Is sinus surgery painful?
For most patients, the pain with sinus surgery is mild. Part of the pain level depends on an individual’s own pain tolerance, and some depends on the extent of the surgery. Most patients require narcotic pain medication (Percocet, Vicodin, Lortab, etc.) for only one to five days afterward. Some patients have severe migraine headaches that may be triggered by sinus inflammation, such as that which occurs in sinus surgery. The usual type of sinus surgery discomfort is a dull, achy, pressure sensation. Some patients experience more of a mild, stinging or burning sensation in the nasal passages. Regardless, we are rarely contacted by patients after sinus surgery about pain issues, illustrating that use of prescribed pain medications is very effective.
