Pain relating to the sinuses can be absolutely excruciating, and it's no wonder.
These small channels of air sitting behind the facial bones easily become inflamed when infected, pressing on the bones of the face and making life miserable for the sufferer.
But before we go into ways to ease sinus pain, let's discuss the causes of sinusitis and its symptoms.
The causes of sinusitis There are four sinuses in total sitting behind our cheek bones, forehead and nose.
Each small pocket of air is lined with tiny hairs and mucus which help trap germs and dirt.
However, just like the nasal passages, the sinuses can be prone to both bacterial and viral infections which inflame the lining, block the passages and allow mucus to drip into the back of the throat.
Sinusitis arises when the mucus becomes too thick and doesn't drain properly, leading to a feeling of fullness or pressure.
Anyone can get sinusitis, and quite often it's the result of a cold spreading to the sinuses.
Other infections, such as ear infections or toothache, can also spread into the area.
Some people are lucky and only experience this discomfort for a short amount of time (generally up to two weeks if it's an isolated case).
Other people are more susceptible and will find that their sinusitis recurs or lasts months rather than weeks.
This form of the condition is classed as chronic.
What are the symptoms? Quite often it can be difficult to distinguish sinusitis from a cold as the nasal passages and sinuses are very close to one another and inflame in similar ways.
Sinusitis will tend to last longer than a cold and be more painful and intense.
It can be distinguished by these symptoms: • Headache concentrated in the area behind the forehead and eyes or just behind the nose • A feeling of fullness or pressure behind the facial bones, becoming more noticable when the sufferer leans forward • Congestion or inability to breathe • A constant drip of mucus into the back of the throat, leading to soreness and bad breath • Tiredness • Nausea Alleviating the pain: Short term measures Most people will only have sinusitis for a short time.
It is usually caused by a bacterial infection, and doctors will generally prescribe an antibiotic to kill the bacteria, accompanied by some nasal spray or wash that will help clear out the sinuses themselves.
These sprays and washes are also available over the counter.
Medication may take a few days to kick in.
In the mean time, sufferers can make life a bit more comfortable via the following methods: • Taking painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen • Using decongestants, either in spray or tablet form • Steroid or saline nasal sprays and washes • Steaming the nasal passages and sinuses using a bowl of boiling hot water • Sweets or mixtures to ease the pain of a sore throat • Rest and plenty of liquids to aid quicker recovery Alleviating the pain: Long-term measures For some people, sinusitis is a recurring problem, and in this case sufferers might look to a more permanent solution.
There are two kinds of surgery that patients with chronic cases which don't react well to antibiotics or other medication can choose from if they need more advanced treatments.
The first, generally referred to as conventional sinus surgery, has been in use for many years and involves a thin tube called an endoscope.
This is fed into the sinuses via the nasal passage so the surgeon can see the cause of the blockage.
When the surgeon has determined what the problem is, they can scrape away bone and tissue within the sinus to open up the passage and prevent future infections or blockages.
Naturally, because this method requires the removal of tissue, it can be quite painful post-surgery.
The second kind is called Balloon Sinuplasty?.
It is similar to conventional surgery in that it uses an endoscope to penetrate the nasal passages.
Instead of removing tissue, however, the endoscope inflates a small balloon catheter into the sinus, which gently pushes against the walls and helps open up the passage permanently.
These small channels of air sitting behind the facial bones easily become inflamed when infected, pressing on the bones of the face and making life miserable for the sufferer.
But before we go into ways to ease sinus pain, let's discuss the causes of sinusitis and its symptoms.
The causes of sinusitis There are four sinuses in total sitting behind our cheek bones, forehead and nose.
Each small pocket of air is lined with tiny hairs and mucus which help trap germs and dirt.
However, just like the nasal passages, the sinuses can be prone to both bacterial and viral infections which inflame the lining, block the passages and allow mucus to drip into the back of the throat.
Sinusitis arises when the mucus becomes too thick and doesn't drain properly, leading to a feeling of fullness or pressure.
Anyone can get sinusitis, and quite often it's the result of a cold spreading to the sinuses.
Other infections, such as ear infections or toothache, can also spread into the area.
Some people are lucky and only experience this discomfort for a short amount of time (generally up to two weeks if it's an isolated case).
Other people are more susceptible and will find that their sinusitis recurs or lasts months rather than weeks.
This form of the condition is classed as chronic.
What are the symptoms? Quite often it can be difficult to distinguish sinusitis from a cold as the nasal passages and sinuses are very close to one another and inflame in similar ways.
Sinusitis will tend to last longer than a cold and be more painful and intense.
It can be distinguished by these symptoms: • Headache concentrated in the area behind the forehead and eyes or just behind the nose • A feeling of fullness or pressure behind the facial bones, becoming more noticable when the sufferer leans forward • Congestion or inability to breathe • A constant drip of mucus into the back of the throat, leading to soreness and bad breath • Tiredness • Nausea Alleviating the pain: Short term measures Most people will only have sinusitis for a short time.
It is usually caused by a bacterial infection, and doctors will generally prescribe an antibiotic to kill the bacteria, accompanied by some nasal spray or wash that will help clear out the sinuses themselves.
These sprays and washes are also available over the counter.
Medication may take a few days to kick in.
In the mean time, sufferers can make life a bit more comfortable via the following methods: • Taking painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen • Using decongestants, either in spray or tablet form • Steroid or saline nasal sprays and washes • Steaming the nasal passages and sinuses using a bowl of boiling hot water • Sweets or mixtures to ease the pain of a sore throat • Rest and plenty of liquids to aid quicker recovery Alleviating the pain: Long-term measures For some people, sinusitis is a recurring problem, and in this case sufferers might look to a more permanent solution.
There are two kinds of surgery that patients with chronic cases which don't react well to antibiotics or other medication can choose from if they need more advanced treatments.
The first, generally referred to as conventional sinus surgery, has been in use for many years and involves a thin tube called an endoscope.
This is fed into the sinuses via the nasal passage so the surgeon can see the cause of the blockage.
When the surgeon has determined what the problem is, they can scrape away bone and tissue within the sinus to open up the passage and prevent future infections or blockages.
Naturally, because this method requires the removal of tissue, it can be quite painful post-surgery.
The second kind is called Balloon Sinuplasty?.
It is similar to conventional surgery in that it uses an endoscope to penetrate the nasal passages.
Instead of removing tissue, however, the endoscope inflates a small balloon catheter into the sinus, which gently pushes against the walls and helps open up the passage permanently.