Sinus Care
Sinusitis affects people of all ages, with nearly 30 million adults diagnosed in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recurring sinus issues can greatly impact your quality of life, leading to a decrease in energy and the potential for numerous absent days from work or school.
ENT doctors – or otolaryngologists – at the Ear, Nose, Throat & Sinus Center are here to help you find relief so you can get back to your life by providing care for conditions that affect the ear, nose and throat. They are skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of nasal and sinus disorders, including recurrent sinus infections, nasal polyps, nasal tumors and septal deviation.
What is Sinusitis
When the mucous lining of the nasal passages and sinus cavities become blocked or inflamed, it can promote infection, leaving you with painful symptoms, including:
- Headache
- Nasal congestion
- Post-nasal drainage
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Facial pain and pressure
While many sinus issues stem from allergies, the common cold or mucus blockage, other reasons for infection may be the result of nasal structure, which require surgery.
Different types of sinusitis include:
- Acute sinus infection: A sudden onset that improves with the appropriate treatment. This infection typically lasts less than 4 weeks.
- Sub-acute sinus infection: Inflammation that lasts more than a month but less than two months.
- Chronic sinus infection: Sinus inflammation symptoms lasting longer than eight weeks. With this type of sinusitis, a physician may recommend imaging to get a better look at the patient's nasal passages and sinuses.
- Recurrent: If you have three or more episodes of acute sinusitis in a year, it's called recurrent.
For more information or to make an appointment with an ENT doctor at the Ear, Nose, Throat & Sinus Center, call (219) 531-0355 or visit Northwest Medical Group.
Sinus Surgery
When sinusitis doesn't respond to treatment with medication, surgery may be a consideration. Minimally invasive treatment options at Northwest Health - Porter include:
- Advanced endoscopic sinus surgery: A small, flexible tube with a light and camera is placed in the nostril allowing the doctor to see inside the nasal cavity and sinuses. This provides a magnified view inside the problem area without damaging surrounding tissue. Small instruments are then used to open the blocked passage and improve the drainage pathways.
- Image-guided sinus surgery: With this technique, a doctor has a detailed, real-time view of the sinus anatomy through the use of three-dimensional images shown on a monitor in addition to the surgical endoscopic view.
- Balloon dilation surgery: A guide wire – much like those used in heart procedures – is equipped with a small balloon and inserted through the nostril. Once in place, the balloon is inflated, opening and widening the nasal passage. It is then removed with the goal of restoring normal drainage and function. In most cases, this is an in-office procedure.