Sinusitis headache treatment. What to do if your head hurts with sinusitis

Severe headaches are a companion to all types of sinusitis. This is due to the influence of 2 factors on the body:

1. General intoxication caused by the inflammatory process. In addition to the headache, weakness appears and increases, the temperature rises, and thirst arises.
2. Increased pressure in the sinus causing local pain.

An acute illness develops after a postponed or current infectious state and has its own characteristics. Headache with sinusitis is intense, constant, aggravated by sharp turns of the head and tilting, poorly controlled by taking painkillers.

Early diagnosis and the beginning of treatment allow you to get rid of headaches as soon as possible.

But what to do when sinusitis has passed, and the head hurts. If headaches develop after recovery, you should consult a doctor. After carrying out all the diagnostic procedures, the cause of the symptom will be established and effective treatment prescribed.

Causes of headache after sinusitis

The causes of headache may be a consequence of the transferred sinusitis (transition to a chronic form) or have no connection with the transferred inflammation (migraine).

Chronic sinusitis

If the head hurts after sinusitis, this may indicate an untreated process and the transition of sinusitis into a chronic form.

In this case, the headaches will be of low intensity and more often appear in the evening (in remission). With a repeated exacerbation of the process, all the symptoms of sinusitis will return.

In this case, complex treatment should be started as early as possible under the supervision of a specialist. it is more difficult to treat than an acute one and often turns into a complicated form.

Migraine

Sometimes the onset of migraine is attributed by the patient to the recently transferred sinusitis, especially if there has been surgery. But migraine is a separate disease that has its own characteristics. The cause of such pain differs from the factors that provoke it with sinusitis. Elimination methods are also of a different nature.

General characteristics of pain in migraine and sinusitis:

• It is accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the sinuses, lacrimation and difficulty breathing.
• Strengthens when exposed to bright light.
• There is swelling of the face.

But provoking factors are of a different nature:

• Sinusitis occurs against the background of infection or after hypothermia.
• Migraine is provoked by stressful situations, overwork, chronic lack of sleep, menstrual syndrome or alcohol intake.

Headaches with migraine and sinusitis are difficult to distinguish from each other on their own... To establish an accurate diagnosis, certain ones are carried out, on the basis of which effective treatment is prescribed.

Complications of sinusitis

Headaches after sinusitis can also indicate the occurrence of various complications.

After the puncture of the maxillary sinus, the headaches should disappear no later than 2 weeks later. If they persist for a longer period, this may indicate damage nerve endings nasal mucosa.

During the procedure, an inexperienced specialist can touch the nerve bundle, provoking the further development of vegetative-vascular dystonia, accompanied by constant headaches. The condition is difficult to correct.

In addition to the reasons considered, against the background of a weakened organism with sinusitis, the following complications, accompanied by a headache, may occur:

• Otitis. Headache is defined in the projection of the inflamed ear and temporal region. It is permanent, pulsating. Appears in the background high temperature and local signs of middle ear inflammation.
• Meningitis begins acutely. Against the background of a high temperature, severe headaches, vomiting occur (after vomiting, relief does not occur), a small-point rash appears throughout the body. A distinctive feature of meningitis is the stiffness of the neck muscles (when you try to touch the chest with your chin, the pain increases, the tension of the neck muscles does not allow this). It is possible that intense joint pain and seizures occur with a high temperature. The condition requires an immediate emergency call followed by hospitalization in the intensive care unit.
• Vascular embolism is a serious condition. In addition to severe headache, it is characterized by symptoms caused by impaired cerebral circulation. It is accompanied by vomiting, loss of consciousness, convulsions. Emergency medical attention is required.
• An orbital abscess occurs when purulent contents penetrate the tissue of the orbit. Strong headache is determined against the background of sharp soreness around the eyes, redness of the eye and the occurrence of oxyphthalmos (protrusion of the orbit). Emergency assistance required. Treatment in the intensive care unit.
• Sepsis is an acute blood poisoning. It develops with lightning speed. It is accompanied by a clinic of severe intoxication.
• Infiltration of soft tissues occurs when the tissues of the face adjacent to the maxillary sinus melt with purulent masses. In addition to severe headaches, general intoxication syndrome is observed in severe form.

The severity of complications after purulent sinusitis will be explained by the close location of the focus of infection to the brain. All these situations require the provision of highly qualified care in a hospital setting. If you suspect a complication, you should immediately seek help. With timely treatment of sinusitis, such complications practically do not occur due to the well-developed antibacterial direction in modern medicine.

The cause of headache after sinusitis treatment is most often migraine or untreated sinusitis. To determine the true cause, you should consult an otolaryngologist and therapist. After a certain examination, an accurate diagnosis will be established and an effective therapy will be prescribed. Self-medication is undesirable until the cause is established.

Sinusitis is a type of sinusitis, which is inflammation in the paranasal sinuses. This disease is localized in one sinus or develops symmetrically.

Headache with sinusitis is considered one of the main clinical symptoms of pathology, since inflammation is in the initial parts of the respiratory system.

Causes

When viral diseases a runny nose often develops, which becomes the cause of an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. As a result, edema forms, which blocks the passage located between the nasal passage and sinuses.

As a result, mucus stagnation forms, which contribute to the development of a large number of microorganisms. This process is fraught with the appearance of pus in the maxillary sinuses, which provokes an increase in pressure in the nasal region and, as a result, a pronounced headache.

Discomfort in the head area is present in any pathology that is associated with an inflammatory process in the sinuses. But with sinusitis, the head hurts a lot if a person bends over. This is due to an increase in pressure in the area of \u200b\u200bthe inflamed sinuses, which contain a lot of pus.

Relief can be achieved by taking a sitting or lying position. In this state, it is possible to evenly distribute the contents of the paranasal sinuses. If with sinusitis the head hurts badly, this indicates its aggravation.

The nature of the headache

Headache with sinusitis has certain characteristics that each person can detect on their own. The most important diagnostic sign is increased discomfort when bending forward or backward. Thanks to this symptom, sinusitis can be distinguished from, in which the head hurts when bending in different directions.

Since the disease leads to an increase in intraocular and intracranial pressure, headaches can resemble symptoms characteristic of neurological disorders - they are deep and. Doctors say that the discomfort is felt throughout the day, but gets worse in the evening.

Sometimes sinusitis headaches do not depend on slopes - they can be the result of external factors. This process is very often influenced by climatic conditions - temperature or pressure. Moreover, they not only change the severity of pain, but also the place of their localization.

Sinusitis is also characterized by special signs when probing the skin. The area under the eyes swells, becomes soft, areas of increased turgor appear. Also, under the skin, you can feel a certain amount of inflammatory fluid, which does not tend to migrate.

Diagnostics

To make the correct diagnosis, it is necessary to determine exactly how the head hurts with sinusitis. The clinical picture of classic migraine, sinusitis, or vasomotor rhinitis is similar.

At an early stage of development of sinusitis, in the absence of severe nasal congestion, it resembles a migraine. In this case, vasomotor rhinitis is accompanied by sinus congestion and discomfort in the head area. What to do in such a situation?

The first step is to take an x-ray to identify the presence of sinusitis. With migraine and vasomotor rhinitis, the head hurts in, in the region of the crown and occiput, while sinusitis is characterized by discomfort at the base of the nose and the front of the head.

To make a final diagnosis, it is worth conducting a comprehensive diagnosis. In addition to X-ray examination, it should include a blood test, smears from the mucous membrane, etc.

Treatment

What to do if you have a headache with sinusitis? Outpatient therapy is prescribed for those patients who do not have clear indications for hospitalization. The hospital treats patients who have various complications or severe organ dysfunction.

Sinus headache is treated by eliminating the symptoms of this disease.

To do this, appoint:

• Anti-infectious antibiotics.
• Decongestants. It must be borne in mind that they can lead to increased pain, so they cannot be used without prescription.
• Antihistamines. They will help relieve swelling.

As part of certain drugs from sinusitis there are pain relieving ingredients.

If, after taking these drugs, the symptoms do not disappear, corticosteroids and even a sinus puncture may be prescribed.

Decongestants will also help relieve pain after sinusitis - they eliminate discomfort due to vasoconstriction.

You can use such funds only after consulting a doctor - they can be addictive.

Acute sinusitis requires the appointment of a course of physiotherapy, which includes diathermy, a Solux lamp, UHF currents. To eliminate chronic sinusitis, you can use mud therapy, electrophoresis, inhalation.

If too much pus has accumulated in the sinuses, a puncture is required.

During this mini-operation, the nasal canal is pierced directly into the sinuses and then, by displacement, the purulent contents of the cavity are washed out with a syringe.

If after a puncture of sinusitis, your head still hurts, you need to take pain relievers. Of course, this can only be done after consulting a doctor.

The choice of a specific drug after a puncture can only be made by a doctor.

Medium-level pain will help eliminate paracetamol or ibuprofen.

If, after sinusitis, your head hurts badly, you should choose ketans or ketolong - they will eliminate the discomfort for 8-12 hours.

Sometimes pain relievers are ineffective, and even after a puncture, pain persists. What to do in this case? Usually, your doctor will prescribe corticosteroids to slow the inflammation.

Effects

Severe headaches with sinusitis can be accompanied by nasal discharge, unpleasant odor, and nasal speech. If such signs are observed, it is very important to consult an otolaryngologist, and this should be done immediately, which will allow the disease to be cured without a puncture.

Quite often, the inflammatory process in the sinuses cannot be detected in time. In this case, it becomes chronic or leads to even more dangerous complications. So, acute sinusitis can cause the development of meningitis, edema or brain abscess, meningoencephalitis.

The chronic form of the disease provokes the appearance of various pathologies - adhesions or cystic changes in the nasal sinuses, immune disorders.

Often it leads to relapses of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and dental diseases.

An acute course of sinusitis can provoke the development of neurological pathologies.

There is a danger that without timely puncture, pus from the paranasal sinuses will spread into the surrounding tissues. This can damage the eye socket, teeth, nerves, and even damage to the meninges.

Sinusitis is a serious pathology that, in the absence of adequate treatment, can cause dangerous health consequences.

It must be remembered that the main symptom of this disease is a severe headache.

If this symptom is accompanied by nasal congestion, you should see a doctor immediately. Thanks to this, it will be possible to cure the disease without a puncture and avoid the development dangerous complications.

Good health to you!

In contact with

Sinus pain is an inevitable manifestation of this disease. They are of varying severity and localization, and can be signs of the disease itself or the occurrence of its complications.

Causes

In the early stages of sinusitis, pain syndrome is often caused by inflammation in the nose. Then the mucous membrane swells, and the condition is aggravated by the blockage of the outflow pathways of the sinus contents.

With stagnation, a favorable environment is created for the development of pathogenic bacteria. Pus as it accumulates and if it is impossible to completely remove it, it creates pressure on the walls of the sinus. And in the absence of adequate treatment, the process becomes neglected, causing severe pain.

What can hurt with sinusitis?

Head.

The main symptom of sinusitis is headache. initial stage the disease is characterized by not pronounced diffuse headache, unstable character. With the absence, as a rule, of clear localization or pain in the back of the head, which intensifies in the morning, and goes away after a few hours on its own.

Then the addition of a purulent infection leads to the fact that the pain is accompanied by a feeling of bloating and becomes constant. Most often it is felt from the side of the damaged sinus, if. For such pain, a distinctive feature is aggravation when the head is tilted forward. At the same time, her character changes - she becomes pulsating. Severe soreness is also noted when palpating the face at the site of the sinus projection.

Eyes.

Eye pain appears due to the fact that the orbit of the eye is anatomically bordered by the maxillary sinus, and the optic nerves pass in the wall that delimits the eye cavity from the nose. When sinusitis develops, these nerves can become attacked by bacteria and become inflamed, causing conjunctivitis and other eye diseases.

Teeth.

The teeth with sinusitis can hurt for the same reason as the eyes. Oral cavity directly adjacent to the nose and is separated only by a thin, palatine wall. In some people, due to anatomical features, the roots of the teeth protrude into the sinus. In this case, a toothache will appear much earlier than other symptoms. This can confuse the sick person and send him on the wrong track.

Ears.

Often, with sinusitis, people begin to complain of acute, shooting pains in the ears or hearing loss. This is due to the fact that the auricles have a special channel connecting them to the pharynx to maintain optimal pressure.

If you close your nose and try to exhale through it, it is through this channel that air enters the membrane, creating high pressure and pawing ears. In the same way bacteria from the nose get there, causing discomfort.

Severe soreness of the forehead, eyebrows and small areas above them suggests that the frontal (frontal) sinuses are affected. In this case, one should not talk about sinusitis, but about. Or - a disease in which inflammation develops in several pairs of sinuses at once.

Throat.

A sore throat almost always occurs with any viral or infectious diseases respiratory tract... The fact is that during an illness, the inhaled air is not cleared, but on the contrary, it picks up additional microbes, which subsequently settle on the walls of the throat and lungs, causing irritation, coughing and sneezing.

! It should be noted

Very severe pain signals that the process is quite advanced, and without full treatment it can end with the development of complications. This could be:

• Meningitis;
• Otitis;
• Pneumonia;
• Sepsis.

How to get rid of pain?

Treatment of sinusitis should be timely, comprehensive and carried out to the end. First of all, you need to act on the cause of the disease, and only then take up the removal of symptoms. If you neglect the first and pay attention only to the second, the soreness will return again and again, forming a chronic stage.

Etiotropic treatment

It consists in a set of measures to eliminate the focus of inflammation and ensure drainage of the sinus. Various methods are used for this:

• In case of sinusitis in the initial stage, it is possible to treat by washing the nose ("cuckoo", Yamik-catheter,);
• Removal of edema with the help of vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory drugs that enter directly into the sinus;
• Dilution of mucus with mucolytics.

Attachment of the bacterial flora requires the addition of antibiotic therapy. And if there is a danger of complications, it is recommended to use a puncture of the maxillary sinus. In the most severe cases, intramuscular and intravenous drugs are used.

Pain reliever for sinusitis

In order to eliminate pain more quickly, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used before etiotropic therapy works. They quickly help relieve discomfort and alleviate the patient's condition.

Paracetamol, Aspirin and Analgin help relieve mild and moderate pain, have a mild anti-inflammatory effect, relieve fever. A convenient, simple and cheap remedy will relieve discomfort until the main methods of therapy work.

When severe pain can be taken ketans or ketolong. These are agents that have a pronounced analgesic effect in conjunction with a moderate anti-inflammatory and antipyretic.

Due to the large number side effects and contraindications, drugs are not used for constant use. Contraindicated:

• Children under 16;
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• With a tendency to any kind of bleeding.

Sinusitis is a very common disease in the population. What is sinusitis? This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the air sinuses of the bones of the facial skull. Most often, the maxillary or paranasal sinuses are inflamed, according to the author - the maxillary sinuses, hence the name sinusitis.

Causes and symptoms

The causes of sinusitis are quite diverse, but most often sinus inflammation occurs due to rhinitis, when discharge from the nasal cavity enters the airspace of the sinuses, or in viral infectious diseases, for example, with flu. Bacterial or viral infection activates a number of pathogenetic mechanisms leading to hyperemia and severe edema of the mucous membrane.

The volume of the sinuses is very small, and lined with a mucous membrane, it becomes even smaller. When inflammatory processes the mucous membrane swells and can compress the walls of the sinus... In this case, there is an abundant secretion of a mucous nature containing destroyed cells of the mucous membrane, bacteria or viruses - purulent discharge. With a large amount of discharge and edematous mucosa, outflow through the sinuses is impossible. There is an accumulation of pus and a significant increase in pressure inside the sinuses. All this leads to overstimulation of the nerve endings. And the facial area is very rich in nerve fibers, including the space of the sinuses.

However, sinusitis can be of a vasomotor and allergic nature.

Typical symptoms for sinusitis:

• headache;
• nasal breathing is difficult;
• bursting pain in the upper jaw, especially when bending.

What to do with sinusitis?

First you need to conduct a diagnostic study and accurately confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnosis of sinusitis implies an objective examination and the use of special research methods. To begin with, an otorhinolaryngologist will conduct an external examination, palpation and percussion of the diseased area, and collect an anamnesis of life and illness. Then he will send to clarify the diagnosis for special diagnostic methods: X-ray of the head in the frontal plane.

Sinusitis treatment has two points of application:

• pathogenetic, most often consists in antibiotic therapy;
• symptomatic, relieving the patient of severe headache, pulling pains in the face.

The therapeutic tactics of an otorhinolaryngologist is a set of measures that leads to a decrease in pressure inside the sinuses. Treatment of sinusitis is reduced to restoring the outflow of fluid and discharge from the sinuses, for this, puncture of the maxillary sinuses is performed.

Antibiotic therapy consists of taking a number of groups of antibiotics:

• penicillin series: Amoxicillin or Amoxiclav;
• macrolides: Azithromycin or Clotrimycin;
• cephalosparins: cefuroxime or ceftriaxone;
• fluoroquinolones: Levofloxacin, Ofloxacin.

Antibiotics should be administered with close supervision by a specialist only! In no case should you self-medicate and leave the course of antibiotic therapy unfinished.

How to get rid of a headache?

Often patients ask themselves how to relieve a headache with sinusitis? For this case, symptomatic therapy is carried out, including measures such as puncturing the maxillary sinuses on an outpatient basis and the use of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The doctor will offer the patient an injection containing:

• antispasmodic (No-shpa) or papaverine;
• Analgin or Ketorol (as a pain reliever);
• Diphenhydramine to relieve puffiness.

If you nevertheless decide to get rid of a severe headache on your own, be sure to read the instructions, familiarize yourself with the contraindications of the drug, but it is best to consult a doctor.

It is very important that sinusitis does not become chronic. You need to get rid of sinusitis immediately. After all, treatment is much more difficult, and the therapy itself takes much more time and exhausting the patient. Be sure to remember that self-medication is very dangerous, you should always seek the advice of a specialist.

Taking antibiotics on your own is like firing a cannon at a sparrow.

Prevention

What can be done to prevent the development of sinusitis?

Primary prevention will be an attentive attitude to one's own health, avoidance of long-term exposure to cold and humid air, timely vaccination before infectious epidemics, and avoidance of being in crowded places. Remember to keep an eye on the weather and dress warmly.

Secondary prevention will be an adequate treatment prescribed by a specialist. Only targeted pathogenetic therapy will help get rid of sinusitis.

During a runny nose, the nasal mucosa swells. This leads to the closure of the maxillary sinuses, which accumulate mucus.

In the absence of proper treatment, mucus turns into pus, which creates excessive pressure in the entire paranasal cavity.

That is why a headache with sinusitis is one of the first symptoms. this disease... How to get rid of a headache with sinusitis, read below.

The main symptoms of sinusitis include:

• nasal congestion and loss of smell;
• tangible heaviness in one / both sinuses
• chills accompanied by fever;
• headache;
• chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis;
• fatigue, weakness, poor appetite, sleep disturbance.

Typical signs of sinusitis include pain, arising from pressure on the areas located just above the wings of the nose.

If you notice at least some of the listed symptoms, immediately consult a doctor for a diagnosis and selection of a treatment method.

The nature of the headache with sinusitis

With sinusitis, the nature of the headache differs depending on the stage at which the disease is. The initial stage of sinusitis is characterized by pain in the back of the head or intermittent headaches with no clear localization. This stage is characterized by pain that intensifies in the morning and disappears on its own after a few hours.

With the appearance of pus in the sinuses, the headache becomes constant. In the case of unilateral sinusitis, it is felt from the side of the inflamed sinus. With a sharp turn or tilt of the head, the pain worsens and becomes pulsating. Feeling the face in the area of \u200b\u200bthe damaged sinus is accompanied by severe painful sensations.

Sinuses are normal and with sinusitis

There are symptoms that distinguish a headache caused by sinusitis from ordinary pain:

• The pain becomes pronounced in the morning.
• The face becomes overly sensitive.
• Feels like heaviness / pressure in a specific area.
• Pain begins after colds or during it.
• The pain increases with a change in temperature.

According to research, up to 90% of painful manifestations are associated with a person's emotional state, and not with a specific ailment. as a result of internal discomfort.

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Treatment with drops and antibiotics

So, a person has a headache with sinusitis - how to treat this symptom?

Treatment of sinusitis is aimed at ensuring the outflow of pus from the affected sinuses and at suppressing infection in the lesion. The full course is 2-8 weeks.

Often, doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat this condition.

In some patients, this method causes concern, however, according to statistics, antimicrobial therapy is very effective and in most cases saves patients from the need for surgery.

Antibiotics for the treatment of the disease are selected by the otolaryngologist on an individual basis. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable, because the drug chosen by the patient may be ineffective and the healing process will be delayed.

Most often, the following drugs are used to treat sinusitis:

• Amoxiclav, Augmentin;
• Sumamed (Azithromycin);
• 3rd generation cephalosporins, etc.

In the case of a pronounced infection, drugs can be administered intramuscularly. Treating sinusitis is best when combining antibiotics with topical antibacterial agents such as sprays and nasal drops.

The most effective of these are the following drugs:

• Rinofluimucil;
• Polydex with phenylephrine;
• spray Bioparox;
• Sinuforte.

Occasionally, vasoconstrictors such as Nazivin, Dlyanos and Galazolin are prescribed to facilitate breathing. It is recommended to use these funds only for 5 days. Vasoconstrictor drugs are addictive and often cause atrophy of the nasal mucosa.

Many of those who periodically suffer from a runny nose are unaware of the consequences for them of prolonged nasal congestion.

In the absence of proper treatment, sinusitis can cause complications, in which a viral infection penetrates into nearby organs, and often spreads throughout the body.

Conventionally, the consequences of sinusitis can be divided into 2 groups. The first group includes complications associated with the respiratory system and ENT organs. Among them, the following pathological processes stand out:

• transition to a chronic form;
• otitis;
• inflammatory processes in the tonsils, in the pharynx;
• spread of sinusitis to other sinuses;
• pneumonia;
• bronchitis.

In the event that an infection with blood spreads throughout the body, sinusitis has more severe and dangerous consequences.

Among the dangerous complications are the following:

• the appearance of problems with the organs of vision;
• brain damage, inflammation of the meninges (encephalitis, meningitis);
• sepsis;
• joint diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism);
• kidney damage (nephritis);
• heart disease (myocarditis).

Timely treatment of sinusitis minimizes the risk of the above complications. In addition, there are a number preventive measuresthat can save you from the appearance of this disease.

• Maintain optimal humidity in your home. Dry air makes the mucous membrane and sinuses dry out, which can ultimately cause sinusitis. The best solution would be to buy a special air humidifier. If this is not possible, you can hang towels soaked in water around the house and shower as often as possible.
• Do inhalation prophylactically. It is not necessary to use active ingredients. It is enough just to inhale water vapor over a pot / kettle.
• Strengthen your immune system during the cold season. Take vitamins, fill your diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Dress appropriately for the weather and avoid hypothermia.
• Give up bad habits, because smoking can irritate your sinuses, and alcohol can cause your sinuses to swell.
• Wash your hands often to avoid getting an infection.

Try to use oil preparations when treating a cold. Frequent use vasoconstrictor drugs is able to atrophy the mucous membrane and turn a harmless rhinitis into sinusitis.

Monitor your health and react immediately to changes in your body. This tactic will help you prevent the development of many diseases, including sinusitis.

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