CT Sinus Scan came back clean and I'm devastated.

Hey all,

I was hoping some people here might be able to relate. I've been dealing with sinus issues on the right side of my face for nearly three years now.

I have to admit that a large portion of that time was due to me not seeking proper help and instead hoping the problem would eventually go away while using over-the-counter painkillers to manage the symptoms.

My symptoms are persistent and incredibly painful. The right side of my face constantly feels inflamed. If I sit down, lie down, or sleep, I have to stay on my left side because if I lie on my right side, the feeling of inflammation becomes awful. I constantly have to blow my nose to try to breathe properly and reduce the painful, swollen feeling.

This is also accompanied by a dull pain around my back teeth on the right side, which really exacerbates everything.

For treatment, I initially went to a dentist after leaving the issue for far too long. She mentioned sinusitis to me but didn't really confirm or rule out whether there was actually a sinus problem. She seemed much more focused on the other dental issues I had, which included a cavity and a tooth that needed a root canal. Fair enough, I suppose.

I ended up having to delay things even further while I dealt with those dental issues, and even after that, I still didn't really get much communication about what was going on.

I eventually switched to a GP, who, after trying some basic nasal sprays and medication, eventually referred me to an ENT specialist, who arranged a CT scan.

I was really, really hoping that this would finally reveal what the hell was going on, only to be called back and told that my sinuses were completely clear. I tried to ask whether there were any other tests or scans we could do, but the ENT immediately became very defensive and said no. "You have facial pain syndrome. The data does not lie." They then prescribed me some medication and discharged me.

I'm going to try another dentist today to rule out any underlying dental issues, as my previous dentist never really gave me a straight answer. If nothing comes of that, I'll go back to my GP and start all over again.

I'm just so miserable. I feel like I've been dealing with this for years without anyone actually figuring out what's causing it.