Certain health complications can raise a need for sinus surgery. However, such major treatment procedures often are not the priority to address health complications. Therefore, you might want to confirm with your provider if it is the most suitable treatment for you. A Surprise facial plastic surgeon can evaluate your symptoms and assess your unique needs to determine if only a sinus surgery can improve your condition. Additionally, your doctor might recommend you try out some conventional treatment options before recommending surgery. Here are several ways to ensure that sinus surgery is the most suitable option for you.
Know the Cause of Your Condition
Several factors contribute to sinus complications, and some might not require surgery. If you suffer from chronic sinusitis, it can be due to structural abnormalities such as deviated septum or polyps, which might need surgery to correct. Other causes include infections, allergies, trauma, smoking, and immune system dysfunction, and the discharge you might be experiencing can help determine the underlying cause of your condition. Your provider can recommend a CT scan for a more accurate diagnosis to determine the best treatment for your condition.
Evaluate Your Symptoms
The reality of the symptoms you are experiencing due to your sinus complication can guide your provider on the nature of treatment suitable for you. Paying attention to your symptoms will also help you understand those you can manage through medications and other conventional treatments. Some common symptoms include swollen sinuses, pressure in the face, pain, headaches, fever, loss of smell, congestion, and cough. However, the symptoms might vary from one person to another but are related.
Try Decongestants
Before going for the surgery option, you might first want to use over-the-counter medications to manage your symptoms. Decongestants can relieve some symptoms such as congestion and swelling, which might minimize the need for surgery. But do not use decongestants for over three days as it may make your symptoms worse. Also, be aware of the common symptoms of taking decongestants, including insomnia, dry mouth, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, nervousness, and irritability.
Use a Nasal Corticosteroid
Some nasal corticosteroids such as budesonide, fluticasone, and mometasone can effectively manage and prevent inflammation enabling you to breathe easily. You can get some from the local stores or ask your doctor for a prescription. This can be helpful and minimize your chances of needing surgery. But note that it will take several days or weeks for the corticosteroids to work, and you should talk to your doctor if your symptoms persist. Also, you can expect some symptoms such as sore throat, headache, cough, and nosebleed.
Take Antivirals, Antibiotics, or Antifungals
These are prescription medications to decrease inflammation and infection, mainly if your condition is caused by a fungal, bacterial, or viral infection, and can help minimize the inflammation and infection. If that works, you might not need sinus surgery after all. However, most of these medications do not get into the sinuses very well and may not effectively manage your condition.
Surgery It Is
Suppose you try most of the earlier mentioned alternatives unsuccessfully. In that case, surgery may be the solution to your complication. Sinus surgery can correct any structural or anatomic problem inside your sinuses and nose, making it a possible solution to your issue.
Reach out to Oasis Ear, Nose, and Throat today to learn if you can benefit from sinus surgery, mainly if you have tried the conventional treatments without success. You can equip yourself with relevant questions to help you understand what you can expect for the treatment.