Sinus infections are a very unpleasant part of life that seems to repeatedly strike certain individuals. While antibiotics have long been the first line of treatment, they have not been very effective for most people in recent years. Further, there is mounting evidence of more severe side effects to antibiotics than previously understood. Still, your doctor will typically start you on antibiotics and a variety of home therapies you do yourself. If your body is unable to shake the infection, more severe sinus infection treatment may be required.
Surgery
Typically, if you’ve been on antibiotics for months without relief, and especially if you have a history of chronic sinusitis, surgery will come up as a recommendation as severe sinus infection treatment after some time under the care of an ear, nose, and throat doctor. But it is important to note that a sinus surgery is no minor affair. You may want to get a second opinion first. At the least, make sure you know all of the possible complications. These surgeries are done in the region of your brain and eyes, so, though rare, they can lead to severe complications. Also, be sure to ask about scar tissue.
Unfortunately, if your infection is really severe, your treatment options are quite limited. In addition to antibiotics and all of their side effects, there is also the possibility of getting a steroid injection or taking a steroid pack. This is not often recommended by doctors, as there are many side effects, from long-term weight gain to reduced immune function.
While many types of surgery provide permanent results, sinus surgeries seem to be something patients rarely have just once. So you need to understand that while it is generally an effective short-term treatment, it is not a cure for sinusitis. The goal of sinus surgery is to widen the openings in your sinuses so that they drain properly. For most people, this is how the sinuses work naturally. Those with severe allergies, polyps, or varying other inflammatory conditions tend to have their sinuses close up on them. Unfortunately, whatever led to your initial closing and susceptibility to sinus infection will still be present after surgery, so you’ll probably be back where you started from after a number of years.
It is important to discuss these factors with your doctor, in addition to the other risks of surgery. You should also ask about what to expect when you come out of surgery. Ask what type of severe sinus infection treatment plan you’ll be on after surgery. Typically, you will go on topical nasal steroid treatments and nasal irrigations for life if you’ve been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis, regardless of whether you have surgery. If you have severe allergies, some other severe sinus infection treatments such as allergy medications or allergy shots may be recommended.
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