Facial pain is a common symptom of chronic sinusitis, but balloon sinuplasty may be able to help solve that issue. | Shutterstock
Facial pain is a common symptom of chronic sinusitis, but balloon sinuplasty may be able to help solve that issue. | Shutterstock
Balloon sinuplasty is quickly becoming the treatment of choice for patients suffering from chronic sinusitis, a condition in which facial pain is the most common and telltale symptom.
Dr. Anthony Sanders of the Indianapolis Sinus Center is one of the nation's leading providers of this procedure.
When asked about the procedure, he told the Columbus Standard, "Success rates are excellent, and most people do get good resolution of their symptoms to their satisfaction. The beauty of the balloon sinus procedure is that people tend not to have much disruption of normal nasal function, so they tend to have noses that work normally; they breathe better. They tend not to have issues with dryness or sounding different or... the change in the resonance of the voice that sometimes goes along with endoscopic sinus surgery, so generally they recover quickly. They get back to work fast. Their need for medications and antibiotics tend to fall way off, compared to what they were doing before that. Basically, they're able to resume a normal life in most instances."
According to Merck Manual, symptoms of sinusitis include yellow or green drainage from the nose, pressure and pain in the face, stuffy nose, bad breath, coughing up mucus -- especially at night -- and sometimes fever and chills.
For many, balloon sinuplasty has provided relief for what has been a painful chronic issue.
Sanders also expanded on the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. "Sinusitis is typically associated with headaches, facial pain and pressure, sometimes pain and pressure in the teeth. The reason you feel that in your teeth is where the teeth are, the maxillary sinuses are right above it. Sometimes the dental routine can extend into the maxillary sinus, and the nerves to those teeth come right through that region as well. So that's very common."
Going without treatment can be a dangerous proposition. The pain and pressure of sinus infection leads to a 34% increase in the risk of stroke, according to the journal PLOS ONE.
Chronic sinusitis can make it hard to enjoy everyday life. If you think a specialist could help, take this quiz and reach out to the Indianapolis Sinus Center.
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