Hi Mike,
It's always been my understanding that there are two types of migraine: classic (with aura, and usually one-sided) and common (no aura). I had the latter type for about 50 years, and can assure you there's no "hierarchy" of suffering between the two types. The common kind can make you just as ill as the classic.
If you're in the UK (and possibly the US) just tell your doctor honestly about your symptoms, and I'm sure you'll get the pain relief you need. Unfortunately, the classification of common migraine isn't recognised in all countries, but I know it is in the UK.
I was always woken by my headaches around 5am. They would initially be in a sort of "headband" position across the front and top of my head, with a sensation of my head being squeezed. They would gradually move backwards over the sides of my head. I always knew that once I started getting earache I was in for the duration. The longest I ever had lasted four days! I had no sensitivity to light but sounds would reverberate painfully in my ears. In the worst attacks, the slightest movement - even of my eyes - would provoke nausea and vomiting. Unlike most classic migraine sufferers, I couldn't tolerate lying flat during these attacks as that would increase the throbbing and pounding in my head. I'd have to prop myself in a sitting position in bed for the duration.
I'm guessing now that they were stress-related, as they stopped overnight when I retired from paid employment seven years ago! Since then I've done a fairly taxing voluntary job, but I've only had a few mild headaches in that period.
In most English-speaking countries doctors will prescribe medication for common migraines. I had the misfortune to move to a continental European country when I was young, soon after the onset of my migraines. I was told by the doctors that "common migraine" wasn't accepted as a diagnosis here, and I should take paracetamol as I didn't have an aura before the headaches. Anyone who's ever had one of these common migraines will know just how ridiculous that suggestion is!
The only temporary relief I ever got was when my dentist prescribed high-dose naproxen (an NSAID) to get me through a course of very painful treatment. I discovered that this was fantastic for my headaches too. However, when I asked my GP if she could prescribe it I got the usual answer: no because I didn't have "proper" migraines. Ironically, in recent years lower-dose naproxen has gone off-prescription here (and in the UK as well I think) and my latest GP informs me that medical thinking about common migraines has also changed in French-speaking countries. Both since my migraines ended spontaneously, so too late for me!
Interestingly, two months ago, at the age of 73, I suddenly experienced my first-ever migraine aura! It was the scintillating scotoma of classic migraine, and lasted half an hour or so. Frightened the life out of me for a couple of minutes - I thought I was having a stroke! Thank goodness for the internet. I soon found out that this can happen and that, as in my case, these late-onset auras are rarely followed by an actual headache.
Try seeing your doctor about your headaches. They clearly aren't a symptom of any neurological disease if you've had them for such a long time. (I'm a former neuro nur se by the way, albeit from a long way back.) And don't let anyone tell you that don't know the meaning of suffering just because you don't have classic migraines!