Constant congestion, facial pressure, thick drainage, and fatigue due to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) can wear you down. Dr. Ryan E. Stern, MD, our board-certified ENT, offers in-office, minimally invasive treatments to help you breathe and feel better.
Always Congested and Can’t Breathe Clearly?
Chronic rhinosinusitis is long-lasting inflammation of the sinus and nasal lining that doesn’t fully clear for at least 12 weeks. When swelling blocks normal drainage, mucus builds up and irritates surrounding tissue. This ongoing inflammation can affect breathing, sleep, focus, and energy. CRS often involves the nose and sinuses together, which is why symptoms are constant rather than coming and going. Without treatment, inflammation may worsen over time and become harder to control, making lasting relief more difficult to achieve.
Signs & Symptoms of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS)
When inflammation in the sinuses lingers for months, symptoms often become part of daily life rather than coming and going, including:
- Ongoing nasal congestion or blockage
- Facial pressure or fullness around the eyes and cheeks
- Thick nasal drainage or post-nasal drip
- Reduced or lost sense of smell
- Frequent headaches or sinus pressure pain
- Fatigue and trouble sleeping due to poor airflow
What Causes Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS)?
Your sinuses are air-filled spaces that rely on small drainage pathways to stay healthy and clear. When the lining of the nose and sinuses becomes swollen, these openings can narrow or close, trapping mucus and leading to ongoing inflammation that doesn’t fully resolve on its own.
This prolonged inflammation is often driven by underlying issues such as:
- Chronic nasal swelling that blocks sinus drainage
- Allergies, causing ongoing inflammation of the nasal lining
- Nasal polyps obstructing normal airflow and mucus flow
- Structural issues like a deviated nasal septum
- Recurrent sinus infections that never fully clear
Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) Treatment
Your care begins with a detailed, one-on-one consultation focused on identifying why your sinuses stay inflamed. Dr. Stern carefully reviews your symptom history and prior treatments and performs a nasal exam, often using a small camera (nasal endoscopy), to closely evaluate swelling, drainage pathways, polyps, or structural narrowing. You’ll get clear explanations of what’s happening inside your nose and sinuses and why symptoms keep returning.
Treatment aims to physically restore airflow and sinus drainage. This may include prescription nasal therapies to calm inflammation, in-office radiofrequency treatment to shrink swollen tissue, or balloon sinuplasty to gently widen blocked sinus openings. If polyps or significant blockage are present, Dr. Stern may recommend endoscopic sinus surgery to remove diseased tissue. Every step of the treatment focuses on reducing inflammation at its source, improving ventilation, and helping your sinuses function normally again.
Why Choose Dr. Stern?
Dr. Ryan E. Stern is a board-certified ENT and subspecialty-trained rhinologist with 25+ years of experience caring for the Pacific Northwest community. He offers minimally invasive nasal and sinus treatments that address the root cause of symptoms while preserving healthy tissue. That means less downtime, faster recovery, and effective long-term relief. If you’re struggling with chronic rhinosinusitis, schedule a consultation in Auburn or Federal Way, WA, today.
