Facial pain is a common symptom of chronic sinusitis, but balloon sinuplasty may be able to help solve that issue. | StockSnap/Pixabay
Facial pain is a common symptom of chronic sinusitis, but balloon sinuplasty may be able to help solve that issue. | StockSnap/Pixabay
People who are suffering from facial pain may have chronic sinusitis, sinus infections and other sinus ailments -- and have possibly suffered for years without realizing that the relatively new balloon sinuplasty procedure can provide them with relief.
"Doing balloon sinus procedures is something I find incredibly rewarding," Dr. Richard Strabbing of Michigan ENT & Allergy Specialists told St. Joe-Benton Harbor News. "Patients have very minimal pain and recover within a day or two. I love being able to be part of something that is so low-risk and at the same time so highly successful."
Dr. Richard J. Strabbing
| Vitals.com
Strabbing, born and raised in West Michigan, is board-certified for otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery and has more than two decades of experience.
Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2017 National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found that 60 to 75% of chronic sinusitis sufferers also suffer from poor sleep. A 2018 NIH study found that people suffering the pain and pressure of sinus infection have a 34% increased risk of stroke.
A 2017 NIH study of sleep disruption in chronic rhinosinusitis tracked multiple chronic symptoms in a large number of patients with sleep impairment. A 2015 NIH study found that people who were suffering chronic rhinosinusitis had more facial pain compared to the control subjects across several pain measures.
Chronic sinusitis symptoms include yellow or green nose drainage, facial pain and pressure, stuffy nose, bad breath, coughing up mucus and sometimes fever and chills, according to Merck Manual.
Balloon sinuplasty was developed in 2005 and has been shown to be as effective as traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery, providing relief to patients who suffer sinus-related ailments.
Strabbing has worked with balloon sinuplasty since it first was developed. "I have extensive experience with the procedure," he told St. Joe-Benton Harbor News. "I helped thousands of patients over the years with this technology. Now you can benefit from my experience and have your chronic sinus difficulties taken care of in one short office procedure."
Chronic sinusitis can make it hard to enjoy everyday life. If you think a specialist could help, take this quiz.
Alerts Sign-up