Sinus pain relief anyone?

[suzywong]

Hello
This isn't very nice, but I have had blocked sinuses following a cold for about 3 weeks now.
I have headaches and pain under my eyes which is making my top teeth hurt. And then there's also the ..... well the horrid yellow cattarh. I am fed up of snuffling and snorting and blowing. Can anyone recommend a remedy that can clear my sinuses out please?
TIA

Are you sure it isn't sinusitus? If it is then it is very painful - I had it earlier in year. It is infection and is treated with antibiotics and they can clear it up pretty quickly.

Poor you...it's pretty revolting isn't it. Try showering before bed tonight and until it clears up. My GP was reluctant to prescribe antibiotics for my sinusitis and suggested this instead...I was most annoyed and thought I'd been palmed off, but it really worked (however if it's really painful I would recommend you speak to your doctor tomorrow).

Also, I usually find ibuprofen quite effective for simus pain. Much better than paracetamol which doesn't reduce the inflammation.

thanks you guys
I will try both, I shall pester doctor tomorrow

Poor you - unfortunately, I broke my nose when I was at university and have been left with crippling sinusitis bouts so I have much sympathy.

If you are in terrible pain, the best and only painkiller that does it for me is Syndol. Now I hardly ever take painkillers because I hate pill popping but on the Syndol packet it says you can take 1 or 2. I have only ever taken 1 and it knocks me for six so I would only EVER take them just before you go to bed. What it does ensure though, is that you at least get some sleep!

Olbas oil (from health stores or boots) is very good for clearing the sinuses. Drop it in some boiling water and inhale (with a towel over your head). It hurts like hell but it works. Also, avoid all mucous forming foods - for me that is stuff like fizzy drinks, caffeine and dairy. And up your liquid intake.

If you have a partner, get them to massage your sinuses with some oil - that also does wonders. I know it hurts, but it really does help.

Hope you feel better soon.

I should have said - inhale the steam not the boiling water!

GP recommended "inhalations" for me when I was pregnant and had bad sinuses. You know, put a few drops of olibas (?) in a bowl of boiling water, place your face just over the bowl, make a sort of tent with a towel over your head so the steam doesn't escape, and breathe the steam in.

The pain was so severe I did these inhalations constantly. I also took antibiotics and the max dose of paracetamol. But the truth of the matter was. . .it went away when it went away. I'm not convinced the inhalations speeded up recovery. I sympathize. Sinus infections can be bl**dy painful. Worse than labour, I've even thought at times.

post crossed with foxinsocks's. Agree that a massage can help a little, though I never tried one with oil.

Dd1 gets sinusitis. Steaming relieves it temporarily and Sinutab helps as well. Sometimes she just has to resort to antibiotics though. Lobelia herbal tablets are recommnded for catarrh, though not to be taken if you're asthmatic. Hth.

I'm taking Kali bich (homeopathic) at the moment so will keep you posted.

Do you feel stary eyed with it? I have lots of pressure behind my eyes.

my doctor always tells us steam is best... and it does work but you have to do it twice a day for about 10 mins and then for a good week!!

as you know by now, i am a reflexologist and i have had great results for sinusitis sufferers. i also do reiki and was told that nasal secretions (yuk!) are a sign of unshed tears... on an emotional level. interesting, huh!

best wishes

rosie

Longer-term, try acupuncture. I KNOW I always rave about acupuncture, but my best mate bullied me into trying it specifically for crap sinuses (I used to live on Boots decongestants) and wahay, she was right (dammit).

Try Sudafed SW, you can get it with or without ibuprofen or paracetamol, get the 12 hour relief one.

Is this a particularly bad time of year for it as I have been living on Sinutab for 3 weeks now Aand I seem to remembber the same thing happened this time last year. Also, does having a child make you more susceptible as I am sure I would remember having this BK!

suzywong, I can so sympthasise. I have suffered sinusitis for years. It varies in it's severity, sometimes I get it mildly after a cold and other times I have the full blown symptoms, including pain behind my eyes, loss of taste, smell and teeth neuralgia, etc. My G.P. will only prescribe antibiotics if I am really unwell with a temperature and severe symptoms.
I have tried most things but strangely enough when it's really bad I find medicated chewing gum really helpful. Seriously!! For some reason, the constant chewing alters the pressure in my sinuses and eases the throbbing pain. I do this in conjunction with steam inhalations. Remember to drink lots, dehydration makes it all so much worse.
Good luck.

bootsmonkey, do you think you may be a pollen sufferer? the extra nasal secretions and irritants may aggrevate your sinuses. just a thought.

I wonder if you've got a bit run down and are finding it hard to shake off the actual cold infection. Aren't you emigrating to Australia soon? The stress could do it! All the advice here is really good but try to look after you a bit more perhaps? As much sleep as poss, healthy food, fruit juices and so on. Hope you're better soon.

suzywong, how are you?

I get this every winter after the merest sniffle. This year I had about 3 lots of antibiotics on the trot, after which my gp gave me some "Sudafed plus" knock-out medicine and a steroid nasal sparay which I had to use twicw a day for a couple of months, which seems to have shifted it for now. I heard on r4's Casenotes program a few weeks ago that steroid sprays were the best cure as even surgery and drainage don't have that reliable an outcome. hth, I sympathise.

MI did the acupuncture keep the sinusitus away? I've heard good stuff about it too and I may try it if the homeopathy doesn't work.

I find the chewing gum helps too

Yes, I have a treatment once a month and it works. For me.

ty