I had bad sinus problem for quite some time and I had been operated three time already. The first time is in S'pore at 1993. I had polyp in my right nostril and a bit of infection near the skull bone. Then two years later (1995) I went for a check up after so many years in M'sia. I had polyp on my both side of my nostril and a bad infection and pus all over my skull bone. The doctor said I need to have an operation before too late then I register for the operation. I had my opretion a week later. After my operation I attend my regular check up, every 10th days once.
But there no very big different except I can breath a lot better only. And there is still pus coming out from my nostril. According to the doctor it because it can't be fully clear. Then later on, in Febuary 1996 the doctor said my bone and the wound in my left nostril is swollen and I have to go for another operation. He scrip off the dead cell and the blood knot that blocked my nostril. And also cut off the swell part in my nostril.
Then after that, recently in 8/3/95 he said, I had bone infection in my nostril. Then he gave me antibiotic and a few other anti-hestamin. Then later I don't have much problem. But last weeks I had bad headache and pain at my right side of my skull bone. The medicine couldn't help. Then I took some Trinalin that I used to have before my operation. But now I don't the headache anymore and I didn't took any medicine recently. I don't know what will cause that headache. Last time i used to have this kind of headache before all my operation. It is because of the pressure or something else.
Please mail me some advice and solutions. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks a lot.
Answer ------------
As I understand your question, the concern is whether recent headaches you have been experiencing might represent recurrence of chronic sinus infection which you have had in the past and which necessitated surgery.
Pain from sinusitis is generally felt over the involved sinus with the exception of sinusitis involving the sphenoid sinus, in which case pain is generally referred to the top of the head. Most commonly pain from sinusitis is felt between the eyes and over the cheekbones. Reference of pain to the the teeth is also common. The pain from sinusitis is frequently exacerbated by head movement, particularly when the involved sinus becomes dependent.
It is unusual for sinusitis to cause pain or headache without abnormal findings on physical examination such as swollen lining (mucosa) inside the nose, purulent secretions, redness of the mucosa, polyps, or tenderness on percussion of the cheekbones.
Since your headache seemed to have been relieved with the use of Trinalin, this would suggest sinusitis is a possible cause. Also, in light of your past problems, recurrence of polyps in the sinuses is a possibility.
If the headaches should persist I would recommend an otolaryngologic consultation for nasal endoscopy. If infection is seen on examination, long term antibiotics, given your past history, would likely be recommended as well as nasal irrigations. If sinus infection is diagnosed, most likely a CT scan of the sinuses would be recommended after several weeks of antibiotics and daily nasal irrigations. If there are questions about the cause of the headaches that are not easily answered by physical examination, however, a CT scan should be done earlier.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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