Sinusitis Specialist
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Jacksonville ENT Surgery
Otolaryngology & Medical Spa located in Jacksonville, FL & Lake City, FL
When nasal congestion and sinus pain don’t clear up, chances are you have chronic sinusitis, a condition that can be hard to cure. At Jacksonville ENT Surgery, Charles Greene, MD, PhD, and Tara Condrey, PA-C, specialize in treating chronic sinusitis. They begin your treatment with conservative therapies, but when needed, they have extensive experience in today’s most innovative and effective procedures, like minimally invasive balloon sinuplasty. To get help with sinusitis, book an appointment online today, or call one of their four offices, including three in Jacksonville and one in Lake City, Florida.
Sinusitis Q & A
What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis occurs when the membranes lining your sinuses become inflamed. The sinuses are air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead. The lining produces mucus that normally drains through a small opening and goes into your nose.
When you have sinusitis, the inflammation blocks the opening. As a result, the mucus gets trapped inside the sinus, creating the perfect environment for an infection.
Most cases of sinusitis are caused by a viral infection, often when the virus that causes a cold or the flu spreads into the sinus. You can also have a bacterial or fungal infection. Allergies, autoimmune diseases, and problems in your nose such as nasal polyps can also lead to sinus inflammation.
What symptoms occur if I have sinusitis?
Acute sinusitis appears suddenly and can make you feel miserable, but then it clears up in a few weeks. When your symptoms linger and last longer than 12 weeks, you have chronic sinusitis.
You will experience symptoms such as:
- Congested nose
- Discolored nasal discharge
- Diminished sense of smell
- Facial pain or pressure (around your sinuses)
- Pain in upper teeth
- Decreased sense of taste
- Headaches
Once chronic sinusitis sets in, it’s often hard to cure with conventional medical care.
How is sinusitis treated?
The team at Jacksonville ENT Surgery typically treats acute sinusitis with nasal decongestant therapy and antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection. Treatment for chronic sinusitis includes nasal saline irrigation, corticosteroids and antibiotics, and decongestants. When your symptoms don’t improve, your provider may perform surgery, including balloon sinuplasty, a less invasive option
How is sinusitis treated with balloon sinuplasty?
Balloon sinuplasty gives you long-lasting results without the bleeding and long recovery time that comes along with traditional sinus surgery.
During a balloon sinuplasty procedure, your provider at Jacksonville ENT Surgery applies a local anesthetic and guides a small, flexible balloon catheter through your nostril and to the inflamed sinus.
After positioning the catheter in the sinus opening, your provider inflates a tiny balloon. The balloon gently clears the opening and reshapes the area. For the next step, they simply deflate the balloon and withdraw the catheter.
Your sinus stays open even after the balloon is gone. You regain normal sinus drainage and your chronic sinusitis clears up.
If you have an ongoing stuffy nose with a thick discharge, facial pressure, or pain, call Jacksonville ENT Surgery today or schedule an appointment online.
