sinus pressure relief??

Because of my migraines and possible rebound headaches, I"m unable to to take any (prescription or otc) medication for allergies, sinus, etc. Right now I have horrible sinus pressure...it is even making my teeth hurt! Have been trying nasal spray, doesn't seem to help. Does anyone know of a natural remedy to relieve sinus pressure?

Sarah - figuring out if it's actually sinus or migraine is a good idea. I have chronic sinusitis, as well as migraines, and the sinus pressure can definitely trigger a migraine. Sinusitis is very hard to get rid of - but here are a few things I do:

Get a neti pot - this is actually used in yoga, it is great for clearing sinuses and keeping them healthy. It's a little pot with a spout which you put a mild saline solution in and gently rinse your sinuses - you can do it in the shower or over the sink. Used regularly it's great - you can find one on line.

Keep your environment humidified in the winter - sinuses need moisture and will hurt if it's too dry.

If I get an infection (green snot coming out) I use a nasal spray called AGcidal - it has a mild silver protein in it, which my doctor recommends for killing mild infections. If I get a really bad infection I go to him for antibiotics!

Dr. Robert Ivker wrote a couple of books called "Sinus Survival" which are really good.

Good luck! - Megan

Hello Sarah,

Have you tried mixing a little peppermint oil and lavender oil and rubbing it over your sinuses or putting the mixture onto a cotton ball and smelling it for a while?  I get sinus infections a lot and doing that usually helps relieve some of the pain for me.

Hope that helps,

Liz

I developed facial pain over a year ago. I have Allergic Rhinitis and Chronic Sinusitis with a history of three Sinus surgeries. I was also having drainge. My big proble was that I would begin with pain in the eyes, nose, and cheeks, and it would feel like someone had hit me with a bat across the face.

I tried to ignore it, but eventually I would end up with Migrain Pain on the right side. I saw my ENT Doctor numerous times. I was so sure it was Sinusitis. But he keep saying No. And then I began to take the Fioricet when the facial pain began and it helped. I tried Extra Strength Tylenol, Advil (which I'm not allowed to have). I would take 800mgs of that with no relief. I used Afrin Sinus Spray, Saline Spray. Nothing helped but the Fioricet.

I have yet to be told it is a Migraine, but have read that with fibromyalgia (which I have) you can get facial pain. And I was thinking maybe it was causing this pain and triggering the Migraine. I can't think of anything else it can be. It's very frustrating, and I get the facial pain everyday. I take more Fioricet than I ever did before, so that is frustrating also. Yet no doctor has been helpful.

Glyn

I wasted six years of my life going from ENT to ENT trying to fix my sinus pressure, congestion and headaches. I had sinus surgery as well. I never knew that all along this was all caused by my migraines and not the other way around. Migraines often cause congestion. It is common with cluster headaches that one nostril will become completed occluded. I will go through stretches using Afrin every night for a month, then the headaches will lighten up a bit and I won't need the Afrin near as much or not at all. I have used a Neti pot with various formulas for a couple of years, which made absolutely no difference whatsoever - and why should it? Rinsing your sinuses is good when you have a cold and you want to prevent getting a "secondary" sinus infection, or for those with allergies; otherwise, I don't really see it as being beneficial. I had to use Afrin to open up my sinuses in order to use the Neti pot in the first place, or I couldn't get the water to pass through (most of the time).

While in the hospital for a 5-day DHE treatment (for intractable migraine) I spoke with a couple of others who had similar experiences. I also just had an occipital nerve inplant removed that also did not work. I guess I'll just have to stick with Topamax and pain medication for now...