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Many patients with sinus pressure or sinus pain are misdiagnosed as to its cause. This occurs when there are no symptoms of congestion, an unusual circumstance. Yet there are still many possible causes to consider if you experience sinus pressure without congestion.

Causes

If you experience sinus pressure without congestion, consider the following conditions:

  • Do you have a deviated septum?

This deformity can affect breathing and mucus discharge. The septum, which is the central wall of the nose cavity, is somewhat slanted. Facial injuries and growth abnormalities can cause this deviation. Sinus pain is one of the most common symptoms.

  • Do you have nasal polyps?

Polyps are growths that vary in size. The bigger it gets, the more painful it becomes. If present, polyps can cause sinus pressure without congestion. If it is big enough, it can cause discomfort to the eye region.

  • Do you have an allergy?

Sinus pressure without congestion can result from hypersensitivity to something. A food allergy is the most common form. The allergic response induces a series of reactions that leads to swelling of the sinus and other parts of the nasal cavity.

  • Do you have sinusitis?

Surprisingly, not all cases of sinusitis are accompanied with congestion. This is a very common condition that can also lead to discomfort of the eyes, forehead, ears, or the head in general due to a buildup of pressure from inflamed sinuses.

  • Do you have a hormonal imbalance?

Women may experience swelling of their nasal passages simply because of hormonal shifts. During pregnancy and menstruation, certain hormones suddenly drop or rise and may lead to sinus pressure and discomfort. The good news is, the symptoms disappear after giving birth or at the end of the menstrual cycle.

  • Do you have TMJ?

TMJ is commonly caused bruxism (unconscious teeth grinding usually when at sleep), physical trauma to the jaw or nasal cavity, and even excessive gum chewing. Tinnitus and headache may accompany the sinus pain.

Treatment

Most symptoms of sinus pain and pressure are usually treated initially with analgesics to relieve pain, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and if needed, antibiotics to fight any offending bacteria and decongestants to relieve decongestion. Otherwise, the doctor will treat the patient based on perceived cause; if the doctor suspects an allergy, then an antihistamine will be prescribed.

Some cases of sinus pressure without congestion may require alternative treatment options depending on cause. Nasal septum deviation has to be corrected by performing sinus surgery. Steroid sprays are used to limit the growth of nasal polyps, although surgery might be required if pharmacologic means aren't successful. For TMJ, pain relievers and tricyclic antidepressants are used to address acute to chronic symptoms, while surgery is only used as a last resort if other options have been exhausted.

References
  1. Can You Have Sinus pressure without congestion? http://nasal-doctor.com/sinus-pressure/can-you-have-sinus-pressure-without-congestion/
  2. Sinus Pain Without Congestion. http://experimenter.hubpages.com/hub/Sinus-Pain-Without-Congestion
  3. What Are the Causes of Intense Sinus Pain Without Congestion? http://www.livestrong.com/article/180453-what-are-the-causes-of-intense-sinus-pain-without-congestion/
Discussions(7) Add New

  1. Marnia August 26, 2011 05:17 PM Reply

    Perhaps you have a trouble with the neck. I received a great deal of pressure and it became the neck problem. Sometimes, these can act as the sinus ear pressure or sinus problems. Actually, it can be the combination of all. I was informed that it was a neck problem, the loss of the natural curve.

  2. Senta September 21, 2011 04:50 AM Reply

    Hi!
    Do you have sinus pressure without congestion? I think I have sinus pressure with congestion. I am suffering from the pressure that spread all over my head. It is over my face, forehead and in the region of the nose. Ultimately, it strikes my head. I have not faced any sneezing and the cold flu. I am not able to read and concentrate as well and there were no troubles or the daily headaches. I need the actual solution of these problems.

  3. Isleta December 27, 2011 11:29 AM Reply

    I suffered from the awful aching, ear aching, headache, neck aching, facial numbness, jaw soreness and tightness for a month almost. Perhaps, I have the head congestion as well. I met the doctor and he said it was the sinus and allergy. I considered his statement wrong. I have been suffering from the allergies for my whole life and I have not experienced this sort of problem. I have had sufficient water. I smoke; however I reduce smoking. I drink five more glasses of water daily and spray my nose with a BAM and nasal solution. It helped me one hundred and ten percent. I do not know the fact but it can be the saline spray in the nose. Hoping everything becomes well. This article sounds outstanding. Thanks!

  4. Humphrey April 09, 2012 09:16 AM Reply

    I think there is slight difference that the nasal irrigation can help you a lot. Do you think that can you have sinus infection without nasal congestion? I got the saline nose spray other than any medical sprays of the nose. I have continued with it for two days and extraordinarily the pressure is left almost.

  5. Nirav May 17, 2012 09:49 PM Reply

    Hi! You can seize the sinus pressure in head without having the other signs. In a real sense, I have the different strange signs that are not related to the sinus and it is based on the worst congestion. Sometimes my left side of the face becomes swollen for some weeks before I found out that it was an infection of the sinus as the congestion mucous was not in a bad shape. I believe this article helps you. Meeting a doctor can help you find the solution. The nasal irrigation can also be useful.

  6. Branch May 31, 2012 05:08 AM Reply

    I have some queries about my problem. Does sinus cause the headache and tinnitus daily? Do you have the sinus pressure in head? I get up with these problems every day. While exercising outside, these problems go away. The heat is extreme in nature. I can minimize the heat in AC. However, the symptoms remain same. Can you provide me some suggestions in this regard?

  7. Abijah July 04, 2012 04:09 PM Reply

    I am a retired army and my physical condition is good. Everything was excellent other than the lower back generative disk disease. I had also a mild hearing loss. The blood situation was normal. I got an employment in Iraq; however, I got the extreme fatigue, dizziness and headache. The blood tests were normal last time. Now I have got the head pressures and tinnitus daily. I visited the doctor last September and the doctor thought it would be the reaction of the allergy. I was provided the Zyrtec for a thirty-day period. However, there was no change of the head pressure. I met an ENT and he said that it would be cured in time. I am forty four years old and I have not faced any severe headache before. I am having a good health and can walk for forty five minutes daily. I have sinus infection no symptoms.