Deviated Septum (Crooked Septum)

There are no non-surgical treatments available. Nasal decongestants and steroid sprays may temporarily shrink the turbinates and allow improve breathing, but the deviated septum will still contribute to some symptoms. A nasal dilator (such as sinus cones or breath rite strips) may also give some temporary relief.

Turbinate Enlargement (Hypertrophy)

The turbinates may be shrunken temporarily with medications including nasal steroid sprays, and decongestant pills. When turbinates are enlarged due to allergies, you can also take an antihistamine or try to avoid the substances you are allergic to. If you are allergic to dust or dust mites, you can purchase pillow cases and sheets which block dust mites, wash the sheets in very hot water, vacuum frequently, remove carpeting from the house, avoid upholstered furniture, and have your heat ducts cleaned out. These avoidance strategies can be very expensive and should be considered only with proven severe dust mite allergy. When turbinates are enlarged due to allergies, you may also take allergy shots (desensitization).

Nasal Valve Collapse or Stenosis

There are no permanent non surgical treatments available. A nasal dilator (such as sinus cones or breath rite strips) may give some temporary relief.

Nasal Polyps

Most large polyps will require surgery. However, nasal polyps may be shrunken temporarily with medications such as nasal steroid sprays, and steroid pills. Since allergies can contribute to nasal inflammation, treatment of the allergies may cause a reduction of the size of the polyps. In this situation, you can also take an antihistamine or try to avoid the substances you are allergic to or you may take allergy shots (desensitization). Since sinus infections also cause nasal inflammation, any infection will lead to polyp growth and treatment of the infection may cause polyps to shrink. As a result, antibiotics may be beneficial for nasal polyps.

Nasal Deformities

There are no non surgical treatments for nasal deformities

Nasal Fractures

Immediately after an injury, it is best to keep the head elevated day and night and to apply ice to the area, in order to reduce swelling. The fracture will heal without treatment in about 14 days but if there is an internal or external deformity caused by the fracture, there is no non surgical treatment available. Nasal bones may be pushed back into place in the office but usually do not get the nasal bones corrected as well as what can be done in the operating room.

Nose bleeds (Epistaxis)

When bleeding starts, the best treatment is pressure to the area (pinch the soft part of the nose) for about 5 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, you can put ice over the bridge of the nose, since cold tends to shrink blood vessels. You can also spray some oxymetazoline spray (Afrin) into the nose to shrink the blood vessels. When bleeding stops, try not to blow, pick or rub the nose for 2 weeks or else it will bleed again. Also, you should apply saline spray and an antibiotic ointment into the nose frequently to keep the scab moist. Extra humidity in the house (such as a room vaporizer) can also be helpful to prevent the scab from becoming too dry and coming off too soon.