Sinusitis FAQ

Anybody had sinus surgery help your migraines?

Question:

Me, me, I’ve had sinus surgery for migraines.  The first surgery was a reduction and outfracture of the turbinates because they were so enlarged I couldn’t breathe.  A local Pensacola ENT did that surgery.  For the most part, it really helped, but he removed just a teeny tad too much. Unfortunately he didn’t diagnose a sinus infection that I had at that time from CT’s nor did he diagnose it four years later (I still had it — showed up on new CT’s).  I I got the name of Dr. Dean Clerico from the National Headache Foundation since they gave him a grant to research the relationship between nasal/sinus structure and problems and migraine headaches.  I called him and he told me to send him all my medical records.  I did and he diagnosed OVER THE TELEPHONE that I had had a sinus infection for at least 4 years.  I made an appointment to go up to Philadelphia to see him.  He placed me on antibiotics for about four months.  Due to the infection, my right sphenoid sinus was half the size of the other one. Four months later I flew back up to Philly for surgery to improve drainage for that sinus.  He also arranged for me to see a friend of his in New Orleans (3 hour drive) so that I wouldn’t have to keep flying to Philly for aftercare. A year later, I had formed some scar tissue and additional boney overgrowth, and I flew back for another small surgery.  Dr. Clerico is wonderful and I would recommend him to anyone who has sinus problems.  He worked with a small group of young physicians who trained with one of the top U.S. ENT’s in the country at the Hospital of the Univ. of Penn.  Dr. Clerico has since moved to the Poconos Mtn area due to the fact that his wife suffered from environmental allergies in Philly.  If you want his name and address, please e-mail me. If you have severe problems with sinuses, it may well be a trigger for your migraines.  I certainly got a lot of relief from HA after surgery.  But, I still had migraines. Marnette

Response:

I am Scott, a 41 yr old male who has suffered migraines for 11 yrs. Due to chronic sinusitis about three yrs ago, i developed a migraine behind the right eye.  Had surgery three yrs ago on the sinus, but still have the migraine.  Five days ago, August 26, i had a second sinus surgery, as they clean out the left side, and the doctor tried to "block" a nerve in the right sinus.  He felt it was a nerve that was triggering migraine in the sinus.   After five days, i have pain behind the right eye, but cant call it a migraine.  Having to use pain meds for the pain.  Today, I called the on call surgeon for UCLA, which is where I had my surgery.  I asked for some lidocaine, and of course he said "no."  After all, i’m not his patient, right?…why should he care? Anyway, if anyone has had any luck regarding sinus work to get rid of migraines…or just sinus or migraine info, please feel free to email me or to add your info. Scott S.

Response:

Filed under: Chronic sinusitis

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