Migraine can lead to some unexpected symptoms, including numbness in different parts of the body. It typically feels like tingling or pins and needles that spreads gradually and resolves within an hour.

“I’m grateful that the hand that goes numb is my left hand and not my dominant hand. I would be so upset if I couldn’t draw!” said one member of MyMigraineTeam.

Usually, numbness is a sensory aura symptom. That means it happens in the moments leading up to a migraine attack. While numbness is possible with a migraine attack, it can also signal a more dangerous health risk, including a stroke.

Here are some tips to help you know when to take your numbness seriously.

How Numbness Affects People With Migraine

If you’ve ever felt like your arm or leg has “fallen asleep” from being in the same position for too long, you know what numbness is like. Pretty much everyone has experienced numbness before, and there are many different causes.

Auras and Silent Migraine

Numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations develop gradually if they’re part of a migraine aura. These strange sensations may start in the fingers, then spread to the arm, face, mouth, or tongue.

For people with migraine, numbness may come with other migraine aura symptoms. Vision changes, including blind spots, zigzag lines, vision loss, or flashing lights, are common symptoms of aura. Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and muscle weakness can also be symptoms of migraine auras.

“My face, ears, teeth, and part of my face go numb, too,” wrote one MyMigraineTeam member.

Aura symptoms usually last about an hour and resolve shortly before or during the headache phase. However, about 5 percent of people with migraine have what’s known as “silent migraine.” This condition is also called acephalgic migraine.

Silent migraine doesn’t lead to head pain. It just involves aura symptoms with no headache that follows. Numbness can be a symptom of a silent migraine attack.

Hemiplegic Migraine

A rare type of migraine, known as hemiplegic migraine, is more strongly associated with numbness and temporary muscle weakness during the aura phase.

“Hemiplegic migraine today without pain,” wrote a MyMigraineTeam member. “The left side of my face is tingly and numb, with eye twitching, drooling, and circumoral (around the mouth) numbness.”

Another member shared, “My daughter is now having hemiplegic migraines. She has no warning, just loses consciousness. She stays this way up to two hours, then slowly comes around. She’s confused for a day or two, and the migraine pain is far above a 10. She’s seen many doctors and had many tests. They all say it’s a mystery.”

Hemiplegic migraine causes symptoms that are easy to mistake for a stroke. Like strokes, these migraine attacks cause muscle weakness on one side of the body. They can also cause aphasia (impaired ability to speak and understand language) and vision changes that are typically associated with strokes.

Numbness During Migraine Attacks

Some members of MyMigraineTeam have also reported feelings of numbness during migraine attacks. Numbness can be intense and get in the way of your plans.

“I’ve been up since 6:30 a.m. trying to work, but got a migraine attack with my whole face and neck numb and burning,” one member shared.

Other Possible Causes of Numbness

Some MyMigraineTeam members have struggled to know whether numbness is related to migraine or something else.

“My whole face went numb with this last migraine,” shared one member. “It could be TMJ (disorder of the jaw or temporomandibular joint), but the teledoc nurse thought I needed more [medical professionals] to help find answers. It’s been interesting so far.”

Another member said, “Another numb day with tinnitus and deep lethargy. Not sure if it’s migraine or depression or both.”

Nonmigraine Numbness

Lots of different things can cause numbness. Other possible causes that aren’t related to migraine include:

• A nerve compression, injury, or infection, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated disc, pinched nerve from spinal stenosis, or repetitive strain
• Stroke or transient ischemic attack
• Kidney disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuropathy (nerve damage) from diabetes, shingles, Lyme disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chemotherapy, and insect bites
• Vitamin deficiencies (B12, folic acid)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome

If numbness is an ongoing issue for you or if it doesn’t happen right before or during migraine attacks, there may be another unrelated cause. Talk to your doctor if you have numbness with a rash, during certain activities, or if your muscles seem to be getting weaker over time.

Medication Side Effects

Medication side effects can sometimes be responsible for numbness.

“I had to stop topiramate after five months,” said a MyMigraineTeam member. “My arms and legs are numb, prickly, and useless. Face, neck, and left side are numb and very droopy, mimicking a stroke.“

If you think your medication could be an issue, ask your doctor. They can help you stop or transition to a new treatment plan safely if they think it’s necessary.

Is Numbness Dangerous?

Numbness might not seem like a big deal, but it can signal other medical conditions that need medical attention. Left untreated, numbness can affect your balance and ability to feel hot or cold sensations, which puts you at risk for injuries.

Migraine-related numbness doesn’t put your health at risk. It’s a temporary sensation that’s part of a broader neurological disorder. But until you know for sure that migraine is the reason for numbness, it’s important to let a healthcare professional know about your symptoms.

If numbness strikes all of a sudden, it may be a sign of something more serious. Other warning signs that should be addressed right away include:

• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness or bladder control
• Sudden unexplained numbness
• Trouble speaking or breathing
• Weakness on one side of your body
• Other symptoms that aren’t part of your usual migraine pattern

Members of MyMigraineTeam have shared that symptoms similar to those of a stroke have made them anxious. “I have a migraine attack that mimics stroke symptoms. I hate this kind,” one member wrote. “My face and arm are numb but still functioning. I have trouble finding words, along with sound and vision issues. These are the most concerning and the longest-lasting type of migraine.”

Don’t hesitate to seek medical advice for new, severe, or unusual neurological symptoms, even if you have a history of migraine. A healthcare provider can double-check and give you peace of mind once they know there’s nothing else to worry about.

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