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Sinus pain without blocked nose. Help?

11 replies

ScrambledSmegs · 23/02/2022 15:33

I'm in agony with sinus pain. The area inside the lower bridge of my nose (iykwim), my teeth, my ears - all bloody hurt and it's giving me a throbbing headache too. And yet I can breathe. My nose isn't stuffed up. Wtf?

My left nostril has felt slightly obstructed for a long time, which makes me wonder if something else is up. However I recently had an mri for a different reason and my sinuses appeared clear then. No one has actually looked up my nose though and it's not going to happen

I actually went to the dentist as my teeth hurt so much l thought I had dental issues but they're all fine, it was my sinuses.

Unfortunately my GP is back to telephone appointments for a while but as soon as I can be seen I hope they can see me. In the meantime I'm using a saline nasal wash (Neti bottle) and taking painkillers to cope. Is there anything else I can do/take? And why am I in pain with no obvious cause?

OP posts:
ExactlyThis · 23/02/2022 19:01

I have the same with my sinuses. I had an acute problem for weeks and ever since I get a flare up which gives me a headache fairly frequently. I take a steroid nasal spray as needed.

Hope you feel better soon x

ScrambledSmegs · 23/02/2022 20:18

Is the steroid nasal spray on prescription? That sounds like it might be the next step for me. Thank you.

OP posts:
ExactlyThis · 24/02/2022 15:02

No. It was the first time I had the problem but then the doctor suggested beconase which is a hay fever medication and isn’t expensive.

It can cause a rebound effect so don’t go mad with it. I just use it when I really need it

Eloisedublin123 · 24/02/2022 23:33

Try taking spirulina (tablets or powder) it’s great for sinus’s

RainBow725 · 24/02/2022 23:45

Try a hot flannel on your face. As hot as you can bare. Temporary relief but better than none. It's a horrible thing. ☹️

Hairyfriend · 24/02/2022 23:49

Have you had a PCR?

Hairyfriend · 24/02/2022 23:49

For covid?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 24/02/2022 23:55

Steam with boiling water and Olbas oil even if you're not blocked up. Do it twice a days for 2 weeks. Beconase spray helps too.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/02/2022 00:05

Saline rinses - brilliant. Add Sudafed - the type you have to ask for at the Pharmacist, Pseudoephedrine, not the shit on the shelves - and don't be conned into paying extra for the 3 in 1, it's cheaper to buy the single ingredient and then take paracetamol and a black coffee. Take the medication on the dot - don't wait for it to get worse, don't wait because you feel bad about it, set alarms and take the medication.

I disagree about heat because it encourages the blood vessels to expand, which is what is causing the pain - cold packs/eyemasks helped me far, far more.

I rarely get a snotty nose, but I totally know the hit around the face with a baseball bat feeling. And I did have the one where a steel baseball bat might have been less painful - to be honest, I was contemplating eternal oblivion as a realistic alternative to having to go another night like it.

Don't bend down for a while, as the change in pressure is awful - try to sleep slightly elevated.

Keep at it for about three days after you hopefully start feeling better and it is more likely to stay clear rather than bouncing back just as painful again by the end of the week.

I found steroids made it red raw/burning as well as still as inflamed as ever - but a combination of what I've just listed meant that after a few days, I blew my nose and it felt like my brain was coming out, there was so much coming from so deep in the sinuses.

I've never had it as bad again because I hit it with everything as soon as there's the slightest twinge.

Weirdly though, not one doctor thought of this - the pain and headaches to end all headaches were written off as stress after having a scan when, had I known about decongestants, I'd never have needed the referral (I was only about 22, I didn't have a clue about medications beyond paracetamol and what the doctor prescribed me).

It's shit, you absolutely have my sympathy. But it isn't unusual to have the pain as you describe it.

However [obligatory MN Covid reference here] I would say that Covid has been causing lots of people to have a swollen/not snotty nose - DP has just started testing negative today and other than an occasional chesty cough, his main symptoms were being very tired and feeling slightly stuffy. That reminds me of when I had it quite badly - the mucus seemed to come from the back of my face, not the front, if you see what I mean, so I guess sometimes the virus sits right at the back and causes mayhem there instead.

Trouble is that when your nose is that sore, the test swabs really hurt and can mean you get a nosebleed on testing. Suppose you could try just swabbing your throat, though.

Hope you feel better soon.

MerryPoppings · 25/02/2022 00:08

You need to see a GP. You could have a polyp or something in your nose. I had similar symptoms and it turned out to be a deviated septum touching a turbinate in my nose and causing nerve pain. Unlikely to be anything sinister but you need to see a GP amd preferably get a referral to ENT.

thehighsandthelows · 25/02/2022 00:11

@NeverDropYourMooncup I was waiting to see if anyone else felt like that after covid!! Interesting. Sore nose/face & never ending mucous for me. Covid about 3 weeks ago.

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