Treating Chronic Sinus Headaches With TPI

Common symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis include: Dull, Aching Facial Pressure and Pain, Neck and Shoulder Pain, Nasal Congestion, Postnasal Drip, Sore Throat, Snoring and Mouth Breathing, Bad Breath, Puffy Eyes, Chronic Cough, Headache and Fatigue.

The standard treatment for chronic sinusitis and sinus headaches typically involves the use of Antibiotics and Corticosteroids (ie Prednisone). The side effects from antibiotics include loss of healthy intestinal flora, possible allergic reactions to the medication itself, as well as building potential resistance to the antibiotic. Side effects of corticosteroids include elevated blood sugar, blood pressure, mood changes, weight gain and loss of healthy bone (osteopenia and osteoporosis), to name a few.

Therefore, many patients who suffer from this chronic condition end up in a catch-22 with 3 or more week treatments of antibiotics +/- steroids for each episode. The toll on the body from this combination of medications can be quite detrimental, particularly as chronic sinusitis patients report having sinus inflammation very frequently (some monthly, and others year-round).

This is why Dr. Tachdjian trained at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine and has adopted this approach in his clinic to provide fast, effective relief of chronic sinus headaches with TPI.

Injections of lidocaine are given into trigger points that form in and around the neck muscles in order to relieve the tension from the overworked muscle and fascia (tissue lining the muscles). It is the muscles and the surrounding fascia that overwork and over exhaust themselves leading to headaches. These myofascial headaches can easily mimic migraines, neck pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and even sinus headaches.

After receiving TPI, the majority of patients report tremendous relief of the sinus headaches and chronic sinusitis symptoms. Many patients inadvertently realize that even their migraine headaches have subsided or even disappeared. Realizing this potent effect, they often get TPI done prophylactically (to prevent recurrence of headaches), or on demand, by getting injections once they feel the headache coming on. One added benefit is that TPI are usually covered by insurance.

Simply put, TPI can alleviate the pain and inflammation from chronic sinusitis and sinus headaches.

* Citation: Alvarez DJ and Rockwell PG. Trigger Points: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician 2002 Feb 15;65(4):653-60.