[vericiab]

Not a doctor but I have seen a neurologist for migraine before and my understanding is that migraine causes a pretty unique constellation of symptoms. If someone has repeated episodes of moderate to severe throbbing one-sided headache that builds up over 1-2 hours, lasts 4-72 hours, is intensified by physical activity, is lessened by lying in a dark quiet room, and causes nausea, sometimes vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound then they almost definitely suffer from migraines. Because pretty much nothing else causes that combination of things. Sort of a "looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck" situation, if you will.

Of course the experience isn't exactly the same for everyone - personally the headache I experience during a migraine isn't throbbing, but it is very much one-sided and concentrated behind my eye (which is common for migraines). But I think basically from the diagnosis perspective, if connecting the dots (symptoms) results in a picture of a duck (migraine), then it is a duck. If connecting the dots doesn't result in a duck picture because there aren't enough dots, or if connecting some of the dots creates a duck picture but there are left over dots that don't connect - that's when from the doctor's perspective further work up might be needed because it's not clear what the cause is.

For me at least, how I distinguish between other headaches and a migraine is that with migraine the headache is just one of the reasons I feel terrible. It's similar to having a concussion in a lot of ways and more severe migraines can be a little bit like having the flu as well. I'm kind of dazed, struggle to remember things, and trying to think feels akin to running on sand. Sometimes music starts to sound like random noise without any musical quality. Beyond just physical activity making the headache worse, I feel physically weak and tired. During more severe migraines, I often experience rapidly alternating chills and hot flashes. Sometimes NSAIDs will help with only the headache and, even though my head doesn't hurt that much anymore, sitting upright can still be unbearable. Merriam Webster defines malaise as "an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health" and that's the best description I can come up with for the feeling of having a terrible migraine even when the headache itself is better. All in all, during a migraine I get the distinct impression that my brain is not functioning properly.

If a lot of that resonates, then you're probably also experiencing migraines. And if not, then that's the difference between what you described and migraine. "Cervicogenic headaches" also might be a thing that can cause headaches similar to a migraine and sound kind of like what you're describing. But I believe there's some debate in the medical community about whether migraine-like "cervicogenic headaches" are actually a separate condition or if it's just a way that migraines can present.

[treeman79]

Suffered exertion headaches for years. On top of migraines and strokes.

Turned out my cranial pressure was too high. Had some fluid drained off, and symptoms resolved that night and lasted a year.

Diamox helps me now. But lots of side effects.