What Is Acephalgic or Silent Migraine?
One of the difficulties encountered at times when discussing Migraines occurs when a Migraineur is given a diagnosis that isn’t actually accurate in diagnostic terms, but is really a descriptive term. Such terms may be used fairly frequently, but they fall short of a diagnosis and may also be used differently from one doctor to another. That’s one reason why most doctors diagnose based in the International Headache Society’s International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICHD-II). A “standard” diagnosis also makes communications and transitions easier when patients need to consult other doctors or change doctors. This is the case with the terms “acephalgic Migraine” and “silent Migraine.” In this case, the two terms are generally accepted to mean a Migraine attack without a headache. Any type of Migraine can be acephalgic. There are four potential phases of a Migraine attack (for a description of the four phases, see Anatomy of a Migraine): • Prodrome • Aura • Headach
