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Sinus Pain

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Nasal Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nasal Disorders

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Abstract

Patients with facial pain that has been attributed to potential nasal or sinus pathology present frequently to otolaryngologists. An otolaryngologist, who wishes to comprehensively diagnose and treat these patients, has to also integrate neurological, rheumatological, dental and musculoskeletal conditions in his/her differential diagnosis. Experimental evidence and clinical research indicate that migraine, tension headache, whiplash neck injury, temporomandibular joint pain and sinus pain share a common pathophysiology – central sensitisation. Central sensitisation introduces the concept that the central nervous system (CNS) modifies the degree, duration and spatial extent of pain in a way that reflects the functional states of the CNS, rather than the site or intensity of peripheral noxious stimuli. Other local and distant pathologies, apart from sinus inflammation, can cause central sensitisation and be related to facial pain. A variety of pathologies need consideration in a comprehensive diagnostic workup. With chronic facial pain patients, a multidisciplinary approach is often required.

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Abbreviations

CNS:

Central nervous system

CRS:

Chronic rhinosinusitis

MOH:

Medication overuse headache

TMJ:

Temporomandibular joint

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Counties Manukau District Health Board, 19 Lambie Drive, Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand

    James Bartley MB, ChB, FRACS, FFPMANZCA

Authors
  1. James Bartley MB, ChB, FRACS, FFPMANZCA
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Correspondence to James Bartley MB, ChB, FRACS, FFPMANZCA .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    T. Metin Önerci

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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Bartley, J. (2013). Sinus Pain. In: Önerci, T. (eds) Nasal Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nasal Disorders. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37250-6_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37250-6_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-37249-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-37250-6

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