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Chronic pain in forehead months after sinus surgery
I had sinus surgery almost one year ago on my frontal sinuses (above my eyes). The surgery was very successful, in that it has eliminated my chronic sinus infections. I can even breathe better. However, I have had headaches/pain in my forehead off and on since the surgery. At my follow-up appointments, my doctors have said that everything looks great, and the sinuses are clear. Has anyone experienced chronic pain after surgery? Any ideas on what might be causing it and what might help?
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It should be noted that prior to the balloon sinuplasty surgery, I had no history of headaches or migraines. They started immediately after surgery and still persist to this day.
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1 ReactionI know your pain! I had a 2 inch olfactory neuroblastoma just removed that required a craniotomy 3 weeks ago! And I asked EVERYONE prior to surgery how to prevent the migraines that I know it’ll trigger, because the biopsy triggered them BAD! I already get Botox for them and am on a preventative, topamax. They all said, the hospital will take care of any pain you’re in. HA! I had to force them to release me TWO DAYS early because I had stronger drugs at home. I have been in he!! For 3 weeks until my neuro (well my ent gave me gabapentin 100mg 3 times a day which I’m surpringly tolerating, then my neuro gave me nortriptyline at night and now has added depakote! I can’t function on all that.
And I’m supposed to start radiation and chemo in a few weeks.
I just had a Biopsy, a left skull base tumor Sinus Cavity, Contents, Left, left nasal sinus contents
The findings are: Left skull base tumor, endoscopic biopsy: - Intraosseous hemangioma. C. Left middle turbinate, endoscopic resection: - Intraosseous hemangioma.
The doctor told me it's a rare tumor and I am worried about this. I have no symptoms or pain.
Has anyone had or heard about this type of skull-based tumor? Thanks
So sorry to hear this! You had a much more invasive surgery than the balloon sinuplasty that I had. It is very scary that you are now dealing with so much pain and they have loaded you up on heavy duty drugs. Did you have migraine issues prior to the biopsy and surgery? My chronic headache started the day I woke up from surgery and I had no history of migraines or chronic headaches prior to it. It will be 2 years on February 10th since my surgery in 2023. Best wishes in finding some relief. Please add to this discussion if you find any treatment(s) that help(s).
My husband was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma in his right sinus cavity. He had two surgeries to remove the tumor and part of the tumor was embedded in his skull base. He is now having proton radiation treatments (33) that are targeted into the sinus cavity and his neck lymph nodes. After he completes the proton treatment, he will have immunotherapy infusions for a long period of time. We have nothing solid yet on what drug will be used or the length of treatment. It is essential that you have an accurate diagnosis of your tumor and a doctor who is experienced in the sinus area. We have found it difficult to find research dealing with rare sinus tumors. I believe the key is to find a doctor to help with that. Someone who has experience with sinus tumors.
Thank you so much for your input. My tumor is rare as well and not a lot of research done. Luckily, I have no symptoms or pain but I have to find a doctor who is familiar with this kind of tumor. Do you mind sharing where you found the doctor who did the surgery for your husband?
I will check if Mayo has done some research on skull-based tumors.
Our local ENT recommended Dr. Soylar in St Pete, Florida. We can’t say enough good things about her and the care my husband has received.
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1 ReactionThank you for sharing.
How did your radiation and chemo treatments go?
A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with olfactory neuroblastoma. She’s currently undergoing induction chemotherapy. We’re trying to get up to speed as much as we can as quickly as we can.
Any words of wisdom from your experience?
My husband had a sinus surgery over 10 years ago and the conclusion is they scraped too close to a nerve so when the sinus expands there is pain. (I am very much simplifying this!) He went to the pain clinic - I think it was a 3-4 week program at Mayo and it helped him tremendously. He has had a constant pain in his head ever since the surgery, it has lessened over time but is still there. He can not spend much time over 7300 feet in altitude (like more than an hour or so) and also has problems with being in areas that are further from the equator and have lots of fluctuating pressure changes, like the coast of Oregon or Washington. But further south he is less affected, like between San Fran and Costa Rica (that’s as far south as we’ve gone) as well as in higher altitudes. He has seen many doctors and also we are regularly at Mayo in Az. If you want to connect with him, pls let me know. It’s been very hard for him as well as our family and took a big chunk of life away for him.
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