Curing Sinusitis Without Sinus Surgery

We know that sinus surgery can resolve the symptoms of sinusitis for good. Procedures such as balloon sinuplasty and septal surgery can help to open airways and prevent relapse. But is surgery always necessary, and what are the tradeoffs associated with going “under the knife” versus “over the counter”?

At least one study strongly suggests that medication can be just as effective as surgery for many cases of sinusitis – especially when one factors in collateral issues such as lost productivity:

Among 38 patients with chronic sinus infections who continued with medical therapy rather than have surgery, the annual cost of lost productivity dropped from more than $3,400 to about $2,700 over almost 13 months of treatment. Moreover, absenteeism was reduced from five days to two days and going to work sick was cut from 17 days to 15 days, the researchers reported.

Granted this was a small study, and it didn’t cover every variety of sinus ailment. In fact the researchers themselves still recommend surgery for the most severe forms of sinus infection, saying “Patients who have severe reductions in their productivity and quality of life can get significant improvements in productivity by choosing endoscopic sinus surgery.”

To figure out which camp you fall into, and whether sinus surgery may be the best choice for you, please contact the Los Angeles sinus surgeons today.