Several different upper respiratory infections can lead to nasal congestion and numerous other symptoms affecting your sinus cavities. Everyone has dealt with these problems at some point, with nearly 29 million adults being diagnosed with sinusitis every year, and nearly 3 million people having chronic sinusitis in that same timeframe.
There are a plethora of options for managing chronic sinusitis which vary with the cause, but is it ever severe enough that surgery may be necessary? Let’s find out by looking at what often causes chronic sinusitis, the common nonsurgical options, and when surgery may be necessary.
Residents of the Lake Oswego, Oregon, area who are looking for ways to treat chronic sinus issues can seek help from the team of specialists at Lake Grove ENT.
Sinusitis causes inflammation, mucus buildup, and swelling in your sinus cavity, which can lead to blockages and problems breathing through your nose; in acute cases only lasts a week or so, but is considered chronic after 12 weeks of struggling with symptoms. This can result from several issues:
This chronic condition is managed by medications targeting the root cause of the inflammation and other symptoms, including antibiotics, immunotherapy for allergies, saline nasal rinses, and corticosteroids (nasal sprays, pills, or injections). For issues with chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps, injections of dupilumab, omalizumab, or mepolizumab can reduce stuffiness and shrink the growth.
Some sinus issues can’t be resolved with medications or other methods alone. In the case of nasal polyps that are difficult to manage, or chronic issues that are making your sinuses worse, there are some surgeries to help:
This is a minimally invasive process using a catheter and endoscope to get into your nasal cavity and inflate inside to widen sinuses and make breathing easier.
The most common surgery for this issue, this is designed to widen the drainage passages between your nose and sinuses to eliminate infected tissue or bone and get trapped mucus out. Endoscopes are used to see inside the nose and guide the process.
This is a procedure that creates an opening in the sinus cavity behind your cheek (called the maxillary sinus) to help mucus drain out properly.
Chronic sinusitis is generally easy to manage, but there are times when a surgical solution is necessary. If you’re having problems with your sinuses, make an appointment with the team at Lake Grove ENT to find the right solution for your needs.
