Connect
Blockage in Sphenoid Sinus Causes Daily Headaches
I have had chronic sinusitis for several years, accompanied by daily headaches and my ENT, as well as a MRI of my brain have confirmed that my sphenoid sinus (the sinus in the back of your face that is inside your brain) is completed blocked, and their is a build up of mucous like cells surrounding it. This is what I understand of what I've been told. The scary thing is that this sinus is very close to the optic nerve and other important parts of the brain and could cause irreparable damage to my optic nerve that would possibly cause loss of sight. The procedure to open up the sinus is one that is performed under general anesthesia and there is also the risk of the surgeon accidentally disturbing something else in the brain close to the sinus. This surgery is optional, as I can continue as I am and hope that the sinus doesn't become inflamed or swollen and cause damage. However, currently, I am experiencing the daily headaches that are typical with this condition.
Has anyone experienced anything similar and if so, how did you handle the situation?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.
Connect
@dnelson720 -
How has your recovery been? Did you ever feel sick at all with this going on?
And even with the pain gone do you feel any residual affects.
The first few weeks after surgery was hard. Several follow up appointments to look into sinus cavities to make sure everything was healing properly. After that, things started getting better. I have not had one sinus infection or sinus headache since then and surgery was September 7,2023 (1year ago, approximately). I do a Neil Med saline rinse or I use my Navage machine to do a saline rinse about 2X a week. I use Arm & Hammer Saline mist every morning and night to keep my nasal passage clear. I have had no residual issues.
@dnelson720 -
That’s great to hear. Do you have to use any type of steroid rinse with your Neil med bottle or is it just a saline rinse?
Use distilled water only. I do use Nasacort after the rinses morning and night.
@denelson
Did you have a lot of intense debriedment post surgery follow ups or were your nasal rinsing in recovery helpful to you?
The first few follow-ups were getting the dried blood out of sinus cavities so that was intense for me. He sprayed lidocaine in my nostrils to numbing the areas then used the tiny camera to search for debris. I just closed my eyes and prayed 🙏. 😊. It was a necessary thing to do. After that, the sinus rinses took care of the rest. The Neil Med sinus kits have the spray bottle and some saline packets. One packet along with distilled water to the fill line is easy to do. The sinuses feel so good after I did that.
@dnelson720 -
Thank you for sharing. Did you ever suffer any symptoms of pain/dryness. When you did your own rinses after the debriedments, any pain with the rinses? And does it feel strange or bothersome with the water going into all of the sinuses?
Do you ever experience any dry ness from rinsing?
I just read these posts I have had chronic sphenoid sinusitis for 3 years. After 5 surgeries I still have daily headaches. Some advance to migraine. Had a full neurology work up and was on a plethora of meds Botox etc with no relief. Believed to be sinus related. The last surgery removed wall between sphenoids so I only have one now. I keep growing new bone and thickened walls which would totally block sinus. I felt great for a month after last surgery sadly headaches have returned. My ENT is very well respected and an awesome physician. Actually I sent records to Mayo in February however the ENT department didn’t feel they could help me. So I am left with not knowing what to do or where to turn I am a very healthy person besides this problem which came out of nowhere 3 yrs ago.
I feel for all of you with this problem. Best wishes and good luck.
I pray the best for you. I have been dealing with ENTs that won’t listen, and when tests are negative, then you must be hallucinating, or mental, or hypochondriac.
This may sound crazy, but I believe we are receiving frequencies, radio or otherwise, that are impacting our brains. 5g may be one of the culprits.
@turtleback -
5 surgeries is extensive.
Sorry you experienced this.
Any good/sharp ENT knows that strong head pain is not an indication to operate nor is it indicative of sinus related issues.
Doesn’t matter how “great” the physician is, he is a surgeon first and foremost and if his belief system is to operate based off pain complaints then that’s not a good physician.
Hopefully with all the medications you’ve tried you have tried nerve modulation medications like an amitriptyline etc…
Irritated nerves, tight musculature is not going to alleviate from sinus surgeries and in some cases can cause a chronic pain condition.