Chronic nasal congestion/blockage, nasal pain, and sinus infections (roughly two a year), any suggestions?

Question

Since childhood I’ve had a few accidents involving nasal trauma. It hadn’t bothered me until the last time I injured it during an altercation. Since I've had issues breathing, feeling as though my passageways are blocked and I get facial pain around the upper portion of my nose that leads to headaches. When I rub the sides of my nose together I feel crackling. I don't think it will help but I attached a photo

Thomas Romo, III, MD · Answer

Blunt trauma to the nose can result in nasal obstruction. The architecture of the nose is, lower 2/3 cartilage, upper 1/3 bone. If the trauma is bad enough to actually move or collapse these structures, then the nose can become blocked. You need a physical exam by your ENT doctor to make the correct diagnosis. This may also require a cat scan of the nasal area. Good Luck.

Kenneth R. Francis, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear Mk2020,Nasal trauma may result in several reasons to have airway obstruction.  You appear to have a middle vault collapse, which may be the cause of your difficulty breathing.  There may be other coincidental factors contributing to your symptoms, such as polyps, sinus blockage, sinusitis, septal deviation and turbinate enlargement.  An internal nasal examination and CT scan are needed to fully identify the sources of your symptoms.  Seek consultation with an American Board certified plastic or ENT surgeon.  Good luck!

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Trauma to the nose can cause of variety of issues such as a nasal fracture, deviated nasal septum, and dislocation of the cartilages in the nose.  Chronic sinusitis is usually caused from  allergic nasal polyps inside the sinuses.  Nasal obstruction can be cused from a  deviated septum.  A thorough internal examination of the nose and  a CAT scan of the sinuses is going to be required to make a determination about how best to proceed.

Alexander Ovchinsky, MD · Answer

Hello.   it is possible that your breathing issues are due to the deviated nasal septum, which could have resulted secondary to prior nasal trauma. Other possibilities are sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, both of which cause swelling inside the nose and nasal obstruction.   You need an intranasal examination to determine what the cause of your breathing problem is.  Deviated septum will require a surgical correction (which may be combined with rhinoplasty if you desire any cosmetic improvement of the nose), whereas sinusitis and allergic rhinitis can be treated medically

Chronic nasal congestion/blockage, nasal pain, and sinus infections (roughly two a year), any suggestions?

Answers (4)

Answer: Problems breathing through the nose after trauma

Answer: Problems breathing through the nose after trauma

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Chronic nasal congestion/blockage, nasal pain, and sinus infections (roughly two a year), any suggestions?

Answers (4)

Answer: Problems breathing through the nose after trauma

Answer: Problems breathing through the nose after trauma

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Septoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.