Find Lasting Relief from Sinus Pain with Balloon Sinuplasty

Our sinuses play a unique role in our respiration: this mucus-producing area of our heads also regulates temperature, enhances our voices, humidifies the air, and protects our brains from injury. Four pairs of air-filled spaces (frontal, maxillary, sphenoid, and ethmoid) developed over time as we only have two of them as babies, and problems with this area can affect respiratory and dental health. 

Sinus pain is a common problem and often a symptom of other conditions that can have short- or long-term effects on your breathing. Fortunately, there are many ways it can be treated. If you’re struggling with long-term problems and chronic sinus pain issues, balloon sinuplasty is an effective, minimally invasive solution to help you find relief.

If you’re dealing with sinus pain and live in the West Midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, area Dr. Shivan Amin and his experienced team at Midtown ENT can help.

Common causes of sinus pain

Several conditions can affect your sinuses and cause pain and other symptoms, including:

Allergic rhinitis

Also referred to as hay fever, your immune system overreacts to one or several allergens (harmless substances the body interprets as dangerous) and can lead to many symptoms, like nasal congestion, headache, sore throat, itchiness, puffy eyes, and pain.

Nasal polyps

Soft growths that form in your nasal passages start to create problems if they get large enough to block them. It can cause loss of smell or taste, headaches, snoring, sneezing, and pain.

Sinusitis

Inflammation of your sinuses can happen because of allergic rhinitis, the common cold, influenza (the flu), or other upper respiratory illnesses. It can be short-term (acute) or long-lasting (chronic) and causes pain, along with post-nasal drip, loss of smell, fever, fatigue, sore throat, and runny nose.

How balloon sinuplasty works

Also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, this minimally invasive process works by using a tiny balloon in your nasal cavity to relieve blocked sinuses. To start the sinuplasty, a light at the end of a wire is used to help guide a very thin balloon catheter inside. Once inside, the balloon is slowly inflated to widen the sinuses. Next, any mucus or pus trapped there is flushed out with a saline solution. Finally, the balloon is deflated and removed, and the sinus pressure and inflammation are relieved.

The aftercare process

Once the treatment is finished, when you feel comfortable leaving, you can resume normal activities within 48 hours, though you may need transportation home. In the first week, blood discharges from your nose can be expected, along with some fatigue and congestion, but in 5-7 days, the sinuses should heal, and these issues should clear up. Also, avoid strenuous activity in the first week, and sleep with your head elevated to ease discomfort from drainage.

Follow-up appointments may be necessary, often after the first week, to get an endoscopy to examine the progress, with other such tests at three months and a year afterward.

We all deal with sinus pain at some point, but yours won’t go away. Make an appointment with Dr. Amin and the team at Midtown ENT today.