Could unusual muscle contractions be related to my migraines?
Q. With a complex migraine, is it normal to experience muscle contraction in the upper and lower extremities?
A. A headache that is accompanied by contractions in the muscles would not be typical for migraine. However, there are some possible connections.
It depends on what type of muscle contractions a person is having. If the muscles are just getting tight, this could be due to hyperventilation. With a bad headache from migraine, hyperventilation could easily occur as a response to pain. Typical hyperventilation symptoms include tingling around the mouth and in the fingers and toes. Also, the hands and feet can go into spasms.
If by contractions you mean jerking, such as the jerking that occurs with a seizure, then this could be part of a complex migraine. Migraine and seizures share the common problem of uncontrolled hyperactivity within the brain. Alterations in brain chemistry during migraines and seizures also have some similarities.
Seizure disorders occur more commonly in people with migraine compared to those who don't have migraine. In people with both migraine and seizures, about 3% experienced seizures during or immediately following the migraine aura.
If a person does have both migraine and seizures, the antiseizure medication topiramate (Topamax) can be a very effective treatment to help prevent migraine attacks.
If you haven't done so already, you definitely want to discuss these symptoms with your doctor.
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About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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