@learningstudent I was wondering if you have found a solution to your problem, since I have the same problem as you.
In 2020 I got sick with my respiratory tract, supposedly it wasn't covid, it was a type of bronchitis, I had a different symptom because my paranasal sinuses were inflamed for a couple of months and since then I have had problems of that type.
I consulted the otolaryngologist, thanks to my clinical history and a tomography, he concluded that what I have is hypertrophy of the turbinates, allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis.
The weird thing is that I'm never sneezing or runny nose like someone with allergies would, but the strangest symptom that I have and that is why I am looking for an answer in this group is when I inhale, I feel like there is too much air entering my nostrils, I have never done any turbinate reduction or nasal surgery, just like you.
I hope you can read my message.
This is precisely what I experience during a cold. I have a cold right now, and it's the same story, half way through its progress, I wake early in the morning to a burning cold sensation in one nostril, practically causing a headache.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's not permanent, just experienced it this morning, and finally decided to seek a solution. That's when I found this thread. I hope someone comes up with a simple solution to this. Thanks!