Introduction

There is way more to the subject of sinus pain and sinusitis than bad luck and bad immunity. The drainage of human sinuses is an unfathomably complex process that relies on healthy immune function, healthy movement of the cranial bones, healthy jaw and neck mobility and, more broadly, a healthy human. In almost every instance of sinus pain/sinusitis, there are meaningful answers to be found through careful history taking and meaningful treatments to be trialled that target the underlying cause of sinus pain and sinusitis.

Sinus Pain Caused by Trauma or Injury  

Physical injury to the nose or the surrounding supporting structures of the nose can cause chronic sinus pain. Chronic traumatic sinus pain is often misdiagnosed due to its difficulty in classifying. Blunt force or penetrating trauma to the nasal cavity can impact several nerve pathways at the same time, therefore not limiting to a single nerve territory. This makes the location and symptoms of sinus pain challenging to diagnose. From a therapeutic perspective, surgery can be ineffective and require multiple invasive procedures. As a result, the location and symptoms of sinus pain may not align neatly with typical diagnostic patterns. This can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, prolonging the patient’s suffering and complicating treatment decisions. Even if surgery is pursued, it may require multiple invasive procedures and still fail to provide lasting relief.

Sinus Pain Caused by Infections (Sinusitis)

The sinuses are hollow cavities located in the skull, around the nose and eyes, producing mucus that helps humidify and filter the air we breathe. When these sinuses become inflamed or infected, it can lead to various symptoms. Sinusitis is swelling or inflammation of the sinus cavity, resulting in sinus pain, difficulty breathing, and runny nose. It is one of the most common health complaints and the leading cause of antibiotic prescriptions in the developed world. Primarily, sinusitis is caused by the development of a viral upper respiratory tract infection resulting in the production of a thick mucus. The thickening of the nasal lining, in conjunction with mucus buildup, obstructs the paranasal sinuses. If not dealt with accordingly, secondary infection can occur. 

Sinus Pain Caused by Deviated Septum

The nasal septum is a complex structure that splits into two separate nasal passages. In most circumstances, having a completely symmetrical nasal cavity is rare, and deviations between the size of the passages are normal. However, in cases of severe deviation caused by either genetics, trauma, or chronic exposure to irritants, deviated septums can occur. While plenty of people have no symptoms of deviated septums, severe cases can result in sinus pain, obstruction of one or both nostrils, nosebleeds, preference for sleeping on a particular side or snoring during sleep. Certain risk factors, such as advanced age, previous nasal trauma, or chronic respiratory conditions like allergies or asthma, may increase the likelihood of developing a deviated septum.

Sinus Pain Caused by Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is a prolonged psychological or emotional tension and strain experienced over an extended period’. Unlike acute stress, a short-term response to immediate challenges or threats, chronic stress persists over weeks, months, or even years. Chronic stress can indirectly affect an individual with a range of health conditions, one of which is sinus pain. Chronic stress substantially decreases our immune function, predisposing us to infections. With repeated stress-related infections, the small, slender, hair-like structures in the nasal cavity known as cilia start to break down. Without proper cilia formation, nasal sinuses can become clogged and cause sinus pain and breathing difficulty. Furthermore, chronic stress commonly results in tightness in the facial muscles. Tight facial muscles may impact the nasal passages, leading to discomfort and pain in the nose and sinuses.

Sinus Pain Caused by Dental Issues

The nerves that innervate the upper teeth are closely connected to the nerves of the maxillary sinus, the largest sinus in the cheekbones. Consequently, issues with the teeth or gums in the upper jaw can result in referred pain felt in the sinus region, causing the transmission of pain and sensitivity. Dental issues such as tooth decay, gingivitis, impacted teeth, and periodontal disease can manifest as pain in the sinus cavity. Paradoxically, the two largest sinuses form slightly above the back of the teeth in the upper jaw, and a sinus infection can present as tooth pain. In most situations, sinus pain impacts the upper teeth. However, it can affect the lower teeth as well.   

Sinus Pain Caused by Structural Abnormalities

Any drastic deviations in the structure of the sinus cavities, such as cleft palate, nasal mass, weakness in the structure of the nose or enlarged adenoids, can drastically increase the risk of sinus infections or blockages. Some of us also have very narrow sinus cavities. 

 When sinus infections or blockages occur, ineffective drainage, tumours, polyps, or other masses within the nasal or sinus cavities can obstruct the normal flow of mucus, leading to sinus congestion, pain, and pressure. It is essential to understand that having narrower passages than the average person doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to have a surgeon drill your skull. More and more people are finding it easy to relieve their sinus pain with non-invasive, drug-free methods that address the types of issues listed on this page.

Sinus Pain Caused by Poor Drainage

It is a medical myth that all sinus infections and the pain they cause are driven by poor immune function. In reality they driven by poor drainage. The truth is that the primary cause of sinus pain and sinus infections is the loss of healthy drainage in the skull. This is ultimately what causes all cases of sinusitis and sinus pain, its just a matter of trying to figure out the mechanism behind how it happened.

Jaw clenching, stress held in the neck, weird sleeping positions and old injuries have all been implicated. In some cases even trauma that happened during the birth process when we were babies can leave us with lifelong cranial bone issues that lead downstream to sinus pain and headaches. Understanding the true underlying cause of sinus pain.