Nose & Sinus
Treatment for Chronic Sinus Issues at Expert ENT Care
Our specialized team at Expert ENT Care is Fort Worth, TX’s premier choice when needing help with chronic sinus issues. As anyone who’s experienced nose and sinus problems know, these conditions can be extremely uncomfortable and make it difficult to breathe, sleep, and enjoy your day-to-day routine. Whether you’ve been facing recurring sinus problems, or this is your first go-round, we can perform diagnostics, determine the underlying cause of your sinus issues, and provide appropriate treatment. For some patients with chronic sinus pain or inflammation, medication may be enough to treat the issue. For others, an in-office procedure can correct the cause of the problem and ensure it doesn’t happen again. While all our ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors provide specialized care for nose and sinus issues, Dr. Fewins has a distinct passion and talent for treating sinus disorders. His gentle, personalized approach is precisely what you need to start feeling like your best self again. Call us today to make an appointment.
We’ll Help You Stop Nasal Congestion in Its Tracks
Nose and sinus problems can present themselves in a variety of different ways. From chronic sinus infections, blockages, or structural issues, we can assess your unique symptoms and determine what is causing your nasal congestion. You may be dealing with a constant runny nose that could be a symptom of a larger underlying issue. No matter the symptoms, all sinus problems run the risk of significantly impacting your life and make it difficult to be productive at work or enjoy many of the activities you love. If you’re facing any nose or sinus issues, it’s time to visit ENT Expert Care before there’s a chance for your condition to become worse. We commonly treat patients for all the following:
- Nasal congestion – When the sinuses are inflamed, it can significantly restrict how well you can breathe through your nose, and you can also expect difficulty smelling or tasting.
- Sinus pressure – Sinus pressure and swelling can lead to chronic sinus headaches, which can also cause earaches, as well as pain in the jaw, cheeks, and teeth.
- Deviated nasal septum – If the wall between your nostrils is crooked, it could restrict or completely block the sinus passages, thus making sinusitis worse.
- Sinus infection (sinusitis) – If you’re dealing with severe congestion, facial pain, nasal discharge, and a fever, sinusitis usually is to blame. We’ll determine if an underlying condition is responsible or if you’ll need some specialized care to feel your best.
- Throat irritation and cough (postnasal drip) – When discharge from your sinuses drain down the back of your throat, it can cause a scratchy, irritating feeling leading to a nagging cough, hoarseness, and a sore throat.
- Nasal polyps – These tissue growths are known to grow large enough to block the sinuses and nasal passages.
- Nose bleeds – Nose bleeds are commonly due to dryness caused by hot and dry indoor air during the winter months.
- Respiratory tract infections – Colds and other respiratory illnesses can inflame and thicken your sinus membrane, thus blocking mucus from draining as it should. These types of infections can be fungal, bacterial, or viral.
- Allergies – Runny nose, sinus pressure, and congestion can result from the reaction we have to things like pet dander, pollen, and dust mites. If you have allergies, our seasoned team of professionals can help.
Procedures and Treatments for Chronic Sinus Infections
One sinus infection is painful enough, let alone when you have to endure recurring infections. If you face four or more instances of a sinus infection in one year, this is classified as chronic sinusitis. This condition can be caused by several different things, from small sinus cavities or a deviated septum to extreme allergies. At Expert ENT Care, we perform in-office procedures preventing sinus infections from recurring and taking over your life. Some of the treatments we offer to adults and kids with sinus infections include the following:
- Balloon sinuplasty – This is a type of nasal surgery we perform to widen the sinus openings after severe cases of sinus infection. It is a highly-effective method of reducing adverse symptoms associated with chronic sinus issues.
- Endoscopic sinus surgery – A surgical procedure our team uses when blockages in a patient’s sinuses cause drainage, pain, and impaired breathing.
- Immunotherapy – When allergies are the reason behind constant congestion, we can help reduce your body’s reaction to specific allergens through certain allergy shots.
- Imaging testing – Computerized tomography (CT scans) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to give us insight on deep inflammation or physical obstruction in the nasal or sinuses area. This treatment method is typically used when an endoscope won’t suffice.
- Medication – From nasal sprays to antibiotics and corticosteroids, there’s a wide range of medical solutions to ease your symptoms and get you back to effortless breathing.
When Is Surgery Necessary?
If you have been through a revolving door of nose and sinus doctors with no end to your nasal discomfort in sight, surgery may be the best course of action. While there are ways to treat these kinds of conditions in a non-invasive way, if you do not see any lasting results from nasal sprays, medication, or other treatments, surgery may offer the advanced help you need. We will likely recommend surgical intervention if your chronic sinusitis is due to structural problems such as polyps or a deviated septum. We will look at your unique condition and determine what extent of treatment will be best to get you back to feeling your very best.
The Symptoms Associated with Nose and Sinus Issues
If you are having problems with your sinuses, you’ll likely notice right away. That stuffy, groggy feeling is unmistakable and can result in discomfort potentially making it difficult to go on with daily activities. Don’t let congestion stop you from living your life. Once you begin noticing the following symptoms, give our professionals a call, and we’ll find the solutions to help:
- Fatigue
- Nasal inflammation
- Drainage in the back of the throat
- Thick, yellow, green, or brown nasal discharge
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Ear pain
- Nasal obstruction/congestion
- Difficulty breathing, smelling, or tasting
- Tenderness and swelling around the forehead, eyes, nose, and cheeks
- Upper jaw aches
- Teeth pain
- Bad breath
Sinus Infection in Children
If your child is dealing with nose and sinus issues, know that this is not uncommon as children are prone to allergies and infections of the nose and ears. While minor cases can typically be handled with the proper foods, sleep, and medication, you’ll want to watch out for the signs and symptoms of a sinus infection. If your child is experiencing the following, be sure to give us a call:
- A cold lasting longer than a week
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Swollen eyes
When to See an Expert ENT Doctor
Many people tend to tough it out when it comes to congestion, thinking it’s just the result of a cold that will heal itself within a few days. While this may be the case some of the time, failing to have an infection addressed and treated can result in more severe health episodes down the road. If you or someone you love is exhibiting signs of chronic sinus issues, it’s time to schedule a doctor’s appointment. Sinus problems that don’t improve after ten days or do not respond to traditional, non-invasive treatment should be looked at by a trained and compassionate ear, nose, and throat professional. Don’t wait around to see if you heal on your own, be proactive in addressing your nose and sinus issues so you can get the relief you’ve been looking for.
Preventing Nose and Sinus Issues in the Future
The best way to avoid nose and sinus issues is to learn how to actively prevent them from happening in the first place. At Expert ENT Care, we always strive to be a premier resource for our patients who want to know more about preventing any sickness and discomfort pertaining to the ears, nose, and throat. Some of the steps we encourage our patients to take to reduce the risk of developing chronic sinusitis include the following:
- Do not smoke, as tobacco smoke can irritate and inflame the nasal passages and lungs.
- Ensure the air within your home is appropriately filtered to avoid allergy issues caused by air contaminants.
- Wash your hands frequently and distance yourself from people exhibiting a respiratory infection.
- Use a humidifier when the air in your home becomes too dry and staticky.
Contact Us Today to Schedule an Appointment
Whether you or someone you love is dealing with nasal discharge, nasal congestion, chronic sinus headaches, hoarseness from throat irritation and cough, or something else, Expert ENT Care can help. Call today to schedule an appointment or learn more about how Dr. Fewins can help your chronic sinusitis in Fort Worth, TX.