Sinusitis FAQ

Pain around Eye Socket

Question:

Thank you Don for your reply. I had an MRI scan done and it showed a thickening of the ethmoid mucosa consistent with sinusitis. It did say they were infected though. I have allergies and wonder what I can do to treat the inflammation. Would ice be a good idea? It does feel good to put a cold pack over my eyes…thanks…Willard "Don Brady" <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:uoltrvst65psv4m1jigba2o2oak0fp89la@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 16:27:59 -0600, "Willard" <brack…@core.com> wrote: > >Hello Group, > >   I have pain when I press the bony ridge area above my eyes. It’s just > >below my eyebrows on the ridge of my eye socket. The pain starts when I > >press in about a quarter inch on both sides and is tender for about another > >3/4 of an inch. > >  Does this sound like sinuses? The pain can be described as though you were > >pressing on a new growing zit. that’s the best I can use to describe it. Any > >suggestions?   Thanks….Willard > That’s where some of your ethmoid sinuses are so yes it is possible it could be > sinusitis. > It could also be other things though………

Response:

On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 14:50:11 -0600, "Willard" <brack…@core.com> wrote: >Thank you Don for your reply. I had an MRI scan done and it showed a >thickening of the ethmoid mucosa consistent with sinusitis. It did say they >were infected though. I have allergies and wonder what I can do to treat the >inflammation.

It is probably the sinsusitis – that can give pain in that area..   Since it has gotten to the stage of being painful, I think you will need a careful diagnosis by a sinus specialist to know the best course.   Do not assume that the doctor you are seeing now is adequate on his or her own.   I would get some second opinions.  Preferably include soem from a specialist at a University medicate center. You should try some steroid sprays  for at least a couple of months,  if you have not done so.  They do not penetrate into the ethmoid sinsues, but *sometimes* they can open up the nose enough to get better air flow intot he sinuses so that they can heal.   This may take time though. Of coure there is always surgery down the road as an option but some participants here have had poor outcomes from surgery, and there are also various variations of surgery so you need to pick the right surgeon and form your own opinions too.   > Would ice be a good idea? It does feel good to put a cold pack >over my eyes…thanks…Willard

I doubt there is any harm in it if it helps.

Response:

Thanks again Don, I will try the steroid spray and try to find a good ENT. BTW: I meant to say that the MRI did NOT say they were infected but just that it showed mucosal thickening consistent with sinusitis.    I can breath well through my nose but I have a deviated septum with left turbinate hypertrophy. I am also going to irrigate  once a day….Thanks Don…Willard "Don Brady" <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:75tvrvo2ojmknnrf4ka48jc9572qeugeki@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 14:50:11 -0600, "Willard" <brack…@core.com> wrote: > >Thank you Don for your reply. I had an MRI scan done and it showed a > >thickening of the ethmoid mucosa consistent with sinusitis. It did say they > >were infected though. I have allergies and wonder what I can do to treat the > >inflammation. > It is probably the sinsusitis – that can give pain in that area..   Since it > has gotten to the stage of being painful, I think you will need a careful > diagnosis by a sinus specialist to know the best course.   Do not assume that > the doctor you are seeing now is adequate on his or her own.   I would get some > second opinions.  Preferably include soem from a specialist at a University > medicate center. > You should try some steroid sprays  for at least a couple of months,  if you > have not done so.  They do not penetrate into the ethmoid sinsues, but > *sometimes* they can open up the nose enough to get better air flow intot he > sinuses so that they can heal.   This may take time though. > Of coure there is always surgery down the road as an option but some > participants here have had poor outcomes from surgery, and there are also > various variations of surgery so you need to pick the right surgeon and form > your own opinions too. > > Would ice be a good idea? It does feel good to put a cold pack > >over my eyes…thanks…Willard > I doubt there is any harm in it if it helps.

Response:

On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 22:13:02 -0600, "Willard" <brack…@core.com> wrote: >Thanks again Don, I will try the steroid spray and try to find a good ENT. >BTW: I meant to say that the MRI did NOT say they were infected

I realized you meant that.      The report would not be likely to actually say they are infected. >but just >that it showed mucosal thickening consistent with sinusitis.

Right.

Response:

Duh  Just wondering how I would know I have an infection? I don’t have a headache or fever or cold symptoms but I’ve had chronic sinusitis for as long as I remember…..Bill "Don Brady" <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:tcg0sv462753vaj3kd9h56m65q0pa1tk4f@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 22:13:02 -0600, "Willard" <brack…@core.com> wrote: > >Thanks again Don, I will try the steroid spray and try to find a good ENT. > >BTW: I meant to say that the MRI did NOT say they were infected > I realized you meant that.      The report would not be likely to actually say > they are infected. > >but just > >that it showed mucosal thickening consistent with sinusitis. > Right.

Response:

The MRI is not a good way to diagnose sinus disease. It is ultra sensitive and a drop of mucus shows up as disease. The CT scan is best for a sinus diagnosis. We get many patients referred becasue the MRI showed sinus disease who never had any problems and we simply ignore these findings. Sometimes we do an additional CT just to prove there is no disease. If the patient really does have sinus disease and the MRI shows it, you then have to get a CT to make an accurate diagnosis in many situations. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com http://www.hydromedonline.com http://www.tinnnitusrelief.net http://www.hydromedonline.com/presentingthehydropulse/

Response:

On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 11:31:14 -0600, "Willard" <brack…@core.com> wrote: >  Just wondering how I would know I have an infection? I don’t have a >headache or fever or cold symptoms but I’ve had chronic sinusitis for as >long as I remember.

Sinusitis is defined as infection or inflammation./thinkening of the sinuses. Is that the defintion you are using or some other? Yellow or green drainage would indicate an infection. But  chronic sinusitis can go on for years without necessarily having infections…

Response:

Thank you Dr Grossan. Would you then suggest that I get a CT? I do not feel like I have infection but I do feel this tenderness in the ridge under my eye brows. …Willard "ENTconsult" <entcons…@aol.comnospam> wrote in message

news:20031123155531.12215.00000563@mb-m25.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The MRI is not a good way to diagnose sinus disease. It is ultra sensitive and > a drop of mucus shows up as disease. > The CT scan is best for a sinus diagnosis. > We get many patients referred becasue the MRI showed sinus disease who never > had any problems and we simply ignore these findings. Sometimes we do an > additional CT just to prove there is no disease. > If the patient really does have sinus disease and the MRI shows it, you then > have to get a CT to make an accurate diagnosis in many situations. > Murray Grossan, M.D. > http://www.ent-consult.com > http://www.hydromedonline.com > http://www.tinnnitusrelief.net > http://www.hydromedonline.com/presentingthehydropulse/

Response:

Willard wrote: > Thank you Don for your reply. I had an MRI scan done and it showed a > thickening of the ethmoid mucosa consistent with sinusitis. It did say they > were infected though. I have allergies and wonder what I can do to treat the > inflammation. Would ice be a good idea? It does feel good to put a cold pack > over my eyes…thanks…Willard

Actually, moist heat may be better than cold temperature. Here’s why:  Your diagnosis is infected sinuses. Therefore it’s likely that your sinuses are full of thick, infected mucus, and the inflammation is causing the openings to swell shut, hindering drainage. Moist heat (especially inhaling warm steam) can help liquefy the secretions and help them drain.  Try taking a hot shower, let the hot water hit your face directly, and then stand back and inhale some of the steam. — Steven Litvintchouk

Response:

Hello Group,    I have pain when I press the bony ridge area above my eyes. It’s just below my eyebrows on the ridge of my eye socket. The pain starts when I press in about a quarter inch on both sides and is tender for about another 3/4 of an inch.   Does this sound like sinuses? The pain can be described as though you were pressing on a new growing zit. that’s the best I can use to describe it. Any suggestions?   Thanks….Willard

Response:

On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 16:27:59 -0600, "Willard" <brack…@core.com> wrote: >Hello Group, >   I have pain when I press the bony ridge area above my eyes. It’s just >below my eyebrows on the ridge of my eye socket. The pain starts when I >press in about a quarter inch on both sides and is tender for about another >3/4 of an inch. >  Does this sound like sinuses? The pain can be described as though you were >pressing on a new growing zit. that’s the best I can use to describe it. Any >suggestions?   Thanks….Willard

That’s where some of your ethmoid sinuses are so yes it is possible it could be sinusitis. It could also be other things though………

Response:

Filed under: Ethmoid sinusitis

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