In daily life, acute sinusitis is a relatively common disease, and patients often experience uncomfortable symptoms such as nasal congestion, purulent discharge, and headache. In order to relieve symptoms and promote nasal recovery, nasal irrigation is a common auxiliary treatment method. However, some patients will suffer from ear pain during the flushing process, which undoubtedly adds new pain to patients who are already suffering from sinusitis. So, how should we deal with ear pain during acute sinusitis flushing?
Possible causes of ear pain during flushing
Effect of pressure changes
The nasal cavity and middle ear are connected through the Eustachian tube. When performing nasal irrigation, if the irrigation pressure is too high or the irrigation posture is incorrect, the irrigation fluid may enter the middle ear cavity through the Eustachian tube, or cause a sudden change in the pressure in the middle ear cavity. This change in pressure can irritate the eardrum and surrounding tissue in the middle ear, causing ear pain. For example, when the patient's head position is too low when irrigating, the irrigating fluid can easily flow back into the Eustachian tube, causing impact on the middle ear.
Irritant stimulation
If the composition and temperature of the rinse solution used to rinse the nasal cavity are inappropriate, it may also cause ear pain. If the temperature of the flushing fluid is too low, it will irritate the nasal mucosa and cause strong contraction of the mucosa. This contraction reaction may affect the middle ear through nerve conduction, causing ear pain. In addition, if the flushing fluid contains highly irritating ingredients, or the flushing fluid has not been strictly disinfected and contains bacteria and other pathogens, once it enters the middle ear, it may trigger an inflammatory reaction in the middle ear, resulting in pain.
The impact of sinusitis itself
In patients with acute sinusitis, inflammation in the sinuses may have spread to the Eustachian tube, causing Eustachian tube dysfunction. When nasal irrigation is performed at this time, the Eustachian tube, which is already in an abnormal state, may not be able to properly adjust the pressure balance inside and outside the middle ear, making the pressure changes during the irrigation process more likely to cause damage to the middle ear, thereby causing ear pain.
Specific measures to deal with ear pain
Stop flushing immediately
Once you feel ear pain during flushing, stop flushing immediately. Continuing to flush may increase irritation and damage to the ear, further aggravating painful symptoms. After stopping flushing, keep your body in a relatively quiet state and avoid strenuous exercise or sudden changes in body position to avoid aggravating ear discomfort.
Adjust the flushing method
Control the flushing pressure: Choose a suitable flusher and operate it strictly according to the instructions to control the flushing pressure. Generally speaking, the irrigation pressure should not be too high, so that the irrigation fluid can pass through the nasal cavity smoothly without causing obvious discomfort. You can try adjusting the pressure of the irrigator to a lower level, or control the outflow speed of the irrigating fluid by slowly squeezing the irrigator.
Choose the right posture: Proper flushing posture is crucial to reducing the occurrence of ear pain. It is usually recommended to sit or stand with the head tilted slightly forward to avoid lowering or raising the head too high. When flushing, gently insert the nozzle of the irrigator into one side of the nasal cavity, so that the flushing fluid slowly flows in along the back wall of the nasal cavity, and then flows out from the opposite side of the nasal cavity. This reduces the possibility of flushing fluid entering the Eustachian tube.
Adjust the composition and temperature of the rinse solution: The rinse solution should be physiological saline or a special rinse solution recommended by your doctor. Avoid using solutions containing irritating ingredients. At the same time, pay attention to the temperature of the flushing fluid, which is generally close to human body temperature, about 37°C. You can put the rinse solution in warm water and heat it to a suitable temperature before rinsing to avoid irritating the nasal cavity and ears due to low temperature.
Relieve ear pain
Hot compress: Use a warm towel to gently apply it around the ears. Each hot compress lasts about 15-20 minutes and can be done 3-4 times a day. Hot compresses can promote blood circulation in the ears, relieve muscle tension, and reduce pain symptoms.
Massage: Gently massage the acupoints around the ears, such as Ermen, Tinggong, and Tinghui. Gently press these acupoints with your fingertips and massage each acupoint for 1-2 minutes until there is local soreness and swelling. Massage can clear the ear meridians, regulate the flow of Qi and blood in the ears, and help relieve ear pain.
Medical treatment: If the ear pain symptoms are severe, some painkillers, such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, can be used under the guidance of a doctor. At the same time, if it is suspected that the ear pain is caused by inflammation such as otitis media, local treatment with antibiotic ear drops may be needed to control the inflammation and reduce the pain.
Follow-up prevention and precautions
Actively treat sinusitis
Ear pain is often a complication of acute sinusitis, so proactive treatment of sinusitis is the key to preventing ear pain from recurring. Patients should follow the doctor's recommendations and take medications to treat sinusitis, such as antibiotics and nasal corticosteroids, on time. At the same time, pay attention to rest, avoid overexertion, enhance the body's immunity, and promote the recovery of sinusitis.
Regular review
During the treatment of sinusitis, patients should go to the hospital for regular check-ups so that doctors can keep abreast of changes in the condition and adjust treatment plans. Especially after abnormal conditions such as ear pain occur, timely follow-up consultation should be conducted to rule out the possibility of other complications such as otitis media.
Avoid improper flushing
Even after the symptoms of sinusitis are relieved, you should pay attention to the operating procedures when performing nasal irrigation to avoid recurrence of ear pain. If you are not familiar with the method of nasal irrigation, you can practice it under the guidance of a doctor or nurse to ensure you master the correct irrigation technique.
Although ear pain during acute sinusitis irrigation will cause discomfort to the patient, as long as we understand the possible causes and take correct countermeasures, we can effectively relieve the pain symptoms and avoid further deterioration of the condition. At the same time, by doing preventive work in daily life, actively treating sinusitis, and standardizing nasal irrigation operations, we can reduce the occurrence of complications such as ear pain and help patients recover as soon as possible.
