Treating Sinus Pain

Sinus symptoms are some of the most common medical complaints in America. Dozens of millions of people report sinus symptoms each year, and many of those end up at the doctor’s office or the ER.

Sinus symptoms can range from a general sense of congestion to acute stabbing pains. Although most sinus symptoms resolve on their own within a few weeks, certain conditions are likely to linger, or worsen, over the same period of time. In severe cases, sinus pain will require a trip to the sinus surgeon for lasting relief.

But first you’ll want to see if you can solve the problem at home. Home remedies for sinus symptoms are often surprisingly effective at relieving minor pain. Common home remedies include rest, hydration, nasal irrigation such as a neti pot, and steam inhalation. One or more of these may do the trick for you, releasing dried out mucus and helping restore drainage once again.

But if your symptoms last longer than a couple weeks, it’s time to visit a sinus doctor for a checkup. The reason is that prolonged symptoms mean the problem is likely bacterial:

With a viral illness you are sick less than 10 days and not getting worse. Bacterial sinusitis is likely when symptoms last more than 10 days or when your symptoms get worse after a period of improvement.

What’s your doctor likely to do? Common medical treatments for sinus pain include decongestants and corticosteroids. More serious cases may require some minimally invasive outpatient surgery, such as the popular balloon sinuplasty procedure.

The Los Angeles Sinus Institute offers medical care for a wide range of sinus issues, and tailors each treatment to your specific symptoms and medical history. If you have lasting sinus pain, it’s a good idea to speak with a doctor. Sinus pain typically goes away on its own, but a serious sinus infection could spread and cause life-threatening injuries in the brain.

Pick up the phone and get an expert opinion. LASI is standing by to offer the best care for sinus pain in Los Angeles.