I'm a 36 year old male and have had about 20 or so "migraines" in my lifetime. All but probably (2) have been just the scintillating visual aura w/ a very mild headache. I go to sleep and wake up OK with some "cloudiness" the next morning. I haven't actually gotten ill with them in years. This is the weird thing: I have not had an aura in approx. 18 months. Last night I got one. I cannot remotely pinpoint what could've caused it. The majority of my previous aura instances seemed to be exercised related. I used to play a lot of competitive softball and basketball and as I got older, I just assumed it may've been related to possible dehydration during activity or a spike in heart rate/blood pressure. Now, I'm wondering is there's a correlation between the visual aura and chronic neck pain. My neck is constantly sore. Not unbearable, but typically stiff and tender after I wake up. I move it around in the shower and it's fine. I don't sleep on it properly and I played a lot of football earlier in life. It's been somewhat screwed up for 20+ years. I had a terrible crick in it Sat. morning after falling asleep on the couch Fri. night and slept in a hotel room Sat. night on a different pillow. Two nights of not using my normal pillow. Also, the auras I used to get after basketball seemed to be proceeded by neck stiffness and pain. Playing ball, I'd move my neck around in a different manner than normal.....looking up for rebounds, whipping my head around to find the ball, etc... Then, like clockwork, I'd get an aura shortly thereafter. Is there any theory to support the neck pain/migraine connection? Fortunately my episodes are very mild and I'm still able to function, but I've cut down on my activities considerably because these auras are a tad bit frightening. I'd love to get in shape and start playing once again.
Thanks for the help!