Neck Pain and Sinus Infection

[mgb4141]

Has anyone had terrible neck pain while having a bad sinus infection? I have had a sinus infection since August that won't go away! I have been on very strong antibiotics and steroids. My neck pain is very bad and stops me from almost doing anything around the house. The pain is at the base of my head on the right side and radiates down to my neck and shoulder and last night down my arm. I have never had pain in my neck that has lasted so long. I even moan through the night trying to find a comfortable position. Could anyone tell me if the sinus infection and the neck pain be related. Thanks!

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, neck pain is unlikely to be related to sinus infection. Only if there is deep neck space infection then can be associated with neck pain. The neck pain needs to be evaluated with the help of radio imaging to detect any injury to cervical spine, Spinal cord and nerves, and Muscles. Common causes of neck pain can be due to injury, reduced synovial fluid in vertebral joints, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondilitis, meningitis, carrying heavy bags, incorrect posture etc

You need to undergo cervical spine CT, serological tests to rule out rheumatoid arthritis and as well as CSF analysis for appropriate diagnosis.

Finding the least stressful sleeping position can help to minimize back pain and neck pain during the night. Experimenting with sleeping positions that are comfortable for your back and neck can avoid creating new neck pain and back pain. Gentle massage with oil and hot compression will help.

I suggest you to consult physician. Take care and regards.

[Kezzagg]

Lymph nodes are at the back of your neck from your skull down to back.  These also suffer from sinusitis and I'm suffering from it now.  I've learnt to milk and massage to drain the fluid out of them and it helps a ton, also a hot towel then w cold towel helps too

[Ag70]

I'm having same problem. Have had sinus infection for months now. Went to dr. On Christmas Eve and got put on prednisone. Haven't been able to pick it up yet so idk if it's going to help or not. I take acid reflux pills daily and have gotten no releif. The only thing that helps is a hot bath with Epsom salt and other stuff I add to bath. I've been on three different antibiotics and they did not help. Guess I'm going back to dr. Sorry I don't have anything to tell you that helps.

[Livtogolf]

I suffered with this as well... Doctors didn't know... Very uncomfortable and included ringing in ears when it flared up. Never had any allergy and I'm over 45 now. I found relief accidentally while taking medication for frequent heartburn! Most of the symptoms of neck, head, face, and shoulder stiffness, soreness, and pain all went away! I assume at this point that I have acid reflux which must be getting up into my sinuses at night when laying down. Try taking omeprazone tablets for a couple weeks and see if it works for you to!

[SBROWN64]

DID YOU EVER FIND HELP FOR YOUR SINUS ISSUES.  I HAVE THE EXACT SAME THING GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND NO DOCTOR SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HELP ME

[Karonio]

I'd also like to add that because of all the neck pain, I keep trying to reposition my neck by extending it and pulling my chin in. When I do this it affects the pressure and throbbing at the back of my nose. There is definitely a link between the back of the neck (at the top) and the sinuses. Here in the UK the Doctors I've spoken to have no knowledge about this.

[Karonio]

Dear Dr Rajput. I had a fall on black ice nearly 3 years ago. I hit the back of my head and suffered whiplash. I have acquired a multitude of symptoms immediately with this fall and these are still ongoing. These being bad headaches and neck ache with a lot of tenderness at the craniocervical junction, balance problems, visual disturbances, sinus problems, metallic taste , loss of sense of smell, constant runny nose and post nasal drip. The process of nose blowing has been affected, sometimes it suddenly stops like the action is blocked, when it does blow then the force is substantially reduced and it feels like there is no pressure release so in effect it doesn't do the job of clearing my nose. If my nose isn't running then its usually blocked up and throbbing. Sometimes I get distressed when I go out walking as this excaberbates my runny nose and post nasal drip and affects my breathing.

[Ronald2000]

i also had sinus surgery in 2008 and my sinuses came back strong again in 2013 with me waking up with thick snot on my throat. currently im suffering from sinuses and also getting neck pain along with shoulder pain accompanied with nausea (dyspepsia). im thinking about getting the ballon sinuplasty surgery hopefully that helps because a body can only take so many antibiotics.

[Tanner777]

I hate to disagree with a doctor, but I know there can definitely be a correlation between neck pain and a sinus infection. I am 56 years old and have dealt with sinus infections my whole life. And the way I know I'm about to get one is I get a severe neck ache. And as soon as the infection goes away, so does the neck pain.

I can't explain what or how the two correlate but I can tell you that at least for me they do. And considering I've had literally hundreds of sinus infections in my life, I have considerable evidence that cannot be ignored.

[Tanner777]

I hate to disagree with a doctor, but I know there can definitely be a correlation between neck pain and a sinus infection. I am 56 years old and have dealt with sinus infections my whole life. And the way I know I'm about to get one is I get a severe neck ache. And as soon as the infection goes away, so does the neck pain.

I can't explain what or how the two correlate but I can tell you that at least for me they do. And considering I've had literally hundreds of sinus infections in my life, I have considerable evidence that cannot be ignored.

[markdanielsnyder]

YES I always get neck pain with my sinus pressure. I don't now if it is pressuring a nerve or what. When I lean forward the pain moves forward in my head and releives my neck at the same time. Been experiencing it like this for years.

[micheal80]

I had sinus surgery about 4 years ago.  The main problem I had was I got bad headaches daily.  I also would get a really sore neck when I laid down to sleep at night, it was sore other times but I noticed it most when I went to bed.  After I had the surgery I thought now that I have fixed my nose I just have to fix my neck.  
About a week or two later when my nose cleared up from surgery my neck was amazingly no longer sore.  I thought it was just a coincidence but my neck wasn't sore again. The pain would be on the right or left side of my spine just under my head.  My sinus is playing up again now and the sore neck is coming back.
I was also amazed that the doctor who did the surgery said he never heard of sinus surgery fixing a neck, he didn't seem interested to know either, personally I thing there is more to it and the two can be connected somehow.

[Lindoza]

Sphenoid sinusitis is associated with neck pain. I'm currently having sinusitis with severe neck pain and stiff neck. Meningitis have been excluded and spine X-ray normal.

[growngirl]

I get generally inflammation from sinus infections (or any infection); the herniated discs in my neck KILL when I have a sinus or any infection.  Also knees hips elbows too.  Debilitating.   But I uUse homeopathic Silver sinus and within 24 hours neck pain and sinus symptoms subside together.  :)  Good stuff.

[mauch1242]

i am truly sorry. i have had allergies since 1988. Been on a variety  on meds, shots, antibiotics, and finally surgery for chronic sinusitis in1994....It helped for about two years, which is about what other people said after having had the same surgery it lasted....my friend I researched natural products from .are  
our health food store and on line and here is what we are still takind..Natures
Way Nettle leaf,  Bi Yan PIAN from International Nature Nutraceuticals In

[Ronald2000]

i also had sinus surgery in 2008 and my sinuses came back strong again in 2013 with me waking up with thick snot on my throat. currently im suffering from sinuses and also getting neck pain along with shoulder pain accompanied with nausea (dyspepsia). im thinking about getting the ballon sinuplasty surgery hopefully that helps because a body can only take so many antibiotics.

[Riverboarder]

I also get sinus infections regularly and have the same neck pain described. I asked my sister who also suffers from sinus problems.  She explained she has same neck pain on right side.  Seems more likely it does have something to do with sinuses rather than injury. Odds are not in favor of your hypothesis.

[Missmojoes]

I had a severe neck pain 9 months ago where I was in agony for a month. I realised afterwards that it was a virus as 7 other people I heard of had it at the same time. Two months afterwards I was struck down by dizziness which radiated from the back of my neck right up into my head behind my nose and eyes. I can still feel a horrible sensation at the back of my neck but it has subsided a lot and I am no longer dizzy. I have resorted to swallowing diced raw garlic washed down with plenty of water at with my main meal, this has helped my immune system immensely. I have been told by GP that this is a virus and someone else said it can last up to 2 years.

[skycookiee]

I also get severe neck and shoulder pain with my sinus problems and this has been happening to me my whole life. there has to be a reason and a connection between my sinus problems and my neck and shoulder pain.  

[skycookiee]

I also get severe neck and shoulder pain with my sinus problems and this has been happening to me my whole life. there has to be a reason and a connection between my sinus problems and my neck and shoulder pain.  

[kingdomgurl]

I don't agree with you either. I am very observant to my body. I suffer from sinus/allergies and what a coincidence that here I am using sea salt water in both nasal this morning and at the same time experiencing neck pain all the way up to the side of my head. Now, this isnt the first time, its happened before. Please go do your homework.

[stella305]

YES!  I've had severe neck pain which comes on with the onset of sinus pain.  I've had this for almost 2 months - went to the doctor 3 times, and taken 2 courses of Zithromax antibiotic which hasn't helped.  The doctor told me to come back in 2 weeks if it doesn't get better, and he will do a head X-ray.  So, this coming week, I plan on going back for further tests.
Just wanted to let you know you're not the only one.  I'm sure the two are connected because the neck pain doesn't start until the sinus headache comes on and vice-versa.  Hope this helps!

[hankster300]

With all due respect, I think you are wrong.  You see I suffered the exact same condition,  I suddenly woke up with severe neck pain at the base of my skull radiating forward lasting at least 10 days and this turned into a sinus infection. I have read many threads with people experiencing the same condition.  Medical science doesn't know everything and it seems this is one of those cases.

[stuffyinthesouth]

sorry i was trying to make my own post just before....  I also have neck pain associated with my sinus pain.  Perhaps it is stress related.  Are you under a lot of stress?

[stuffyinthesouth]

My sinus dilemma (any advice appreciated)

I've never posted regarding my health before- but this forum seemed to contain a lot of stories similar to mine so I thought maybe someone can assist me...
I'm going to try make this as thorough as possible so I can receive the best feedback possible.
It isn't perfect, but I have edited it a few times for your convenience.

MEDICAL HISTORY

I am overall healthy, 180, 6'0” Male 28 years German/Polish/Slovak/Hungarian/American.  
I have fair skin and lots of freckles.  I sunburn easily.
I have had cold sores, Herpes 1 since birth.  I often get an outbreak at same time as sinus symptoms.
I had had minor TMJ issues since 18- no treatment.
I grew up in a household which smoked indoors and in cars 7- 15 yrs of age.
I smoked myself from age 16-21.
I have allergy, to many ragweeds(ENT said highest he's seen 8 on a 1-10 scale), also dustmites, etc.
I've been in a 3 rear end accidents and rolled one car ages 16, 17, 18, and 22 respectively.
I've had some head trauma, another child's teeth punctured my forehead at 10, fell out of a tree onto my head at 12, and my forehead head hit windshield of car at 17.  I also hit my head on the side of a stage which required only staples.
I had migraines during college.  They would affect my vision to the point I needed to close all blinds and throw a cover over my head to stop the pain and seemed to be somehow stress related.

At 23 I had my first sinus infection ever... likely a coombination of a 60hr a week job and a mold problem existing in the 1922 home I lived in.  I did not know what it was and did not have health insurance at the time.  I was plagued for months by a cold(i thought) which would go away for a couple days and then return with a constant sore throat.  After reading lots of books and even an Otolaryngology text  I finally went to the Dr to get an anti-biotic which cleared this up.  I also went to an allergist and began doing allergy shots.  During the hurricane’s of 05 our refrigerator lost power and I don't know if it affected the allergy vials but when I took a dose it had an adverse inflaming affect and I stopped taking them at that point(after near 6 months treatment).  From here I went generally symptom free for sometime.

Then, at around age 25 I began again getting sinus infections chronically.  I couldn't bear the constancy of them and I took my ENT's suggestion for the most minimum available surgery of the frontal sinus.  After surgery I felt like a kid again.  However, almost one year after the surgery, symptoms and inflammation began to return.  When these returned I began doing more research.  And I decided to go on a near Vegan diet for almost 2 years which I believe helped.  I went off it because symptoms seems to be continuing regardless of the diet(which I was having some difficulty maintaining just due to the time invested in planning, etc).  

ENVIRONMENT
I currently sell auto insurance by phone, so I sit in a chair in front of a computer with a headset talking to maybe 20-40 people per day.  I am a top performer at work, in what I consider a very repetitious and stressfull job- wikipedia says call center employees usually burnout after 12-18 months.  I have been in this career 2 years.  The building has near 2000 people in and out per week and ventilation systems typical for a four story corporate building.  Outside of work I regularly do construction related work, install tile, landscaping, wood work, paint etc.

I live in a 1942 frame house with window unit air/heat in the living room only.  I had a mold test done from my bedroom which suggested no mold beyond what is typically found outdoors.  I live in Central Florida(lots of Oak and citrus).

SYMPTOMS
Almost always when I have this sinus pressure it also comes with a lot of tension in the cerebellum, shoulders, and the area just at the base of my skull where the neck connects(i often massage the mastoid bone to decrease the pain).  It affects the sides of my head and I get a burning through my sinuses.  I sometimes get sharp pain near my hairline at left and right at times.  Even when I can breath well I often feel an aching in my nose.  I get incredible fatigue and randomly my teeth hurt.  Lately I even get cold sore outbreaks which accompany the sinus congestion.  Also it sometimes makes the inside of my ears hurt and/or itch.  In addition I get a temporary confusion/dizziness/loss of balance/bump into things etc.

I rarely have any cough or chest issues or sore throat unless I have a genuine cold which is maybe ten percent of the time I experience sinusitis.  The most recent bout has gone on since March 2010 and I have had along with it I get 6-10 sinus infections since then(I stopped allergy injections at this time because I was advised not to be stressing my system unduly).  Actually 2 weeks off from symptoms is the best I have had in the last 8 months.  Whether I take a 14 day antibiotic or a 20 day steroid(prednisone- which made me feel great except for the horrible chest pain side effect toward the end) the symptoms return within 1 week of stopping treatment.

Most of the time I am on a daily antihistamine fenofexadine, and a nasal spray steroid nasonex.  I do regular sinus rinses with salt water when neccesary 0-4 times daily.  (sometimes sinus rinses are extremely productive and other times nothing comes out after 4 times- I almost think more water goes in than comes out 25% of the time)  Similarly, sometimes I blow my nose and feel something is stuck but I dont have the force to blow it out... but depending on the angle of my head(usually from left to right it will be more or less productive.   Last night for instance I went to sleep with one nostril blocked and it was still blocked when I woke up.  As I was twisting my neck rolling over to get out of bed, all the inflammation seemes to release, a gob of infected snot rolled out of my nose thankfull, but then within 5 minutes the nostril was locked up tight again.  For the last several months I will often sleep with a humidifier.  When I feel stuffy,  I drink hot tea or take sudafed and sometimes benadryl.

DR RECCOMENDATIONS...

My original surgery ENT after repeated visitis and MRIs told me I looked fine(through the scope up my nose) and did not need to return for AT LEAST(and he stressed this) 8 months.  I was so offended that I have not gone back since then- because truly the pain gets severe.

I went to a second ENT for another opinion who did a CT scan which he says showed inflammation totally blocking the sinus between my eyes. After a 20 day steroid which showed a large reduction in this inflammation suggested I am a candidate for a more thorough surgery.

I went to a third ENT who agreed with the second Drs recommendation (after he asked me and I told him the other docs opinion)

ALT THERAPY
I tried a candida cleanse once which seemed to help some.  And I sometimes use the ear candles which relieves my ears some.  And I've also gone to a Vietnamese herbalist who put together a concoction which did help.  I can't afford ongoing medicine like this at $60 a week any better than I like other remedies...