Sinus Pain: Neti Pot Working For Me

 I have suffered from sinus pain over the years. Some years are worse than others. The first time I felt the pain I thought my wisdom teeth were coming in. The pain was inside my face and my teeth hurt. I had never experienced anything like this pain before. It was almost unbearable. The fact that my teeth hurt so much made me call my dentist. My dentist was very accomodating and he had me come in that day. He took the x-rays and then told me "I believe what you have is a sinus infection, your teeth are fine". He continued to tell me that he got a lot of people who call him with this condition and many times his patients have been diagnosed with sinus infections. A trip to the doctor confirmed that indeed I did have a sinus infection. I was put on an antibiotic (Biaxin) and the doctor also gave me a few other medications. One of the medications was a steroid that was intended to help heal the sinus ducts. Within a few days the pain was gone, much to my relief.

The first time I actually experienced the sinus pain I can remember exactly what I was doing. It was a beautiful spring day and I was driving to an auto glass shop to get my windshield replaced. The pain came on suddenly. As the hours passed the pain became severe. It felt as if I had been punched in the face by a heavy weight fighter. The pain was inside my face. From below my left eye down my cheek to my teeth. The pain radiated outward and caused my left ear to hurt as well. My stomach was nauseous from this pain. I remember thinking I would not wish this on my worst enemy. Loud noises boomed through my head and made it worse. The only relief I could seem to find was to lay in my bed with the shades drawn in quiet solitude.

For about two years my sinuses caused me this discomfort. I would never be able to predict when the pain would occur. When the pain would start, it was almost instantly. My teeth would go numb. If I was eating I would not be able to feel the food in my mouth. Sometimes the pain would be accompanied by a drip down the back of my throat. The drip would cause me to cough hard and often. Sometimes laying down caused the drip to actually get worse. I would go to the doctor and he would prescribe me antibiotics. Some of the antibiotics were Ceftin, Biaxin, Amoxicillin and one that really bothered my stomach Augmentin. I would take the medicines and the condition would improve and life would be good again. Until the next time the pain started. I saw specialists who advised me that surgery may be in order. A process called sinus draining. I had heard of this process. It did not sound pleasant and I had been told it was very painful. I had also been told that many people had the sinus conditions return even after the surgery. Was it worth it? How long can I put up with this recurring unbearable pain inside my face?

After a couple of years the recurring sinus pain seemed to improve. I did not get the sinus infections every year as I had in the past. I still got the pain but it was nothing like it had been a couple of years ago. In June of this year I lost my job. Losing my job meant no more health insurance. I could not afford a $1000 a month cobra payment. I considered myself lucky as the months went by. So far nothing had occurred that made me need to see the doctor. Then around October the sinus pain came back. It started almost instantly as it had in the past. My teeth hurt. The pain radiated from a point right below my right eye this time. I knew from my denist what caused the pain now. It was from the pressure of the swollen sinus pushing on the nerves of my teeth inside my face. I dealt with the pain in the beginning of October the best I could. I had gotten a job, but with this economy the employers are playing hardball. They hired me as a temp and gave me no benefits. I would go to work each day in some pain. It seemed that the weekend was the worst. The pain would leave me pretty much incapacitated. Friends told me to try home remedies. I bought over the counter sinus relief medicines. Then my mother told me she had seen on the Oprah Winfrey show that a doctor Oz had been demonstrating a product called Neti Pot and that many people swore by it. People who had suffered sinus conditions for years were saying they had been pain free for months or years. My Mom bought me one. She gave it to me shortly before this past Christmas. I had googled Neti Pot. It's a small plastic pot that uses water and salt. I was skeptical. How could something so basic help me out. What did I have to lose though, other than sinus pain. The pain had gotten so bad it had affected my ability to be a good parent. I was laid up in the couch on some weekends now suffering severe pain inside my face. I could hardly function.

Around the middle of December I began using the Neti Pot on a daily basis. Within two days the pain in my face had been reduced dramatically. The drip was gone from my throat. I could feel the pressure easing more and more each passing day. 

A month has passed now. I am not saying this Neti Pot thing is a cure all. I am convinced though that it has helped me. I believe the solution has helped to clear my sinuses and to ease the pressure inside my face. I intend to continue to use the Neti Pot each day and I also intend to follow up this HUB with the results. I would most certainly recommend to sinus pain sufferers to give the product a shot. It can't hurt.