Is Chronic Sinus Pain always TMS

[Pura Vida]

I discovered Dr. Sarno over 20 years ago and have managed to overcome what had been 10 years of debilitating pain. But only one type of pain has continued to dog me for many years--chronic sinus congestion and headaches. I had sinus surgery before discovering Sarno and it didn't help my symptoms. They were completely replaced with severe back pain in a 24 hour period that I cured by Sarno reading. But the sinus issues returned.

I recently read the book Breath by James Nestor, who makes a compelling argument that the shape of human jaws and face structure has changed dramatically over the past 200 years, which is causing many people breathing problems, sleep apnea and sinus issues. I went to see and airway orthodontist who prescribed a pallet expander (Marpe) for me to improve my airway functioning. Part of me feels like this is no different than an orthopedist using a "structural abnormality" as the reason for joint or muscle pain.

Has anyone else dived into this questions or can share other stories about overcoming chronic sinusitus or headaches? Thanks so much for all your help!!

 

[Cactusflower]

Personally, I don’t think all conditions are always TMS - that’s an absolute that needs to be resolved both in your mind and with your medical professionals.
As for the book you mentioned.. how are we not all asphyxiated if humans have developed this horrible disfiguration?
It makes no sense.
Check out breathing habits and anxiety, and you’ll find a much stronger scientific co-relationship. You can also find success stories of people with breathing, sinus, and headache symptoms by doing a search in the little box, top right of the forums general page.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

compelling argument that the shape of human jaws and face structure has changed dramatically over the past 200 years,

Evolutionarily, I'm highly skeptical of such a claim. After all, we haven't even been able to evolve the primitive basis of the fight-flight-freeze mechanism, which functions so poorly in the modern world, and by "modern", I mean that it's had several thousands of years to adapt to societal stressors that have nothing in common with wilderness dangers.

I do know of one teratogenic source for jaw malformation, which is one of the known manifestations of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (something I learned about as a foster parent). FAS has been around a lot longer than 200 years, and it is NOT inherited, it's literally caused by fetal exposure to excessive alcohol.

Like @Cactusflower, I'm more inclined to believe in long-term stress as the underlying cause of otherwise-unexplained jaw and sinus issues.

 

[Sita]

I recently read the book Breath by James Nestor, who makes a compelling argument that the shape of human jaws and face structure has changed dramatically over the past 200 years, which is causing many people breathing problems, sleep apnea and sinus issues.

There is a great book about this subject. "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration". It was written by Weston A. Price, a dentist and researcher in the 1930s who studied the connection between nutrition, jaw development, and facial structure in his book. I don't know about sleep apnea or sinus issues but you can look into this guy's book.

Take care.

 

[Barkis]

I discovered Dr. Sarno over 20 years ago and have managed to overcome what had been 10 years of debilitating pain. But only one type of pain has continued to dog me for many years--chronic sinus congestion and headaches. I had sinus surgery before discovering Sarno and it didn't help my symptoms. They were completely replaced with severe back pain in a 24 hour period that I cured by Sarno reading. But the sinus issues returned.

I recently read the book Breath by James Nestor, who makes a compelling argument that the shape of human jaws and face structure has changed dramatically over the past 200 years, which is causing many people breathing problems, sleep apnea and sinus issues. I went to see and airway orthodontist who prescribed a pallet expander (Marpe) for me to improve my airway functioning. Part of me feels like this is no different than an orthopedist using a "structural abnormality" as the reason for joint or muscle pain.

Has anyone else dived into this questions or can share other stories about overcoming chronic sinusitus or headaches? Thanks so much for all your help!!

Hi,

I suffered for over 40 years with Sinus issues and headaches. It's a very long story that would take too much time to write but one thing is absolutely certain: Sinus issues can absolutely be TMS. I had extensive consultations with a range of ENT doctors and they never found anything of significance. I even got a hole in my septum from an operation I had to clear some polyps but that never helped. I wrote to a world expert on Sinuses and ultimately every single doctor told me that the answer to my issues lay elsewhere. That elsewhere was recognizing that stress/anxiety was the cause - and it was.

Sadly I cure one symptom and another appears time and time again-that's why I'm here.