Video 1. Visual aura of migraine

Video-1 shows a visual aura from migraine headache like that suffered by Lashley and reported in 1941. "Normal vision" is transferred to the occipital brain cortex. The visual migraine aura begins with a "visual obscuration," or positive (pink stippling) alteration in vision that is followed by a loss (gray) of vision. This change took 22 minutes to cross his visual field, a distance of 67 mm in occipital cortex. Accordingly, Lashley concluded his migraine aura traveled at 3 millimeters/minute, an unheard of slow rate. (This video was created with the assistance of Mr. Dale Mertes from the University of Chicago.)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• migraine
• aura
• spreading
• depression

[ALLYCAT591]

I started getting this yesterday, and I had another one today, followed by a migrane each time. I have booked a doctors appointment, have you any idea on wether this can be cured?

[rkraig]

@ALLYCAT591 Good idea to see a doc. They can certainly be controlled (i.e., stopped) in all likelihood. That's a bit different the "cured." One would likely always have an increased ability to start a headache. - Importantly, lifestyle can reduce this likelihood such that medications are not needed. If that isn't enough medications could be used.

[MorningGloryD]

@ALLYCAT591 Hi, I get auras too. They don't always mean you are about to get the pain of a migraine, but its a very predictable indicator. There are migraine medications like Imitrex that can be taken at the first sign. Usually if I take one when the aura starts then the pain is prevented. Try Aleve (generic:naproxen sodium),its over the counter. There was a study that showed it to be only 5% less effective than Imitrex when taken at the first sign of aura. The side effects are less.

[rkraig]

@MorningGloryD Naproxen, not used excessively, can be very helpful against migraine. Thanks for the comment.

[HeadacheTreatment]

Great video.

I watched it about four times in two weeks.

Thanks

[rkraig]

@HeadacheTreatment Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. 

[MorningGloryD]

@rkraig You're right, I should have mentioned rebound headaches caused by habitual use of painkillers. Another thing I've read about as a preventative measure but not tried for any duration is an herb called feverfew. It can be taken as capsules or tea (the tea tastes bitter, not very pleasant). It has been used since the greeks for migraine. The mechanism of action is inhibition of both histamine and serotonin release. That might be worth investigating for someone who can't use aleve.

[nucleuscontour]

@ALLYCAT591 I have been getting these for about 12 years now averaging once every two weeks, but I think I found a way to reuce these, since I haven't had any almost 6 weeks now. If interested, let me know...Barry in Pa.

[rkraig]

@Vamphaery I beleive you are correct, they sound retinal. The effectiveness of L-tyrosine is interesting.

[Vamphaery]

I get what seem to be retinal migraines. Scintillating scotoma; monochromatic in color, gradually growing and causing monocular obfuscation of my field of vision. Always the right eye. No headache or pain of any kind. No dizziness. No numbness. No loss of sensation or weakness anywhere. Just the visual phenomenon. It looks like a sickle or arc of TV snow or static, flashing very rapidly in black and white. For some odd reason, an amino acid I take for other reasons - L-Tyrosine - helps. (???)