Nose Problems

Introduction:

Nose related problems are very common in the general population. The most common one perhaps is a plugged up nose from the common cold. Other people may react to the environment with an allergic rhinitis. Polypoid lesions in the nose can make it difficult to breathe as well.

After a nose fracture there may be a deformed nose and a nasal septum deformity making it difficult to breathe through one of the nostrils. Sinus problems can give unrelenting headaches. In children there are often enlarged adenoid glands that can obstruct breathing in the back of the nose and upper pharynx. Nose bleeds (epistaxis) can be very annoying, but they are common and should be attended to. One of the causes can be liver disease that might have led to coagulation problems. Other causes of nose bleeds might be undiagnosed cancer of the nose inside one of the nasal cavities.

Cosmetic Nose ("Nose Job", Nose Reconstruction)

Some people are born with a "crooked nose", others sustain it after a nose fracture from an accident or a fight. The end result is a nasal septum deviation where the separating wall between the right and left nasal cavities is deformed. Patients often snore and complain about difficulties breathing on one side of the nose. This can be surgically corrected in a small surgical procedure, called rhinoplasty. Here is a link, which explains this in more detail and shows before and after rhinoplasty pictures (use return key in left upper corner of your screen to return to this page).

Pain Control:

For pain control, before or after surgery, there is an FDA approved non-drug method available, IceWave patches from Lifewave . This is mentioned in the book "Breakthrough" by Suzanne Somers (Ref. 8) where newer insights of antiaging medicine are also reviewed. Although the patches are placed over acupuncture points, there are no needles involved. Nanotechnology, a newer technology, was used in the manufacturing of these patches and infrared (heat) waves from body heat are utilized to stimulate an acupuncture point, which modifies pain perception and reduces pain to half or less. Medically this would be considered an excellent pain reliever. For more info on the patches see the IceWave patches from Lifewave link above (click "products"). In the US a 5 pack of the IceWave spray is available that can be directly sprayed onto the skin in the area where the pain is located.

Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

1. James Chin et al., Editors: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 17th edition, 2000, American Public Health Association.

2. Behrman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 16th ed., 2000, W. B. Saunders Company

3. J M Hickner et al. Ann Emerg Med 37(6): 703-710. June 2001.

4. Noble: Textbook of Primary Care Medicine, 3rd ed.,2001 Mosby, Inc.

5. Abeloff: Clinical Oncology, 2nd ed.,2000,Churchill Livingstone, Inc.

6. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc.

7. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier

8. Suzanne Somers: "Breakthrough" Eight Steps to Wellness-- Life-altering Secrets from Today's Cutting-edge Doctors", Crown Publishers, 2008

Last Modified: June 20, 2009