Is this a migraine or something else?

OK It really depends on the type of headache you have. So I will give you the major types of headaches and the symptoms. I will say that this is a strange one. I have never heard of your symptoms in this scenario. However, your "basalar migraines" are actually a cervicogenic migraine. This is due to a misalignment of the head and neck and can be corrected by a good chiropractor. I have seen the "basalar" symptoms over 100 times and I was able to correct 98 of those with a proper adjustment. As for the current scenario, not sure on that. You might want to get it checked out just to rule out anything serious.

Migraine- One sided, more common in females, Sensitivity to light, pain behind one eye, throbbing, brought on by bright lights, chocolate, cheese, red wine or menstrual cycle.

Can also have an aura and have a funny taste.

Hypertension- At the top and back of your head. Throbbing. You usually wake up with this headache and after about 3 hours it subsides. Usually caused by High Blood pressure. Need medicines to reduce blood pressure.

Cluster Headache, adolescent to adult, more common in males, one sided, usually over temple or eye area, may have a blood shot eye, wakes you up at night, runny nose, sweating, tearing of the eyes, Worse in spring or fall, lasts 15min- 2hrs. relief for a little bit and then comes right back.

Muscular tension- A band-like distribution around head (like wearing a very tight head band). Brought on by stress, tension, fatigue, work.

Temporal Arteritis- Only over age 50. One sided over temple area, pain in jaw, burning, aching throbbing, sensitive scalp, fever. tender arteries. If visual symptoms- go to ER with this one.

Cervicogenic(neck caused)- Pain in upper neck and back of head. Pain when moving the head. daily, reduced movement in neck area. Brought on by stress, head movement and head alignment. Can mimic a migraine including nausea. If it is a head and neck related alignment you can have temporal headaches or headaches that arc from behind the ear forward. Possible sharp pain behind your ear at the base of the skull along with correlated shoulder pain. Can last for days and weeks at a time until misalignment is corrected. Very little or only short term relief when taking headache medications.

Sinus- Localized, certain positions are worse, steady throb, worse in the morning.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage- abrupt onset, constant stiff neck, feels like someone hit you in the head, Caused by high blood pressure, stress or aneurysm. Life threatening.

Brain Tumor- Onset morning and evening, varies from mild to severe, may throb, wakes you up at night, symptoms getting worse, neck stiffness worse than ever.

Subdural Hematoma- caused by trauma. It is a slow bleed in the brain. Natasha Richardson died from something like this.

OK now that I have told you the types of headaches. Here is what you do for them.

Migraines, muscular tension, cervicogenic, and some sinus and cluster headaches can be helped by a chiropractor. If it is sinus, you need to ask the chiropractor if they have a sinus/cranial treatment (not all do).

For Hypertension, cluster, temporal arteritis (unless it has visual component) and brain tumor- go see your doctor

For Temporal arteritis with visual impairment, subarachnoid hemorrhage and subdural hematoma, go to the Emergency Room right away.

I hope this helps.

I wish you the best.

I have terrible migraines...they are hereditary. I do also have epilepsy and a High level of stress. I have many of the same symptom's as u do. And then to boot in 2001 My husband and I were rear ended and it made them worse. However, you might want to ask your doctor about a drug called topamax. It is for migraines among other things. I take it for my seizures and migraines and it works wonders. I don't have them as often since I have been taking this medication, so u might ask if your not against meds. Otherwise, loose the stress as much as possible try yoga, dark rooms and a cool cloth on your eyes and good luck. Let me know how it works out for u.

You had neck muscles tighten up to cause your pains. They go to the top of your head for its movements for it to be them. Tight neck muscles are also causing your migraines. At the top of the head they connect with muscles going around your head and when the neck muscles are tight they pull the others into pain and that's your migraine. Having had them for any length of time usually requires outside help in freeing up the muscles so they won't happen again. When the muscles tighten up in your neck they can press into the nerves leaving the spine that go around your head to send pains to different parts of your head as well for the temple and eye pains. The pain in the back of your head is right off the muscles themselves. There is a home method you can try to free up those muscles but I think they are going to be too tight for this to be of much help but here's how to free them up if you wish to give it a try:

Neck:

Put your hands alongside your head so your thumbs are on the front of the muscle under your ear and your fingers are on the back of the muscle, behind your neck. Squeeze your thumb and fingers together and hold. After 45 seconds slowly lower your head as far as you can, release the pressure but hold your neck in the lowered position for another 30 seconds.

For best results relax your body first by taking a deep breath and exhaling then remain this relaxed.