eighty to ninety-nine percent of patients with this illness experienced one-sided weakness. In one study, patients with sporadic hemiplegic migraines reported that they most commonly experienced weakness in their upper limbs, such as their arms, with their lower limbs being affected much less often.

The one-sided weakness usually lasts less than one day, although it can last up to three days. Sometimes, the weakness progresses to temporary paralysis, known as plegia, which is an inability to use the affected side of the body during an attack. While motor functions almost always return to normal following a hemiplegic migraine, rarely, some patients have been left with lasting movement and coordination difficulties. Hemiplegic migraines are unpredictable, and one episode may only bring slight pain or weakness, while the next could be more severe, or vice versa.

Continue reading to uncover another shocking symptom of this condition.

Speech Difficulties

Speech difficulties are another common symptom that this condition shares with other neurological disorders, including strokes. Often, speech difficulties are part of a cluster of warning symptoms, called an aura, that occur before the arrival of the migraine and head pain itself. In the case of a hemiplegic migraine, difficulty with speaking usually occurs in the form of slurred speech, and it may be accompanied by confusion, drowsiness, and sensitivity to smell or sound. Patients experiencing speech problems during an attack may also have language difficulties, including trouble remembering a word for an object. Similarly, they might mix up their words, using an incorrect word for a particular item. Generally, trouble with speech only lasts for about one hour, although it can extend to a few hours. It very rarely lasts more than one day, although some patients have reported longer-term effects.

Keep reading to find out how this type of migraine can affect one's vision.