Don't discount chronic sinus headaches when there are simple, new, in-office procedures that can help provide relief.
With several ways available to treat your sinus conditions and sinus headaches with over-the-counter medications, it can be hard to know where to start and when to see a doctor. If you're having headaches more than 15 days per month and over-the-counter medicines are used frequently but help little, it could be time to see a doctor.
Sinus headaches are associated with pain and pressure in the face and sinuses and can cause symptoms such as inflammation, nasal congestion, pain, pressure and fullness in your cheeks, brow or forehead. You may experience worsening pain if you bend forward or lie down, as well as stuffy nose, fatigue and an achy feeling in your upper teeth, according to Mayo Clinic.
If you have acute sinusitis, it could be hard to breathe through your nose. The area around your eyes and face might feel swollen, and you might feel maxillary sinus pain and have throbbing facial pain or a headache. Acute sinusitis is sinusitis that resolves on its own or when symptoms do not last longer than 12 weeks, according to Mayo Clinic.
You might want to try home remedies for sinus headaches. When all options have been exhausted, however, there is a relatively new procedure available called balloon sinuplasty.
"Some patients come in and have pain on the back side of the head. And when I think it's sinusitis, we're looking to get a CT scan. Sure enough, it is sinusitis that's coming from the sphenoid. And again, that's very amenable to just a small little balloon going in. I'll open it up and the pain disappears if it's coming from the sinuses." Dr. Daniel Mongiardo of Dr. Daniel Mongiardo Sleep & Sinus Center told Kentucky Business Daily.
During this minimally invasive procedure, a tiny balloon is inserted into the blocked sinus cavity to open sinus passages, allowing them to drain. During the procedure, the sinuses can be irrigated as well, according to Healthline.
A 2008 study of 65 patients by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation concluded that 85% of patients reported an improvement in their sinus symptoms two years after having a balloon sinuplasty. The study was done at six months, one year and two years after the procedure. X-ray evidence proves sinus disease remission after two years.
If you or a loved one is in need of treatment or diagnosis for sinus issues or sinus headache, please start by taking this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.