I sent an email directly to james but, for all the rest of you.....

I've had 16 sinus surgeries due to a chronic sinus disease. The most recent being in october, 2003. I wanted to note that you need to determine where the pain is coming from before you assume it's your sinus'. In james' case, his allergies seem to be doing fine but, his sinus' hurt. If it is a burning pain that leads me to believe that it probably is his sinus' in which he should be referred to an ent if the problem persists after treatment from you pcp. If there is nothing visibly wrong on ct scans you may want to try an otc aloe nasal spray. There are a couple of natural/ non-medicated nasal sprays that help with dryness (which may be causing the pain). Sometimes allergy medications can dry you out and the sprays will soothe and moisten! You can also try irrigating with saline spray or warm salt water.
If it is more in the "bone" or a headachey feeling... That may or may not be your sinus'. Again, you need a proper diagnosing from a Dr. And if you don't get one... Keep looking!!!!!
Keep in mind that it may be tmj syndrome inwhich you need to see an oral surgeon for treatment. This proved to be the case with me recently. The symptoms are easily confused with sinus pain. Talk to your pcp about all of the possiblities of where the pain could come from. Meanwhile, these natural/nonmedicated otc sprays won't hurt to try out.

I've had similar symptoms and can't seem to find any answers on the internet. I originally had a sinus infection that was cured. I don't have the "run-down" feeling you have when you are sick anymore but some of the symptoms remain. I have sinus pressure and a mild headache that kind of comes and goes at random. I'm taking 12 hour allegra, a nasal spray, rinsing my sinuses with a wash and taking advil cold and sinus in different combinations, but nothing really helps. The only other symptom I still have is that I have a what looks like blue smudges under the inside corner of my eyes that get bigger and smaller. I've had a ct scan and been to an ent and he says that there's nothing on the ct scan to indicate that anything is wrong. It is getting better, but i've had this for 3 months. I've never really had any runny nose, no coughing, no watery eyes. None of your typical allergy symptoms.

A lot of my family members and friends have had success with cold processed barley grass. Studies have shown they it lowers cholesterol, eliminates pain and side effects from allergies and sinus infections. The barley grass also is a great antioxidant and all natural energy booster. Everyone should take two servings of barley grass a day.....The best supplement on the market.

Bumping this thread up again... I've had similar problems to those listed above. Just had my first sinus surgery a week ago, although I still pretty much feel the same as I did before surgery. The doctor says I need to wait a few weeks to notice any results, but in the meantime I'm still hoping to find a magical cure.

I've had these symptoms for 8 years now: soreness behind my eyes, tension around my max sinuses, and my jaw clenches in a natural state. I've spent thousands of dollars on TMJ treatments and seen every type of doctor imaginable: neurologists, allergists, ENTs, physicians, naturopaths, acupuncturists, and even hypnotherapists. Nothing seems to ease my pain.

I am hopeful that a few more weeks of recovery from surgery will score results. The CT scan DID show completely clogged sinuses and a culture showed a staph infection (staph aureus in particular). I'm not a religious man but I've been praying at night for this surgery to finally save me.

The last 8 years of my life haven't been lived -- I've been suffering and just making it through. All other aspects of my life are amazing except this, which prevents me from enjoying my existence on this lovely planet of ours.

Someone did mention barley grass -- I haven't tried it yet but I did notice that when I was taking wheatgrass shots regularly, I did feel a little bit better after a few weeks. Tomorrow I'm back on my regular diet which will include morning wheatgrass shots, so here's hoping!

I have also had sinus surgery. I am so glad that I had it done I actually have done it twice. I also have pain it is due to inflamation in your sinus cavities the best way to control that pressure is ibuprofen. Adults can take up to 800mg a time. There are times that I can get by with out it and days that it cant live without it.

I'm almost 2 weeks post surger now. Feeling slightly different, but haven't yet had the heavens-opening awakening type feeling. The doctor said it would get worse and then get better -- the last few days have felt like I've had a strong sinus infection. I am hopeful that the next week or two will be miraculous. Otherwise it's back to the doctor.

I know what you mean, sometimes you can fool yourself into thinking your better but it only takes a while until you realise not much has changed. I also know what its like to appreciate that you are lucky to have everything around you but at the same time can't appreciate it because you feel so bad. People will pin this down to depression but it doesn't really add up, it makes more sense that its because you feel awful all the time. Please keep us informed of any improvements or anything which happens. Good luck, Chris

Thanks Chris, I appreciate your feedback. Just knowing that other people understand what it's like to suffer through this makes me feel better. My ENT had rightly stated that I probably have been in misery the last 8 years, and she was right. Thankfully she seems pretty competent and if we need follow-up work (more antibiotics, or even more surgery) I think she'll be there for me.

Sometimes I get to thinking that maybe it is all psychological, and all this pain is just in my head, but I've seen shrinks as well and taken anti-depressants. Nothing eases the pain, it's always there.

I'm about 2.5 weeks post surgery, still no major improvement. I feel small tweaks here and there, so I am happy that something is happening, but nothing major yet. I can definitely detect I have lots of inflammation still, I'm still coughing all the time, and I'm sneezing daily as well. My phlegm has recently changed from its Christmas-themed post-surgery green/red to clear in the last day or two, so that's a great sign.

But at the same time I've also lined up a visit to an acupuncturist in a few weeks in case this really was all in my head. I truly hope it's not, there are just way too many symptoms suggesting something physical.

Heh, Christmas themed mucus, I'll put that in my stockings this year. No, I've done that aswell, my doctor gave me strong anti-depressants yet still seems to think my illness is caused by my pre-occupation with illness. Its a circular argument and its basically my word against his. We both agreed to basically rule out everything physical then try look at the psychological side again. I hope that surgery improves things for you, maybe for the entirely selfish reason that if it works for you it'll work for me but still its always good to have one less person who is ill on the planet. I'm like you, I'll give acupuncture a shot even if in the back of my mind I know it probably won't work, at least when your in this state its quite easy to seperate out what works and what doesn't pretty quickly.

Yeah so if you get better it'd be great to hear, keep us informed