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Posted in Uncategorized | February 21, 2022
Do you suffer from chronic sinus infections? You may be a good candidate for sinus surgery.
Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses become inflamed or infected. Sinuses are air-filled spaces found within the bones behind your cheekbones, in your forehead, and between your eyes.
Tiny openings connect them to your nasal cavity, which is the area between the nostrils and the back of your throat. Sinuses have mucus membranes that produce mucus to keep the inside of your nose moist.
The mucus helps protect the inside of your nose from pollutants, dust, and allergens. When you have healthy sinuses, air moves in and out of them, and mucus drains easily to the back of the nasal cavity.
But if you have sinusitis, air doesn’t flow freely, and mucus can’t drain out of the sinuses. Often, sinusitis results from a bacterial infection, but a fungus or virus can also cause it.
While anyone can get a sinus infection, those with asthma, abnormal nose structures, nasal allergies, and nasal polyps are more prone to sinusitis. Keep reading to learn more about sinus surgery and if it may be right for you!
Sinusitis is usually painful, with the location of the pain depending on the sinus that’s infected. The pain might worsen whenever you sneeze, bend over, or cough. Other common symptoms include:
There are two types of sinusitis: acute and chronic. Although both have similar symptoms, acute sinusitis typically clears up after 1 or 2 weeks.
Chronic sinusitis occurs when you have persistent symptoms for over three months that don’t get better over time.
It is more common to develop sinusitis (also known as a sinus infection) than you may think. The best way to treat sinusitis is usually with rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and liquids.
However, there are times when chronic sinusitis doesn’t respond to medications, nasal rinses, and other treatments. When this is the case, your doctor at Specialty Care Institute may recommend surgery.
At Specialty Care Institute, we offer patients suffering from chronic sinusitis the following procedures:
Sinus surgery can fix structural problems within the sinus and nasal passages. Your surgeon will work directly in the nose during the procedure, removing tissue obstructing the nasal passages.
Your ENT doctor can also enter the maxillary sinus through the mouth.
Your surgeon improves drainage by making a pathway between the maxillary sinus and nose.
Creating this pathway helps to reduce facial pain and pressure and makes it easier to breathe. It also restores your sense of smell and offers relief from other sinusitis symptoms.
Sometimes, the septum might lean so far over that it obstructs your nasal passage. When that happens, the nasal passage becomes unable to drain. If the nasal passage cannot drain, mucus gets backed up into your sinus cavity.
A backed-up sinus cavity triggers chronic sinusitis and causes you to experience pain and pressure. Surgery is performed on your nostrils to restructure cartilage and bone, straighten a misaligned septum, and open the air passages.
The bony structures inside the nose or turbinates can become inflamed and swollen from allergies, infection, or irritation for some patients. These symptoms lead to overproduction of mucus and nasal obstruction, leading to congestion.
Undergoing sinus surgery can reduce the size of turbinates, which brings the swelling down and allows you to breathe better. Sinus surgery can end interrupted sleep patterns due to breathing problems caused by chronic sinusitis.
As a result, you’ll have a good night’s rest, have an improvement in mood, and be more productive during daily activities.
During Balloon Sinuplasty, your surgeon will insert a balloon into your sinus passage. After positioning the balloon in the right place, they will slowly and gently inflate it to open up your sinus cavity.
The balloon is gently guided using a tiny wire with a flashlight at the tip.
After opening the sinus cavity, your surgeon uses a saline solution to flush out any mucus and pus.
Many patients feel quick relief as soon as the fluid starts to drain. The slight pressure of the balloon against your sinus cavity aids in restructuring the cartilage and bones by widening the walls of the passageways while keeping the integrity of the sinus lining intact.
If you’ve suffered from chronic sinusitis for a long time and have found little relief from other treatment options, a Balloon Sinuplasty can help.
Since a lot of sinus issues are problems with congested or constricted airways, Balloon Sinuplasty can alleviate a range of symptoms such as:
Exactly how long sinuses remain open will depend on various factors, including the extent of your sinus infection and how well you manage any underlying allergies. The benefits of undergoing a Balloon Sinuplasty last for an average of two years for most patients, making it worth considering.
At Specialty Care Institute, we provide our patients with comprehensive, highly individualized treatment for sinusitis. Our experienced doctors will perform a thorough evaluation, accurately diagnose sinusitis, and determine the best solution for your specific needs.
Are you suffering from sinusitis and can’t get relief? Schedule an appointment at Specialty Care Institute in Barrington, Hoffman, Elgin, and coming soon to Arlington Heights, IL, today to learn more! There’s no reason to keep dealing with chronic sinusitis any longer.
