Severe sinus pain

[Erithe]

I'm experiencing severe sinus pain across the bridge of my nose - it's actually painful to the touch - but I don't have a fever and my nose isn't red or swelling. The allergens in the Chicago burbs have taken over, I suspect, and I didn't catch it in time. I think the sinus on the left side is blocked and not even a neti pot is clearing it. Ibuproferen helps, but I can't take it for very long. Does anyone have any kind of ... compresses or just sinus clearing ideas? I would so greatly appreciate any help.

[Lily]

Something to bring down the congestion, such as

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/pseudoephedrin ... idine.html - particularly the decongestant activity of the pseudoephedrine should bring some relief

[illion]

Is it acute or is it chronic?

[Badger Bob]

I get rotten sinusitis as well, really painful and can my my whole face swell up. The best non-pharmeceutical remedy is a good hot curry with pickled chillis on top for good measure. I usually sit down with my chilli feast and a roll of kitchen paper ready for the subsequent dam-burst and I am usually running like a tap by the time I clean my plate. Any curry will do as long as it is really spicy and doesn't contain cream, the dry hot or onion based ones are best.

[Erithe]

It's acute. ((I had to look that up! ))

I generally take allergy meds with psuedophedrine in them during the spring and fall, and I've been taking those. But t his is a bit different ... the way it hurts, I'm suspecting a blockage somewhere on the left. Ibuprofen helps relieve the pain somewhat, but it still hurts.

Anyway, I ate some Tikki Masala last night that was really hot and some spicy samosas, and that helped. Then I used some hot washcloths on it, and that seemed to relieve it a lot, as well. It's still sore today, but I don't feel quite as though someone's pounding a dagger through my nose.

Thank you for all the advice.

[Alder]

can you change your food? glutenfree, don´t eat bread, no milk or no milkproducts.....experience whith other food that will help, no diet but lifestyle..........for a longer time, I know what it is sinus pain, no longer when I started another eatingpattern a few years ago , much better now.

[illion]

Since it is acute, I would go to the doctor and get some antibiotics so that you can get rid of it as soon as possible. It is not a good thing to walk around with an infection in your head, and it can be very, very painful.

I struggle with chronic sinus infections, but that is a different cup of tea....

[Crystal Cat]

I tend to agree with Alder about trying gluten free foods or even lactose free dairy products. Since doing this I feel a lot better.

[Lily]

Since it is acute, I would go to the doctor and get some antibiotics so that you can get rid of it as soon as possible. It is not a good thing to walk around with an infection in your head, and it can be very, very painful.

I struggle with chronic sinus infections, but that is a different cup of tea....

acute does not equal bacterial. Antibiotics should not be the first thing to go for.

[illion]

Since it is acute, I would go to the doctor and get some antibiotics so that you can get rid of it as soon as possible. It is not a good thing to walk around with an infection in your head, and it can be very, very painful.

I struggle with chronic sinus infections, but that is a different cup of tea....

acute does not equal bacterial. Antibiotics should not be the first thing to go for.

The doctors I've been to (and it's been a few the last five years) have all wanted to prescribe antibiotics, because nothing else works. I don't want to have it, because as soon as I get well from the cure, it takes approximately 14 days, I catch a cold and get the infection back related to that cold. I started on a nasal spray (allergy medicine), that relieves the peak of the pain, but it doesn't remove the infection completely. I have tested if I am allergic I am not, I have checked if the problem can come from the teeth and it's not. The next step is surgery, but I don't want to because the doctors haven't found anything physical wrong in my sinus area. I am afraid of getting more problems afterwards.

My doctors told me that acute sinus infections must be treated with antibiotics , while we have to find out the cause of it if the antibiotics doesn't end it. Last winter, I was struggling from november to march, with constant pain in my face, and then they did not like that I had denied using antibiotics, so I had a cure in the end of march and this time has been well since. Although I don't think that the antibiotics did it for me, but more that spring was just around the corner and that is a better time for me.

Lily might very well be right, and my doctors wrong, because they certainly can't help me. I've decided to go an alternative route, I've got nothing to lose, anyway. I will try acupunture this fall, even though it does not have a well enough documented effect.

[Susanne]

My daughter has suffered from chronic sinus infections for years. I'm a firm believer in the no antibiotic route if at all possible. Without taking cultures it's impossible to tell if it's bacterial or viral which antibiotics wouldn't help anyway.
The things that seem to help her the most are chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, daily use of a sinus irrigation (neti pot) and staying away from dairy products....
I wish you well with this. It can be so painful

[illion]

I think the "no dairy products" is something I will try, even though the doctors don't think it has anything to do with it.

[Erithe]

I think the "no dairy products" is something I will try, even though the doctors don't think it has anything to do with it.

Whatever I suggest to the doctors, they disagree. So I'm at the point that I try to listen to good common sense first and the doctor second. I have learned that doctors are some of the most frustrating people on the planet.

[Susanne]

I think the "no dairy products" is something I will try, even though the doctors don't think it has anything to do with it.

Whatever I suggest to the doctors, they disagree. So I'm at the point that I try to listen to good common sense first and the doctor second. I have learned that doctors are some of the most frustrating people on the planet.

I'm a registered nurse, work in a hospital & I most certainly agree with you in more ways than one!
Actually even though I'm "in the business" I'd say that 90% of my health care/maintenance is alternative or complementary. I think if we could bring more of that into the mainstream (how about medical insurance covering alternative healing methods?!) we'd all be a heck of a lot healthier! Oh, don't get me started!!!

[illion]

If I ever find out what to do with my sinuses, I will let you know

[Aphritha]

My husband has sinus problems as well. The local health food store recommended something called a nasal cleansing pot or Neti pot. (It looks somewhat like a watering can.)

[Al Hakim]

Standard medical treatment of a sinusitis are antibiotics and decongestants. The idea is to remove some bacteriae and to re-open the drainage window to the nose again. If that sort of inflammation is nourished by virusses antibiotics will not help at all, and decongestants can make the mucous membrane of the nose shrink. On the other hand, surgery is available - and profitable for the surgeon.
What you might try as well are herbal extracts containing myrthol (e.g. Gelomyrthol caps (TM)) [alternatively a concoction of vervain, gentian, elder and primrose [brand name: Sinupret (TM)]) and salty nasal drops (normal saline). Furthermore, application of a warm pack on the forehead/nose can be beneficial.
If the reason behind is an allergy have the allergen identified by a dermatologist or ENT-doctor.

[Aine Ceiswyr]

I too get shocking sinus issues, all year round, not just seasonal stuff. I will try the netti pot. Interesting about the dairy products - can anyone suggest sone further reading? is it all dairy products or just specific types etc? Darn, I love cheese and this may be the cause of the problem
May need to review all eating patterns

Thanks and Blessing to all
Aine