I've been having sinus pressure and pain for going on 5 months now. It's located around my nose, behind my cheeks, behind my eyes/eyebrows, and in my temples. It is a constant pain about a 3/10, and I feel relief when I push on my sinuses, use heat, or massage my face. It's been a constant pain for about 5 months, with no big change. I believe it has been causing me to clench my jaw, leading to some TMJ issues re-surfacing. After getting a decent mouth guard, my TMJ issues have subsided.
Sinus issues causing migraine
I also believe it has been causing migraines -or at least dizziness- and sometimes other head pain that does feel like a migraine. But that goes away; the sinus pain does not. When all other symptoms are gone, the dull ache of my sinuses is still there. I sometimes have a post nasal drip that irritates my throat, or even what feels like irritated lymph nodes, but I do not have congestion that is typical with sinus issues. Doctors continue to tell me it's migraines. I have had migraines with vertigo since I was 15 years old, and this is different. I keep telling them IT'S DIFFERENT. When I only have this sinus pressure/pain, I feel clear-headed, not dizzy, no head pain, not nauseous. But the doctors keep saying "migraines".
Lingering sinus pain
When I research "sinus pain with no congestion", even the internet says it's a migraine. I'm not sure what to do. Sumatriptan, Ubrevly, Nurtec, all don't help the sinus pain. I've stopped drinking alcohol and I keep a migraine diary for triggers (I’ve discovered soy is probably one) - but soy will cause dizziness, nausea, and headache... not this sinus pressure/pain.
Communicating with my doctor
I guess I'm looking for help on how to get the message across to my doctors. I've asked for an MRI and allergy test, but they dismiss it based on "sinus pain with NO congestion". I’ve seen a neurologist, ENT, had a barium swallow test, blood work, and a vertigo test.
Anyone else have this issue?
Although it's manageable, I'm going crazy with constant pain, especially when I feel like it could be handled better.