Facial Pain

I have an atypical facial pain as a result of repeated sinus surgeries. The pain is just one symptom of something called Empty Nose Syndrome. This happens sometimes when they are over zealous during sinus surgeries that remove nasal turbinates and ethmoid sinuses. I had six sinus surgeries, the first 4 in a little more than a year. I kept developing polyps and infections that came awfully close to my brain. Unlike some ENS sufferers my surgeon was not over zealous and never removed more than neccessary. I do not blame him for my condition in fact he sought out others that could help me and referred me to the PD that gave me my life back. Unfortunately 20 years later I still deal with constant pain, feelings of congestion and the formation of large painful crusts in my nose and sinuses. My current ENT, who is great, says that there areas of the inside of my skull that are exposed to the air that were never meant to be exposed.

I have tried everything from very painful stellate ganglion blocks to sephnopalantine blocks that consisted of liquid cocaine on a long cotton type swab pushed to the back of my nose. I have used tens units and most recently have tried accupuncture that did not help the pain but did help my overall well being. I have tried any number of different classes of drugs but the best has been methadone with oxycodone for breakthrough. The methadone has been a blessing and a curse. On it I went back to school for another degree (my 3rd) where I graduated with honors and have been employed ever since. I've tried to switch to something different 3 times but nothing seems to work as well and coming off it is almost impossible. I plan on trying again and think my new PM practice wil give me the support I need.

I am very lucky in that I have a husband who has stuck by me through all of this. I also have had some really incredible Maine Coon cats as companions and caregivers. One of our first, Stoch, was show quality so we started showing him with the help of his breeder. He was awesome and started winning regularly. There was a time that those shows and seeing Stoch win kept me going. It was all I had to look foward to. All of our cats have been able to tell when I am having a bad day and they give me extra purrs and nose kisses.

I guess I rambled enough. Healing Well and the people in this forum often gives me the courage to keep on keeping on. Thank you, all of you.