Millions of people suffer from sinus pain, runny nose, nasal congestion and headaches. Although over-the-counter medicines or home remedies may provide temporary relief, for serious issues some individuals require seeing an ENT specialist for diagnosis and treatment.
Balloon sinuplasty offers noninvasive relief for chronic sinus pain and infections that cannot be achieved with medication alone. Approved by the FDA in 2005, balloon sinuplasty offers noninvasive solutions.
The Long-Term Effects of Balloon Sinuplasty
If you suffer from chronic sinusitis, sinus headaches can significantly diminish your quality of life. While over-the-counter treatments such as mucous thinning agents, decongestants and saline solutions may provide temporary relief, the pain from symptoms persists requiring more effective options such as balloon sinuplasty. This minimally invasive office procedure has proven itself as providing lasting relief from sinus headaches and other symptoms associated with sinusitis.
Chronic sinusitis can arise from many different sources and triggers; most often however it stems from blockages in the nose which lead to congestion and pressure. If there is an obstruction in your nasal passageway, your sinuses won’t drain correctly and build up mucus resulting in inflammation and infection – leading to symptoms similar to migraine headaches. If you are suffering from chronic sinusitis symptoms it is wise to consult your physician regarding what would be the most suitable course of treatment for you.
Many patients who undergo balloon sinuplasty report that their headaches from sinusitis have either completely subsided or been dramatically diminished after receiving surgery; indeed, one study demonstrated that patients who underwent this process experienced significantly fewer sinus headaches than those who didn’t undergo such procedures.
Surgery for sinus headaches is a relatively new technique that is quickly gaining in popularity among patients. Proven to be safe and effective, this procedure can be performed either in hospital, an outpatient surgical setting or physician office under local anesthesia, with many experiencing improvement within one week – and lasting results lasting two years or beyond!
At surgery, a small catheter will be inserted through an endoscope into your sinus openings and an inflatable balloon inflated inside them to reshape and widen them without harming their linings. After opening them up, they are flushed with a saline solution in order to flush away any thick mucus build-up in your sinuses.
Recovery time after balloon sinuplasty may differ for each individual, though most patients return to work and normal activities within several days. Although some patients report some mild discomfort for a day or two following treatment, any discomfort should be manageable with prescription medication. It’s essential that patients follow all recovery instructions provided by their healthcare providers in order to ensure the success of balloon sinuplasty procedures.
Treatment
If over-the-counter treatments, home remedies, or sinus medications fail to bring relief for chronic sinus headaches, many patients seek permanent solutions. Balloon sinuplasty is an in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia which opens inflamed sinus passages and restores drainage, thus alleviating headaches. Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy offers this minimally invasive solution at offices located throughout South and Central New Jersey and Philadelphia.
An inflatable balloon is inserted into a sinus passage opening and then inflated, reshaping and widening it to enable proper sinus drainage, relieving symptoms while preventing future infections. Once cleared, the balloon is taken out and flushed with saline water to flush away any pus or mucus accumulation; since this procedure is less invasive than functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), typically there will be reduced bleeding, swelling, pain and discomfort as well as reduced complications.
Patients may experience some bloody nose drainage and headaches for one to two days post-procedure; however, these side effects should quickly pass. Most patients can return to their daily activities within hours; repeat procedures if necessary but the goal should always be lasting relief.
Balloon sinuplasty has quickly gained acceptance as an effective and long-term solution for chronic sinus infections. Insurance plans often cover this procedure because it reduces costs while simultaneously improving patient health and quality of life.
If you are tired of waking up with stuffy or runny nose and other symptoms of chronic sinusitis, call our office immediately and make an appointment with an ear, nose and throat doctor – who could offer permanent relief from sinus headaches! If over-the-counter treatments, home remedies, or prescription medication have failed to provide long-term relief, ask about balloon sinuplasty; it’s an innovative treatment with quick recovery time that could give you freedom from sinus headaches for good!
Preparation
If you suffer from chronic sinus headaches or other sinus symptoms, it is crucial that you visit an ENT doctor. They will conduct a complete history and evaluation of your sinus symptoms and anatomy before providing treatments options for them. Balloon sinuplasty has become the go-to procedure for people experiencing discomfort from sinus issues as it requires no cutting of tissues or bone while having an efficient recovery period – many can return to work and their daily activities within days!
Prior to your balloon sinuplasty procedure, a topical numbing agent will be applied topically. A lighted guide wire will then be threaded through your nasal or sinus opening and a sinus balloon threaded over it will slowly be inflated to widen and reshape your sinus passage, enabling proper drainage of fluids out. After removal from its placement, any debris contributing to sinusitis symptoms will be flushed with saline solution to eliminate them completely.
Contrary to older surgical procedures, balloon sinuplasty offers lower risks of complications and quicker recovery times than its counterparts. Most procedures can be performed in the doctor’s office under local anesthesia; however, patients requiring more extensive treatments or medical conditions may need to visit an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC).
Attractive candidates for balloon sinuplasty include those who have experienced unfavorable results with other sinus treatments such as nasal decongestant medication and rinses, oral corticosteroids or antibiotics; it’s also an attractive choice for anyone not comfortable with surgery to address their sinus issues.
Balloon sinuplasty is a safe and effective solution to chronic sinus headaches that is now covered by most insurance companies. Norelle Health can assist in determining if your policy covers this procedure as well as filling out any required paperwork – please keep in mind though that individual coverages and deductibles can differ based on insurer, plan type and geography.
Recovery
Over-the-counter and home remedies may provide temporary relief of sinus symptoms like runny nose, congestion and headaches; however, these treatments only mask them and do not cure them. If you suffer from chronic sinus headaches and need long-term relief using balloon sinuplasty treatment instead, minimally invasive balloon sinuplasty offers long-term relief.
As part of a balloon sinuplasty procedure, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor will first administer topical decongestant or oral anesthesia before inserting an endoscope – a thin tube with light on its tip – into your nose. When this has taken place, an inflateable balloon will then be pressurized against your nasal passageway walls in order to restructure and widen it further.
Once the balloon has successfully widened and restructured the sinus passages, your doctor will remove it allowing proper drainage of sinus pressure that has built up, relieving any associated headaches.
Balloon sinuplasty offers an alternative to Traditional Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), as there is no cutting of bone or tissue involved, reducing bleeding significantly while speeding recovery significantly faster. Patients typically only experience swelling, bloody nasal discharge and fatigue in the days immediately post-procedure.
After your procedure, it is crucial that you follow your ENT doctor’s directions for recovery. This means avoiding blowing your nose or engaging in strenuous activity for at least 24 hours following surgery; sleeping with your head elevated; and regularly rinsing nasal passageways. Your ENT will likely prescribe pain medications; take them exactly as instructed.
Diet is also key in optimizing recovery. Incorporating nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains into your daily regimen to promote healing while decreasing inflammation.
Balloon sinuplasty offers long-term relief from chronic sinus headaches for many patients. If the constant discomfort has become too much to bear, make an appointment and explore whether this procedure could be right for you – either via phone call or online booking today to see if this treatment option would work!
