If you’ve ever Googled “Why do I get dizzy and see flashing lights but don’t have a headache?” or “What kind of migraine causes vertigo?” — you’re not alone. Migraines affect over 39 million people in the U.S. alone, and not all migraines come with the same symptoms. Some affect your vision, others your balance, and some don’t even feel like headaches.
At Balanced Chiropractic in Riverton, Utah, we see patients with all kinds of migraine patterns, from the textbook kind to more rare types that most providers overlook. This blog covers the 10 most common types of migraines in the U.S., the typical treatments offered, and why your neck could be playing a much bigger role than you’ve been told.
Migraine Type #1: Migraine Without Aura (Common Migraine)
What it is: Throbbing pain on one side of the head, nausea, light/sound sensitivity.
Affects: ~75% of all migraine sufferers
Standard treatments: Triptans, NSAIDs, anti-nausea meds
Our take: These are the most common migraines, but still misunderstood. We often find misalignments in the upper neck that irritate the nerves feeding into the head and scalp. Most of these patients have been to neurologists, had imaging done, and still walk away with no answers.
Migraine Type #2: Migraine With Aura (Classic Migraine)
What it is: Same headache pain as above, but preceded by visual disturbances like zig-zag lines, flashes of light, or blind spots.
Affects: ~25% of migraine sufferers
Standard treatments: Same as above, often with preventive meds
Our take: Auras are a sign of neurological dysfunction — and guess what? Your upper neck houses the brainstem, where many of these sensory signals are processed.
Migraine Type #3: Vestibular Migraine
What it is: Dizziness, vertigo, imbalance — often without head pain!
Affects: ~1% of general population (underdiagnosed)
Standard treatments: Migraine meds + vestibular therapy
Our take: These are surprisingly common in our office. The vestibular system is directly influenced by the upper cervical spine. A misalignment here can send mixed signals to the brain, mimicking or triggering vestibular migraine symptoms. Many patients come to us after visiting ENTs, undergoing testing, and still having no answers.
Migraine Type #4: Ocular or Retinal Migraine
What it is: Visual symptoms like blurry vision, shimmering lights, or partial blindness in one eye.
Affects: Very rare; ~1 in 200 migraine cases
Standard treatments: Often just symptom management
Our take: We’ve seen patients improve after upper cervical corrections that enhance circulation and reduce irritation around the cranial nerves.
Migraine Type #5: Chronic Migraine
What it is: Headache occurring 15+ days per month, with migraine features on 8+ days
Affects: ~1–2% of the U.S. population
Standard treatments: Preventive meds, Botox, lifestyle changes
Our take: This type takes a toll on every aspect of life. If your nervous system is constantly on edge, it can’t regulate pain properly. That’s why balancing the neck can lower sensitivity across the system.
Migraine Type #6: Hemiplegic Migraine
What it is: One-sided weakness, numbness, or even temporary paralysis during an attack
Affects: Extremely rare; often genetic
Standard treatments: Avoid certain meds like triptans; neurology oversight
Our take: These neurological symptoms make upper cervical alignment especially important. Even small changes in brainstem function can lead to major downstream effects.
Migraine Type #7: Menstrual Migraine
What it is: Migraines triggered by hormonal shifts during a woman’s cycle
Affects: Up to 60% of female migraine sufferers
Standard treatments: Hormonal therapy, NSAIDs, lifestyle changes
Our take: Hormones and nerves are connected — the hypothalamus and pituitary gland regulate many of them, and these structures are influenced by upper cervical function.
Migraine Type #8: Silent Migraine (Acephalgic Migraine)
What it is: All the typical migraine symptoms (aura, nausea, sensitivity to light/sound) but without head pain.
Affects: Less than 5% of migraineurs
Standard treatments: Similar to migraines with aura — usually focused on prevention
Our take: These are often misdiagnosed or dismissed because there’s no pain. But the dysfunction is still happening neurologically, often involving the trigeminal nucleus and brainstem — areas directly affected by upper cervical misalignments.
Migraine Type #9: Cervicogenic Headache (Often Misdiagnosed as Migraine)
What it is: Headache that originates from issues in the neck — usually one-sided, worsens with neck movement
Affects: Estimated 15–20% of chronic headache sufferers
Standard treatments: Physical therapy, meds, nerve blocks
Our take: This is a big one in our office. These headaches are often labeled as migraines, but the root cause is actually in the neck structure. Blair Upper Cervical is uniquely positioned to address these issues with precision.
Migraine Type #10: Cluster Headaches (Not a true migraine, but often confused)
What it is: Excruciating, short-duration pain on one side of the head, often around the eye
Affects: ~1 in 1,000 people
Standard treatments: Oxygen therapy, medications, nerve blocks
Our take: While not a classic migraine, cluster headaches are believed to involve the trigeminal nerve — which is closely tied to upper cervical alignment.
The Missing Link? Your Neck.
Most migraine care today focuses on managing symptoms. And while medication has its place, it doesn’t always address the root cause, especially if that root cause is pressure on the brainstem or cranial nerves due to misalignment in the upper neck.
The brainstem plays a key role in how pain is processed, and one major player is the **trigeminal spinal nucleus, a region that receives pain information from the face and head. This nucleus extends down into the upper cervical spinal cord. Misalignments in the upper neck can interfere with this area and contribute to persistent migraine symptoms.
Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic focuses on correcting these misalignments gently and precisely, with no twisting, popping, or cracking. When the pressure is off the nerves, the body can get back to what it was designed to do: heal itself.
Let’s Connect the Dots Together
You don’t need to suffer silently, and you don’t need to guess anymore. If you’ve tried everything for your migraines but haven’t had your upper cervical spine evaluated, this might be the missing piece. Your body can heal. We’re here to help it do just that.
Check out our E-book: The Migraine Solution
Serving Riverton, Herriman, Bluffdale, South Jordan and surrounding Utah areas
Call or text Balanced Chiropractic at (801) 477-7222
Schedule online at www.balancedutah.com
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