Fibromyalgia and Migraine
Having both Fibromyalgia and migraine or severe headaches is not uncommon, particular in women. The results of one study found that migraine headaches are both common and more frequent in women with Fibromyalgia than the general population who do not have Fibromyalgia.
There are three main types of migraine which effect one side of the head.
- Migraine with aura. This is where specific visual or other warning signs occur just before the onset of a migraine.
- Migraine without aura. This type of migraine occurs without any specific warning signs.
- Migraine aura without headache. This is known as a silent migraine because even though there is presence of an aura or other migraine symptoms a headache does not develop.
Light sensitivity
The link between Fibromyalgia and migraine is shown particularly in light sensitivity.
In a study looking at neurologic signs and symptoms in Fibromyalgia it was observed that 70% of people with Fibromyalgia had reported painful light sensitivity.
Many people with Fibromyalgia have multi sensory hyper-sensitivity which makes them extremely sensitive to noise, smells and in particularly light. Light sensitivity, (Photophobia) can trigger migraines and many sufferers need to recover in a dark room.
Migraines triggered by light sensitivity are often accompanied by severe head pain, eye pain and nausea.
Fibromyalgia and Headaches
Headaches, other than migraines, affect people with Fibromyalgia. It is reported that half of all women with Fibromyalgia also suffer with headaches. And although pain is often felt all over the body in people with Fibromyalgia, headaches can be particular painful and debilitating. Especially when they can last days or longer due to a Fibromyalgia flare.
Types of headache affecting people with Fibromyalgia are normally tension headaches brought on by stress. And as people with Fibromyalgia are under constant stress, tension headaches are a common occurrence.
My experience with Fibromyalgia and migraine and other headaches
I consider myself lucky that the frequency of my headaches is few, thank goodness. It is enough to have to endure pain in every part of my body on a daily basis without having headaches on top.
For me a severe headache would be triggered by my sensitivity to light, particularly fluorescent lighting. To avoid having headaches I would always wear my sunglasses when shopping in supermarkets or other places with bright lighting.
Although not strictly a headache, I did have pain on the top of my head when I touched it. It felt bruised allover and it made it painful to wash my hair.