You’re Not Imagining It: Migraine’s Strange Symptoms Explained


Key Questions
  • Are headaches the only significant symptoms of migraine disease?
  • Does migraine affect other parts of the body besides the brain?
  • Do the different stages of a migraine attack present with different symptoms?
  • What is happening in the brain to cause non-headache symptoms?
  • What role do allodynia and central sensitization play in migraine?
  • What is migraine aura?
  • Can symptoms of migraine disease be mistaken for symptoms of other disorders?
  • What are some of the less common symptoms of migraine disease?
  • When should a person seek emergency care for unusual symptoms?
  • What future research is most promising for treating migraine as a systemic condition?

Jessica Ailani, MD, FAHS, FAAN

Director
MedStar Georgetown Headache Center

Dr. Jessica Ailani is board certified in neurology, with added certifications in neurology and headache. She is a professor of clinical neurology and vice co-chair of strategic planning for MedStar’s Georgetown University Hospital.

In addition, she is director of the MedStar Georgetown Headache Center. She is a specialist in headache and women’s health and is dedicated to patient education. Dr. Ailani is also a member of several professional societies, as well as a fellow of the American Headache Society and the American Academy of Neurology.


Interviews from Jessica Ailani, MD, FAHS, FAAN

Controlling Chronic Migraine
Nondrug Migraine Treatments That Work
Expert Tips to Manage Persistent Migraine Pain
Hormonal Migraine Seasons in a Woman’s Life

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Deborah Friedman, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAHS

Over the past 50 years, our mission at the National Headache Foundation has been to further awareness of headache and migraine as legitimate neurobiological diseases. Much has changed during this time. With aid from advanced technology and clinical innovation, there are more treatment options than ever before. However, we understand that these diseases are still largely misunderstood and that finding the right treatment options for you requires insight.

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