Although head pain is the hallmark migraine symptom, the number of potential migraine symptoms is astonishingly high. Not everyone has every symptom and symptoms can even vary from one attack to the next in the same person.

The most common migraine symptoms are:

• Throbbing, pulsating pain: 85%
• Light sensitivity (photophobia): 80%
• Sound sensitivity (phonophobia): 76%
• Nausea: 73%
• Pain on one side: 59%
• Vision changes, blurred vision: 44%
• Aura: 36%
• Vomiting: 29%

And that’s just a start. Here’s a list of possible symptoms compiled from several excellent migraine books. Even this list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a start to understanding just how much of the body is affected during a migraine attack.

General

• Fatigue
• Lethargy
• Drowsiness

Visual

• Seeing flashing lights, wavy lines
• Temporary partial or full loss of vision
• Light perceived as painful
• Teary eyes
• Bloodshot eyes

Sensory

• Numbness or tingling on the face or limbs
• A sense that limbs are a distorted shape or size (Alice in Wonderland syndrome)
• Hallucinating sounds, odors
• Intolerance of being touched
• Very sensitive scalp
• Heightened sensitivity to odors
• Losing hearing in one ear
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)

Motor/Vestibular

• Partial paralysis
• Weakness or heaviness in the limbs on one side of the body
• Stumbling when you walk
• Clumsiness
• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• A feeling of motion sickness
• Light-headedness

Muscular

• Neck pain
• Muscle tension

Cognitive

• Trouble finding words (including substituting one word for another)
• Difficulty understanding spoken or written language
• Inability to concentrate
• Mental confusion
• Feeling disoriented
• Transient global amnesia (similar to amnesia that follows a concussion)
• Slurring words

Digestive

• Food cravings
• Stomach rumblings
• Constipation
• Intolerance of food odors
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain

Fluid disturbances

• Increased thirst
• Bloating or fluid retention
• Frequent urination
• Swollen face
• Dehydration

Mental/Personality

• Mood changes
• Irritability
• High energy
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Nervousness

Skin

• Pale skin
• Reddish skin
• Cold, clammy skin
• Goosebumps
• Black circles around eyes
• Sweating
• Hot flashes or chills

Respiratory

• Frequent yawning
• Sighing
• Hyperventilating
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose

Circulatory

• Cold extremities (hands, feet, nose, etc.)
• Changes in blood chemistry
• Changes in blood pressure
• Blood vessel dilation
• Difficulty regulating temperature
• Changes in heart rhythms

References

Read more about migraine light sensitivity ➜
• American Council for Headache Education with Constantine, L., & Scott, S. Migraine: The complete guide. New York: Dell Publishing.
• Bernstein, C., & McArdle, E. (2008). The migraine brain: Your breakthrough guide to fewer headaches, better health. New York: Free Press.
• Lipton, R. B., Stewart, W. F., Diamond, S., Diamond, M. L., & Reed, M. (2001). Prevalence and burden of migraine in the United States: data from the American Migraine Study II. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 41(7), 646-657.
• Rizzoli, P., & Loder, E. (2012). The migraine solution: A complete guide to diagnosis, treatment, and pain management. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.