Sinuses, muscles or something worse?

[angrry]

Hi everyone...here I am again hoping someone can put some perspective on my problem. Since December I've had what I think are sinus problems. I've had burning pain in the right nostril, I blow my nose and there's blood...not every time..but quite often. The discharge from my nose is usually clear..not green or yellow as is often the case with sinus infection. My doctor had me on 2 courses of antibiotics...neither of which did much to make things better. Along with the sinus burning, I also have pain in the right side of my forehead, top of head, around the right eye,in my right ear and in the right temple area. My doc thinks it's related to dry air and winter. Me I'm not so sure, I use a saline spray every day, again without noticeable improvement.

In addition to all this I have a sore neck. It's painful to move my head side to side, it sometimes hurts at the back of my neck with no movement and there is also pain in the front of the neck area. I am aware that the sternocleidmastoid muscle can cause all kinds of pain in all of these areas if it's aggravated. I've been for a few physio-therapy sessions and the therapist is treating those muscles. She says they do feel tight and can even cause what feels like sinus problems, personally I doubt it could cause burning sinuses.

My doctor says he will send me to an ENT specialist who will scope my sinuses to see if there is anything there. I'm waiting to hear when the appointment will be but I'm really really scared. I've pretty much convinced myself I have sinus cancer. I'm really hoping there is someone here who can help me with this, someone who has had lingering sinus issues or neck issues. I want to be able to look at all of this and believe that there's no way I can have sinus cancer. I really need some advice and help. Thank you for reading this and responding if you are able.

Dave

[camel]

hey angrry

While I cannot address the sinus issue (sorry mate) I can tell you that your neck muscles are a big cause for a lot of the pain associated. I also want to say that look at all the other times you "knew you had cancer" and they turned out to be nothing.
I know you will be fine. Keep up with the physio and the ice/heat alternating for ten mins at a time all over your neck then leaving it alone for 30 mins then repeating.

Listen to what your physio said, "can even cause what feels like sinus problems" !!!! You need to focus on that. Get the scan and I bet it is all perfect. :)

To add, it can take a while for the tension to be resolved. Took me about two weeks, so don't give up!

Sorry I can't be of more help :/

[angrry]

thx camel...I'm trying to hold it all together...but the longer this goes the harder it is...I really appreciate you answering tho...I'll keep up with the physio and wait for the ENT appt to see what's going on....thx again

[Slangevar]

There was a wicked sinus condition going around this winter... my ENT said he was swamped with people sporting a chronic sinus infection (including me).  It's great that you're getting it scoped and checked out, but the likelihood is that you have a sinus infection.

[angrry]

ty Slangevar...fingers are crossed thats for sure...

[mel4962]

I can defo relate.  A few years ago I had an mri that showed sinus disease. At that plint I had no symptoms at all. Fast forward to a few weeks ago I came down with a doozy of a cold...I feel better now...but now I have wicked sinus pressure in my forhead...left eye and also burning nose. I have been taking mucinex and that seems to be helping. My mucus however is green then clear then green again. I heard green can be a sign that the cold is about done...or a sinus infection.  I am not wanting antibiotics so I will keep steaming...drinking tea...and using warm compresses along with the mucinex. You probably have a chronic lingering VIRAL sinus infection. Antibiotics wont work on any viral issues. However drs are prescribing antibiotics less and less viral or bacterial due to the fact that  they really are of no help and the body will fight it on its own. I highly doubt you have sinus cancer that is rarer then rare. Id put money on tight neck muscles or even a chronic viral sinus pressure....or allergies causing sinus pressure.

[angrry]

tyvm Mel...great to hear from you again...I'm trying to keep all this in mind...I see my therapist tomorrow I'll discuss this with her too maybe she can help calm me down as well...i'll let you all know what the ENT says...whenever I get the appointment...this is Canada so it could be several weeks

[angrry]

ty everyone for the help...I'm a mess though...very very scared...just can't shake the belief that this is actually sinus cancer and that it's starting to spread to lymph nodes causing the neck pain and to my brain causing the head pain....I was doing ok for a while because I was going to a psychologist...hopefully she can get me back on track again, I see her tomorrow...and hopefully I get a call about the ENT appointment soon...although in my mind it's too late already....sorry for being so negative...I'm just so scared.

[camel]

It's ok that you are scared. Sorry I can't be of more help, but I can say that I am certain you are fine.

Let's review...

1. There have been some nasty sinus things going on this year...

2. Your physio said that your neck tension could be the cause of all this...

3. Could be a viral sinus infection...

4. Sinus cancer is super super rare!...

So write that down and read it whenever a wave of anxiety consumes you. You are going to be fine!   

[Tam0630]

It's obviously very common for those of us with health anxiety to completely bypass what would be more rational, likely causes of our symptoms and jump straight to the worst case scenario, so you need to do what Camel is suggesting, Angrry, and break it down into logistics.

What is the likelihood of the less catastrophic scenario? I'm talking about sinus infection, tension, something viral, or even anxiety.

What is the likelihood that it's not ANY of those things, which are more common, and that it's cancer, which is extremely rare?

How many times have you feared cancer before, or any terminal, catastrophic illness?

How many times were you right?

Look outside of your anxiety for a moment, and ask yourself these questions. What are the chances that this ONE time, in spite of never being right before, you are now?

Not very. So your job is to tell yourself from now until your appointment, until you're blue in the face if you have to, that the likelihood of your fears being unfounded are very, very high. Talk to yourself, yell at yourself if you have to. I am fine, I am safe, I am physically healthy, anxiety is a liar.

Affirmations.
"Every day and in every way, things are getting better and better."
"Every cell in my body is in perfect health."

Speak them. Out loud. Every day, all day if you need to. Any time you freak out, or get anxious, or think "what if", speak to yourself. It helps, but I'm telling you, it's a constant, repetitive effort. You can't let lax and forget, or say eh it isn't working. You gotta keep doing it.

*hug*. Everything will be okay.

[angrry]

thank you so much for your kind responses....i'll hopefully be in a better frame of mind after seeing my therapist tomorrow and i'll be able to offer you a better thank you....i will keep all you have said in mind and try to reassure myself with the affirmations you suggest...all your help is really appreciated...you are really great friends

[angrry]

i really wish this would all go away...still no word on when i go see the ENT...sinuses are burning...i'm congested in the mornings...neck is still sore..this waiting really sucks...sorry don't mean to be such a baby and i know there are a lot of people here waiting for results, tests, appts etc...i guess i'm just afraid that by the time i get to see an ENT anything that may be growing in my sinuses will be too far gone to be fixed....thx for you time again

[Tam0630]

Hi Angry,

First, you are NOT a baby. You are hurting, and you're generally scared. That is okay. Any of us would be with a lingering health issue. And to be in Canada, where it takes forever to be seen by specialists, it is extremely frustrating to have to wait. Especially when you're scared.

We are here for you. We may not have all the answers, and we may not always know what to say, but we care and we are here to listen.

Hopefully this will be over soon for you. I've gotten to know you in chat a bit, and I consider you a friend. I hate to see you hurting so much, both physically and emotionally.

Take care and keep your chin up. It will be resolved, hopefully soon.

[camel]

What Tam said ^

Wish we could say stuff to put you at ease.

Chin up, and *bro hugs* lol

[angrry]

ty tam and cam...sorry to keep going on about this...ur right i'm scared..gonna be a tough night at work..and i think of you two as friends as well..we may have never met...but you have been so helpful to me on many occasions...ty guys

[Tam0630]

Will always be here for support and a listening ear, angry, no thanks needed. We have all been there and it's good that we can all be here for support and encouragement.

And please, don't apologize. We all know how it feels.