Nola Reporter

• Common symptoms of sinus infections are nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, discomfort, nasal drainage, or facial pain.
• Sinus headaches can cause facial pain. 
• Symptoms of chronic sinusitis can be treated by addressing the sinus infection through medication or a surgical procedure like balloon sinuplasty.

Facial pain, one of the most common symptoms of chronic sinusitis, is an uncomfortable condition that can lead to other unfortunate side effects. According to Dr. Gregory Pippin of ENT & Allergy of New Orleans, facial pain is one of the worst aspects of sinusitis. 

“It's facial pain that drives a lot of patients here. The chronic sinus patient will have chronic pressure and chronic pain that can be debilitating. And going through life in constant pain can cause anxiety and depression,” Dr. Pippin told the Nola Reporter. “It just is a relief not to have the constant suffering, and so the best way to treat the patient again is based on the severity of their disease, whether it's based on allergies, based towards obstruction or dilation.”

According to WebMD, approximately 90% of adults diagnosed with acute sinusitis in the United States, characterized by a sinus infection lasting less than four weeks, are prescribed antibiotics. A sinus infection lasting longer than 12 weeks is categorized as chronic sinusitis.

With acute sinusitis, it might be difficult to breathe through your nose, according to the Mayo Clinic. The area around your eyes and face might feel swollen, and you might have throbbing facial pain or a headache.

Both migraine attacks and sinus headaches can cause facial pain, watery eyes, and post-nasal drip, according to the American Migraine Foundation. These shared symptoms contribute to the misdiagnosis and self-diagnosis of sinus headaches.

According to NHS Inform, individuals experiencing symptoms lasting for over one week are advised to consult a physician. An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist may suggest using a saline solution, over-the-counter medication, or prescribe antibiotics or a corticosteroid spray. If these treatments fail to alleviate the symptoms of sinusitis, the ENT specialist may also advise sinus surgery.

Dr. Gregory Pippin is certified as both an otolaryngologist and a facial plastic surgeon, as noted on ENT and Allergy of New Orleans' website. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and continued his medical education at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He subsequently completed a comprehensive residency program covering otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, facial plastic surgery, and reconstructive surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.